Union County as a whole is one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina, and Waxhaw has seen a similar trend. The city was established in 1889 and was named after the Waxhaw Native American tribe that lived there before it was settled. A textile boom in the 1800s lasted until the 1940s, and the city had a resurgence in the 1960s and 2000s with the downtown commercial scene. Today, Waxhaw balances its history by preserving historical landmarks while continuing to welcome fast-paced growth.
“Basically, Waxhaw is a suburb of Charlotte,” says Josh Burnett, a Waxhaw local and team lead of J. Burnett Realty Group. “You have a small-town atmosphere, but you’re five to 10 minutes from south Charlotte. We’ve got a lot of restaurants and shops, and the school system is rated really well. There’s a rich history, too. It’s the birthplace of Andrew Jackson, and it was on an old Native American trading route.”
Waxhaw was established in 1889 and was named after the Waxhaw Native American tribe.
Waxhaw has a long history with the railroads.
Waxhaw had a textile boom in the 1800s lasted until the 1940s.
Waxhaw balances its history by preserving historical landmaks.
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Constantly growing population and busy downtown scene
Waxhaw’s population grew over 108% from 2010 to 2020. Today, over 20,500 people call the city home. Waxhaw has a 67.7% employment rate, and the Charlotte Observer ranked the town as one of the best places to work in 2023. Anyone who doesn’t own a business or work in town has a roughly 30-minute commute to Uptown Charlotte, not counting traffic.
The Nationally Accredited Downtown has over 100 small businesses. The Downtown Waxhaw Association works to preserve the historic buildings while still making them usable for new businesses. A brand-new town hall and surrounding complex were officially opened to the public in late 2024, and more renovations are on the way with the Waxhaw 2040 plan, aimed at improving daily life and accommodating future growth.
The Downtown Waxhaw Association preserve the historic buildings like The Women's Club.
Many residents own business like the Iris and Poppy Boutique.
Downtown Waxhaw has over 100 small business.
A brand-new Waxhaw town hall just officially opened to the public.
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Broad price ranges and new Craftsman homes
Home prices range from the mid $300,000s to almost $1 million across the city. “Depending on the type of housing you’re looking for, you can find cheaper housing than you can in Charlotte,” says Burnett. “But ... there are some high-end luxury neighborhoods as well. Pricing has increased year-over-year, looking at the three years. Compared to this time last year, the median price is up 11.3% at $679,000.”
Ranch-style homes and Craftsmans close to downtown usually make up the lower end of the price range. Most homes are three-bedroom Craftsmans built as recently as 2024. Areas like Millbridge, Cureton and Lawson are the most popular. “I have a listing in Millbridge, and a family from Lawson was looking to move to Millbridge. They’re similar neighborhoods, but the family wanted a different home style for their needs. These neighborhoods are only a couple miles apart, but they wanted to stay in the same area.” On average, Waxhaw has all four seasons, with humid summers and mild winters.
Craftsman style homes near downtown Waxhaw are also a popular option.
New traditional homes in neighborhoods like Millbridge are most popular in Waxhaw.
You can also find larger higher end traditional homes in Waxhaw.
Ranch style homes make up the lower end of the price range in Waxhaw.
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Moving to town for Union County Schools
The Union County Public Schools District is one of the major reasons people move to Waxhaw. It has a lower student-to-teacher ratio than Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, and Niche gives it an A. As of 2023, 96.7% of residents have a high school diploma, and 53.8% have at least a bachelor’s degree. Waxhaw alone has six schools. Waxhaw Elementary School earns an A-minus, and Cuthbertson High School gets an A.
Waxhaw Elementary School provides education in the neighborhood of
Union County.
Cuthbertson Middle School provides education in the neighborhood of
Union County.
South Providence School provides education in the neighborhood of
Union County.
Cuthbertson High School provides education in the neighborhood
Union County.
