Dixie is an unincorporated community in western Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States.[2] Centered at the intersection of Dixie River Road and Wallace Neel Road; the rural community has shrank since the start of the 21st century with the expansion of Charlotte Douglas International Airport and the westward expansion of Charlotte.

Dixie, North Carolina
The Dixie Grill & Grocery
The Dixie Grill & Grocery
Dixie, North Carolina is located in North Carolina
Dixie, North Carolina
Dixie, North Carolina
Location of Dixie in North Carolina
Dixie, North Carolina is located in the United States
Dixie, North Carolina
Dixie, North Carolina
Dixie, North Carolina (the United States)
Coordinates: 35°12′12″N 80°58′4″W / 35.20333°N 80.96778°W / 35.20333; -80.96778
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyMecklenburg
Named forThe song "Dixie"[1]
Elevation742 ft (226 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28278
Area code(s)704, 980
GNIS feature ID984219[2]

The community is also referred as Dixie-Berryhill, a combination of Dixie and the Berryhill township it resides in. This was the name given by City of Charlotte officials in 1989, despite the area not being part of the city at the time.[3][4]

History

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Settlement of the area began in the mid-18th century, attracted by the rich topsoil and access to the Catawba River.[4] The community that developed in the area was originally known as Collins Crossroad, named for a store at the location. Around 1836–46, it then became known as Equality. The name changed again in 1883, when a community band was formed and the favorite tune locally being "Dixie." In 1885, the Dixie Post Office was established, but only operated for 17 years before closing in 1902.[1][5]

In 2007, Charlotte Douglas International Airport expanded west to build a third parallel runway, which moved intersection of Dixie River Road and Wallace Neel Road to its current location, adjacent to Interstate 485.[6] In 2016, Crescent Communities announced the plan to developed 1,400 acres (570 ha) for a planned community intended to contain thousands of homes, hotels, and commercial space to the area. Called the River District, its groundbreaking and construction began in 2023.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "North Carolina Gazetteer". Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dixie, North Carolina
  3. ^ "Southwest - District Plan" (PDF). City of Charlotte. March 1993. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Dixie Berryhill Strategic Plan" (PDF). City of Charlotte. April 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mecklenburg County, NC Post Offices - 1785 to 1971". J.D. Lewis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Airport Construction Projects Update". City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Government. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  7. ^ Brierton, James; DeVayne, Richard; Mayfield, Colin (March 29, 2023). "Groundbreaking ceremony for west Charlotte's new River District". Charlotte, NC: WCNC-TV. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.