I may be a little biased because I have been a resident of Matthews for the past 8 years, but this is my favorite town of all on the outskirts of Charlotte. Matthews is nestled between Charlotte and Monroe southeast of Uptown, and was home to only 191 residents in 1880 when it was first incorporated. The history of this once-sleepy borough is beautifully preserved in the quaint Downtown Matthews, where an old rail car, hardware store and history museum now mingle with a larger strip of lively up-and-coming bars, unique boutique stores, coffee shops and restaurants. This welcoming town exudes charm and warmth where  everybody greets you with a smile and gathers together in camaraderie for the strength of love, God and family; and is always willing to extend a helping hand. The town encompasses only 17 sq. miles so you are bound to cross paths with someone you know at the local grocery store, church function, festival, or school event. Matthews performs a superb job hosting seasonal annual events and festivals fostering the community together such as Easter Extravaganza, BeachFest Matthews, Charlotte Symphony Night in Sumptown Park, and Matthews Alive; a huge Labor Day weekend celebration. Make sure to visit their newest addition, the Sportsplex featuring 11 fields, 2,500 seat stadium, playground area and paved trails to accommodate a variety of sports. Overall, Matthews is a great place to raise a family, love, work and worship because it has the best of both worlds. It is close enough to Charlotte city attractions, but also peaceful and hospitable enough to retain it’s small town charm.