Location: South-Central Michigan, approximately 15 miles southwest of Lansing, in the center of Eaton County. This location ensures that more than half the U.S. and Canada are within overnight delivery distance. Charlotte’s close proximity to I-69 and I-96 give it a strategically important position when it comes to over-the-road freight delivery.

Population: 8,389 (2000 Census), nearly evenly split between male and female. The highest percentage of our residents are between the ages of 25 and 55, with a median age of 34. About 65 percent of Charlotte homes are family households (a householder and one or more people living in the same household who are related to the householder).

Growth Rate: 3 percent from 1990 to 2000

Income: Median Household Income is $35,736 (1999)

Labor Force: According to the 1990 census, more than 80 percent of Charlotte residents have completed four years of high school, and about 45 percent had some college education. This is higher than the state average. Categorically, the Charlotte workforce includes 10 percent working in executive or administrative positions; 10 percent in a specialty professional occupation; 10 percent in sales; 15 percent clerical or administrative support; 14 percent in service occupations, 15 percent in precision production, craft or repair occupations; 10 percent are machine operators, assemblers or inspectors. All other categories represent less than 10 percent of the Charlotte labor force.

Climate: Charlotte is located in south-central lower Michigan. Its elevation is 902 ft. It’s coldest month is January, with an average daily temperature between 13.3EF and 30EF; and its warmest month is July, with an average daily temperature between 56.9EF and 83.9EF. Charlotte averages 32.95 inches of precipitation annually, including 47.6 average annual inches of snowfall. As a result of the prevailing westerly winds, Charlotte does experience some lake effect weather. However, this is minimal and essentially limited to increased cloudiness during the late fall and early winter. The continental type of climate is characterized by larger temperature ranges than in areas at the same latitude near the Great Lakes which have moderated temperatures. Diminished wind speeds or winds which do not traverse large unfrozen lakes often produce clearing skies and the colder temperatures expected at continental locations. Because the day-to-day weather is controlled by the movement of pressure systems across the nation, this area seldom experiences prolonged periods of hot, humid weather in the summer or extreme cold during the winter.

Housing: There are approximately 3,500 housing units in Charlotte, at approximately 95 percent capacity. New units are being added constantly, with more than 1,000 units planned or approved for development currently. More than 70 new homes have been built in Charlotte since January of 2000. The average home houses approximately 2.5 people. The median value of housing in Charlotte is $65,420. Approximately 65 percent of housing in Charlotte is owner-occupied.

Media: Weekly newspaper, The Charlotte Shopping Guide, a publication of Lansing Community Newspapers. Free delivery to all residents. Charlotte also receives regular news coverage in the Lansing State Journal, a daily Gannett publication. Also, local Lansing television stations occasionally cover Charlotte. All major television networks, as well as PBS and radio’s NPR can all be clearly received in Charlotte.

Library: The Charlotte Community Library serves the residents of the City of Charlotte and surrounding townships. It is a Class IV library with 12,500 square feet of space, 2693 hours open annually, a library service population of 19,608; annual operating income of $512,968; and an annual per capita expenditure of $15.38. The Charlotte Community Library is part of the Capital Library Cooperative, which provides residents with nearly unlimited resources at no charge in most cases.

Government: 1 Elected Mayor and 6 City Council members. Appointed City Manager.

Public Safety: The City of Charlotte Fire Department includes a full-time fire chief, 5.5 full-time firefighters and 25 volunteers, as well as seven pieces of modern, well-kept fire equipment. Both the City of Charlotte Police Department and the Eaton County Sheriff Department are also located in Charlotte. There is also a code enforcement officer employed by the City of Charlotte.

Tax Base: The total taxable value of all property in the City of Charlotte is $153,362,100 for the 2001 tax year. The city millage rate is 13.6423, which results in a total estimated tax revenue for the city of $2,092,212.

Distances-from Charlotte to:
 Battle Creek – 37 miles
Chicago – 198 miles
Cleveland – 248 miles
Detroit – 107 miles
Flint – 77 miles
Fort Wayne – 111 miles
Grand Rapids – 63 miles
Kalamazoo – 57 miles
Indianapolis – 233
Lansing – 22 miles
Milwaukee – 296 miles
South Bend – 136 miles
Toledo – 123 miles
Toronto – 300 miles