Steele Creek: A History

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March 1st, 2025

Steele Creek is an area of southwest Charlotte, once its own town. Since the beginning, though, Steele Creek has been important to the history and culture of the Charlotte Area. Today we dive into the modern traces of history and the present-day population boom in the region. Whether it’s the Charlotte Airport, Presbyterians, or an Outlet Mall, there’s a lot to talk about.

Today we are joined by Christopher Lawing, creator of the Charlotte Sign Project and the author of Charlotte: Signs of the Times. Christopher also leads the Charlotte Sign Project and other local historical initiatives, including the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

Segment Highlights:

  • Dive into the state of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and its Cemetery
  • What the Charlotte Airport is doing in the area, and how it’s expansion protects and threatens the region
  • 250th Anniversary of the “Meck Deck” or Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
  • Steele Creek: an Early History by Linda Blackwell written over the course of 50 years
  • Bobby M. Setzer Hatchery and Armstrong Hatchery status
  • The evolution of Steele Creek from an agricultural region to an industrial and commercial hotspot
  • Camp Steere, A former Mecklenburg County Council Boy Scout Camp in the area, and how it became McDowell Nature Preserve

Things You’ll Learn by Listening:

A little more about an understated area of Charlotte- A long history of people, improvement, and change. The past present and future of Steele Creek, and what people are doing to preserve the history that remains in the area.

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