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Brand-new Downtown Park and historic places to visit
Town Creek Park has a playground, but most residents park there before walking the Twelve Mile Creek Greenway. The Southwest Regional Library opened in April 2024, and it’s the newest branch of the Union County Library. Harvey Clay Nesbit Park features soccer and baseball fields, but Downtown Park is Waxhaw’s largest park, with 9 acres holding an amphitheater, play area, pond and paved walking paths. Downtown Park opened in 2024 and was designed to have enough space for events organized by the Waxhaw Parks and Recreation Department. The Jammin’ by the Tracks and Music in the Park will be combined into one summer concert series held at the park, and the area will become a little winter wonderland for the annual Menorah and tree lighting ceremony. Residents from across Union County, even from South Carolina, visit for the two-day Autumn Treasures event in November. In 2024, over 100 vendors participated while musicians performed.
The city stays true to its motto, “Proud of Our Past. Passionate About Our Future," with The Museum of Waxhaw. The museum tells the story of the Waxhaw tribe and European settlers who paved the way to Waxhaw’s founding. The Waxhaw Overhead Bridge is one of the many historic landmarks in the city today. The bridge was built in 1888 for cars, but it was renovated so pedestrians can safely cross, even as trains rumble across the tracks below.
The younger residents of Waxhaw love the new playground at the Downtown Park.
You can take an evening walk on the paved trail at the Town Creek Park in Waxhaw.
The Southwest Regional Library in Waxhaw is the newest branch in Union County.
The Twelve Mile Creek Greenway in Waxhaw is popular with residents.
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Waxhaw Police and Union County Sheriff activity
The Waxhaw Police Department and Union County Sheriff’s Office patrol the city. From 2022 to 2023, reported nonviolent crimes decreased 31%, while reported violent crimes rose 7%. In 2022, the EPA reached a settlement with the New-Indy Paper Mill in South Carolina after many residents across South Carolina and Union County filed complaints of a rotten egg smell from the mill’s emissions. The New Indy Containerboard facility now posts daily air sample reports on its website, and residents who smell the odor can report it to the New Indy site.
Downtown Waxhaw shopping and nearby commercial centers
Downtown Waxhaw is full of boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and small commercial businesses. Narrow sidewalks run throughout the historic downtown, and the city is working to add wider concrete sections for easier strolling. Shoppers don’t have to worry about feeding a parking meter, as the city offers free parking downtown.
On South Main Street, Maxwell’s Tavern serves lunch and dinner in a brick building with ambient lighting and a bar. The Waxhaw Antique Mart is a few doors down with tidy collections of decor and trinkets. Crossroads Coffee House started in 1999, and every cup of coffee brewed is made with coffee beans roasted in-house. National chains and grocery stores fill the Old Hickory Shopping Center and Cureton Town Center. Waxhaw's Farmers' Market was established in 2001, and the weekend event has continued to be successful. Residents stop by to shop locally produced items from vendors, from skincare and woodworking to vegetables and fresh bread.
Maxwell’s Tavern is a popular choice for lunch and dinner in Waxhaw.
The Waxhaw Antique Mart in Waxhaw has a collections of decor and trinkets.
You can find national chains like Harris Teeter at the Cureton Town Center in Waxhaw.
You can grab a freshly roasted cup of coffee at the Crossroads Coffee House in Waxhaw.
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Getting around town and to Uptown Charlotte
Downtown Waxhaw is 5 miles from the South Carolina border and 28 miles from Uptown Charlotte. When driving to Uptown, State Route 16 leads north and connects to I-485. Atrium Health Waxhaw is also on Highway 16, with an emergency room and routine medical services. Waxhaw has multiple churches along Main Street and Highway 16, including Waxhaw United Methodist Church, dedicated in 1928. Most residents commute by car, as Waxhaw’s only public transportation is through U Can Go!, Union County’s on-demand transportation buses. Riders have to book a ride at least 48 hours in advance, and the buses run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is 31 miles north, about a 40-minute drive.
Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Gwilliam
Video By
Emily McNamara
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GreatSchools:
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