Housing, Hispanics, and Transitioning Geographies in Charlotte, North Carolina

Over the past decade, Charlotte, North Carolina has been socially and economically transformed by incipient Latino migration. Labeled one of the nation's Hispanic "hyper-growth" cities, Charlotte may be seen as illustrative of the new Latino immigrant and settlement geographies. Traditional models of immigrant settlement in central city neighborhoods have not been followed here. Latino migrants to this new south city have moved directly to maturing suburbs at a distance from both the urban core and its sprawling fringe. The availability of apartment style rental housing is an important factor steering residential choice. Ethnic self-selectivity in housing location and the social reproduction of place among maledominated immigrant streams may also play a role. As Charlotte's Latino population grows and matures, the development of expansive, suburban enclaves seems plausible.