Taken as a whole, this edited volume is an invaluable guide to understanding Charlotte, and more generally the growth and transformation experienced by cities in the Sunbelt. -- Choice Recommended for all urban geographers, economists, and historians interested in the modern South. It would also be useful reading for southern politicians still struggling to make up their minds about the meaning and cultural cost of embracing modernity. -- Journal of American History How are global influences and local conditions interacting to shape southern history in the twenty-first century? This engaging collection offers many original and unexpected assessments and illustrations of the newest New South. Contributing scholars use a range of approaches to uncover fresh perspectives on demographic, economic, and cultural change, as well as subsequent urban development. Read this timely account of Charlottes current transition and you will come to understand much about the broader arc of southern history in the making. -- Emily Zimmern * President, Levine Museum of the New South * It is time we had a major book about Charlottes rise to regional, national, and global prominence. This unique and valuable work satisfies that need admirably. Well written and nicely illustrated, it will be embraced by urbanists and by those in Charlotte who have yearned for a timely, comprehensive overview of their city. -- Stanley D. Brunn * coeditor of Cities of the World: World Regional Urban Development *