History

In the mid-1830s, Charlotte was divided into four political wards. The northwest quadrant was called Fourth Ward – a prosperous area that was home to merchants, ministers, physicians and numerous churches, forming a strong center of social and religious influence.

By the early 1900s, the trolley had expanded beyond uptown Charlotte, making nearby “suburbs” the neighborhoods of choice. Fourth Ward entered a period of decline that continued until 1976, when the Junior League, UNCC, and a few others undertook a restoration program that fired the imaginations of adventurous urban “pioneers”.

Today, Historic Fourth Ward is an active, charming community of grand Victorians, luxury condominiums, urban apartments, parks and businesses, as well as cultural, religious and educational activities – all within walking distance of Charlotte’s thriving uptown business center.

The Friends of Fourth Ward (FOFW) is an active, volunteer-driven, non-profit, community organization founded in 1976. Its original functions were to revitalize the Fourth Ward, foster community development, and preserve the historic inner-city neighborhood of Charlotte.

FOFW benefits from the support of individuals, multi-family housing HOAs, and business members dedicated to the preservation and sustainability of the inner-city Fourth Ward neighborhood of Charlotte.

In many ways, it has achieved those primary goals. The Friends of Fourth Ward now focuses on raising funds to provide social, cultural, and educational activities for the Fourth Ward community and visitors. The organization has become a vibrant thread in the historic and cultural tapestry of a broader Charlotte.

If you are a visitor walking through the Fourth Ward today, there’s a good chance that you would be pleasantly surprised, perhaps even captivated, by this gem of a tree-lined mostly residential neighborhood.

You can enjoy a diverse range of residential options, ranging from Section 8 housing, to luxurious condos, to sleek urban high rise apartments, to splendid, historic, single-family homes, all anchored by the soothing Fourth Ward Park. The Fourth Ward is dotted with charming dining establishments and bustling service providers. And when you look up you are dazzled by the Uptown skyline only a few blocks away.

But it wasn’t always like that. In the mid-1830s, what we now know as Uptown or Center City, Charlotte was divided into four political wards. The northwest quadrant was called Fourth Ward – a prosperous area that was home to merchants, ministers, physicians. Its numerous churches formed a strong core of social and religious influence.

By the early 1900s, trolley lines had expanded beyond Uptown Charlotte, making nearby “suburbs” the neighborhoods of choice. The Fourth Ward entered a long period of decline that continued until 1976, when the Junior League, UNCC, Bank of America, and others undertook a restoration program that fired the imaginations of adventurous urban “pioneers.”

It was these urban pioneers who created the Friends of Fourth Ward in 1976.

Today the Friends of Fourth Ward continues its work to raise funds to preserve and enhance the Fourth Ward community.

Become a FOFW Supporter and Subscribe to the FOFW Newsletter

Individuals, Multi-Family HOAs, and businesses can become active supporters of the Friends of Fourth Ward to stay in-the-know about activities and news. Fourth Ward presence is not required to become a financial supporter.