Discover Dilworth, One of Charlotte’s Premier Historic Communities
At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the fast-growing city of Charlotte had a population of only 18,091. The city government was supported simply by a mayor, a recorder, and a Board of Aldermen, which included seven members: one from each of the four wards of the city and three elected at large.
The first suburbs of Charlotte formed along the streetcar lines that extended beyond the city. These suburbs, expanding to the south and east of the city, included:
Dilworth
Elizabeth
Myers Park
Plaza Midwood
Latta Park was known as the “pleasure resort” and was at the southern end of the street car line. Latta Park sat just outside the city limits and was known as Dilworth, our first REAL suburb!
Historic Dilworth, with its colorful park, boulevards, expansive mansions and inviting bungalow was Charlotte’s earliest “suburban” development. Built in 1891 by entrepreneur and streetcar owner, Edward Dilworth Latta, his home on East Boulevard, was the showplace of turn-of-the-century Charlotte. Until Latta’s departure from Charlotte in May of 1923, he played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Queen City.
Latta helped expand the city from a modest commercial center of 7,094 inhabitants in 1880, to an industrial and financial metropolis of Piedmont, NC in 1920, boasting a population of 46,338. (Today, the Queen City‘s population is a hefty 731,424, with over 2.5 million in the Charlotte Metro region and is the 17th largest city in the United States)!
Historic Dilworth boasted not only fine residences, but also a race track, ball park, pavilion, lake and an industrial complex which included textile mills and a foundry. Still today, the Nationally Registered historical neighborhood retains its residential charm while embracing lively, adaptive reuse for commerce, galleries, restaurants and entertainment.
Today, Dilworth envelopes you in tree-lined streets which front beautiful, architecturally designed homes with wrap-around porches as well as quaint little shops and restaurants. Local merchants offer personal attention as well as an ambiance that is Dilworth’s trademark. It is now hard to believe that anyone ever considered Dilworth a ‘suburb!’
Come take a tour and see why Dilworth is the choice among many Uptown young professionals and families who love the ’neighborhood’ feel of Dilworth. Arcihtecture and streetscapes tell the story of Historic Dilworth—and moreover, its recent revival with renovation and new construction have given it yet, another, reason to call Dilworth, Charlotte, NC home.
Give us a call—we love giving tours and selling homes in Historic Dilworth!
East Blvd, is the thoroughfare that leads you to and through Charlotte’s popular Dilworth Community. Lined with shops and restaurants as well as stately, mature oak trees, Dilworth beckons you into one of Charlotte’s most coveted communities.
