Uptown/Downtown-Charlotte

There is much confusion brought about by the use of the terms “Uptown” and “Downtown” for Charlotte’s center city area. These terms do not reference different areas of town and are thus interchangeable.

The history of the dual names is contested, yet prior to the mid-late 1980s, the term “Downtown” was used by residents, media and city leaders for the center city area. During the 1980s, a massive campaign was launched to revamp the image of the downtown area and the term “Uptown” was introduced to the general public. On February 14, 1987 the Charlotte Observer began using the term “Uptown” as a way to promote a more positive upbeat image of the center city area.^[5] School teachers were provided with “historical” documents justifying use of the term to teach to students.^{[citation needed]}

Another opinion is: Though many feel that the term “Uptown Charlotte” is a new term in the last 10 years, local residents from three or more generations past will attest to having called the center city area Uptown their entire lives. This is due to the main intersection in the original center city, Trade St. & Tryon St., having been the point of highest elevation. When people would come from outlying areas to the city, they would say they were going ‘up to town’, a phrase that was eventually shortened to ‘Uptown’. Despite this, there are many who steadfastly believe that center-city Charlotte was called “Downtown” up until 10 years ago when there was a concerted effort to rename it “Uptown” by various groups that had come from outside Charlotte. These people feel that this was an attempt to improve the city’s image.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_center_city