| Steele Creek | |
| Settlement Type: | Neighborhood / Township |
| Pushpin Map: | USA North Carolina |
| Pushpin Label Position: | none |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mecklenburg County |
| Subdivision Type3: | City |
| Subdivision Name3: | Charlotte |
| Subdivision Type4: | Council District |
| Subdivision Name4: | 3 |
| Leader Title: | City Council |
| Leader Name: | Tiawana Brown[1] |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1760[2] |
| Established Title2: | Annexed |
| Established Date2: | 1987 - Ongoing[3] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 47 |
| Elevation Ft: | 600 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 76,301[4] [5] |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset1: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 35.1345°N -80.9785°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 28273, 28278 |
| Area Code: | 704, 980 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 1001413 |
Steele Creek is primarily considered to be a community and neighborhood in the southwestern part of Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. It is generally defined geographically by the original boundaries of Steele Creek Township.[6] Most of Steele Creek is within the city limits of Charlotte but the areas that have not yet been annexed are also recognized as a Township of North Carolina.[7]
The population of the Steele Creek community was 76,301 as of 2020, roughly two-thirds of which is located within the City of Charlotte.[4] [8]
The Steele Creek community derives its name from the small creek bearing the same name. It is believed that name "Steele" was the family surname of Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled in the area in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.[8] The region was eventually designated as Steele Creek Township, one of the original 15 Townships of Mecklenburg County.[6]
In 1959, the North Carolina State Legislature revised laws that govern how cities may annex adjacent areas, allowing municipalities to annex unincorporated lands without permission of those residents.[9] This change in North Carolina law led to adoption of an aggressive annexation policy by the City of Charlotte, which repeatedly expanded its borders by annexing land within Steele Creek Township, which had never been formally incorporated.[10]
Despite nearly two-thirds of Steele Creek being annexed by Charlotte, the region remained primarily rural farmland until the 2000s, when significant infrastructure improvements greatly accelerated the effects of suburban sprawl. The widening of NC 49, the replacement of the old Buster Boyd Bridge, and the opening of I-485, spurred tremendous growth in both residential and commercial development. Today Steele Creek is the fastest growing region of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, with more than a 70% population boom between 2000 and 2007.[11]
Steele Creek has several subdivisions within its area, most of which are residential. Listed here are the most notable subdivisions:
The first school in Steele Creek was founded in the 1780s.[17] Today, Steele Creek is served by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) district. These include Olympic High, Palisades High, Kennedy Middle, Southwest Middle, Lake Wylie Elementary, Steele Creek Elementary, Winget Park Elementary, River Gate Elementary, Berewick Elementary, South Pine Academy and Palisades Park Elementary.[18]
Steele Creek is served by a branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.[19] The library is located on Steele Creek Road in front of Southwest Middle School.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) offers local and express bus service in the area.[20]
Current routes:
Water and Trash pick-up is mostly serviced by the city of Charlotte, though third-party companies do service some developments in the area. Electricity is provided by Duke Energy, which holds a monopoly. Natural gas is provided by Piedmont Natural Gas, which holds a monopoly. Data/Telephone/Television service is all offered by AT&T, Charter Communications, Windstream Communications, and Comporium (Ayrsley area only).
Atrium Health Steele Creek is a healthcare pavilion that includes a 24-hour emergency department. Patients that require long-term care are transferred to another hospital, such as Atrium Health Pineville or Carolinas Medical Center. Outpatient services is also available at three Urgent Care centers: Atrium Health Urgent Care Steele Creek, Novant Health GoHealth Urgent Care–Berewick and Novant Health GoHealth Urgent Care–Steele Creek.