Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975 Paperback – August 10, 1998

Though I moved away in 1985, I'm a native Charlottean and am deeply grateful to Tom Hanchett for this amazing book, which brought Charlotte back to life for me. This informative book has a permanent place in my library, along with work by Mary Norton Kratt. Hanchett's book is fact-filled but easy to read, almost novelistic in many places; the author doesn't flinch when it comes to details about a dark side of the city. This book will be a joy to read for others who call Charlotte home.

Hanchett is an expert on the New South and his exploration of turn of the century Charlotte, NC is captivating. He knows the ins and outs of the city like the back of his hands. I recommend consulting the Going to the Show website by Robert Allen from UNC if you need a map to consult some of Hanchett's work.

An insightful study of Charlotte, NC, the author shows how the city developed physically and the class and racial causes of the segregation between black and whites, rich and poor.

Oddly enough, one of the few studies particular to the South.

good book

A good description of how misguided government programs incentivized poor land use choices and exacerbated racial and economic segregation