Matthews is the kind of place people describe as "a real small town," even though it sits just southeast of Charlotte and has grown to almost 30,000 residents. It has its own town government, a historic railroad-era downtown along Trade Street and a calendar built around a Saturday farmers market and a big Labor Day festival. This guide covers where Matthews is, how it got here and what daily life looks like, from parks to schools to the commute.

Where Matthews is

Matthews is an incorporated town in Mecklenburg County, southeast of Charlotte, with Independence Boulevard (US-74) and I-485 running through it. It is not part of the City of Charlotte. Residents get town services from Matthews alongside county services from Mecklenburg, and public schools are part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

The 2020 Census counted 29,435 people in the town, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

One practical note: a Matthews mailing address doesn't always mean a home is inside town limits, or even in Mecklenburg County. Some homes with Matthews addresses sit in neighboring Union County. Check the county and town on the property record before you buy or sign a lease.

From Stumptown to a railroad town

The town's own history page tells a story that explains a lot about the place today:

  • Stumptown. The early settlement was nicknamed for the stumps farmers left behind as they cleared land to grow cotton.
  • Fullwood. It was later known as Fullwood, after John Miles Fullwood, who was appointed postmaster in July 1825 and ran a stagecoach stop, store and post office.
  • The railroad. The first train arrived on Dec. 15, 1874, and the railroad named the stop for one of its directors, Edward Matthews. The town was incorporated in 1879.

The railroad shaped downtown. The Heath & Reid General Store, which opened in 1888 beside the tracks, is a designated Mecklenburg County historic landmark. The railroad's depot, built in the late 1880s, still stands beside the town library, according to the town. The Stumptown name lives on, too, in Stumptown Park, the town's downtown event space.

Downtown Matthews

Downtown is compact and walkable, centered on Trade Street and John Street, with brick storefronts, restaurants and shops. Renfrow Hardware, an old-school hardware and general merchandise store, anchors one block of North Trade Street, and the farmers market sets up right next to it.

Stumptown Park at 120 S. Trade St. is the town's outdoor gathering spot. Its facility listing describes a stage used for concerts and events. The town hosts concerts, festivals and holiday events there through the year. Dates change from season to season, so check the Town of Matthews calendar for what's coming up.

The Matthews Community Farmers' Market

The Matthews Community Farmers' Market is a downtown institution. It operates Saturdays year-round at 188 N. Trade St., next to Renfrow Hardware, and its own history says it began in 1991 with local farmers and bakers selling on the green space beside the store.

For 2026, the market lists:

  • Main season: April 11 to Nov. 21, 8 a.m. to noon.
  • Winter season: Dec. 5, 2026, through March 2027, 9 to 11 a.m.
  • Holiday markets: a pre-Thanksgiving market on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m., and a pre-Christmas market on Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. The market is closed the Saturdays after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • Parking: free on Trade Street and Charles Street, and in a grassy lot behind the market off Cotton Gin Alley.

The market also accepts SNAP/EBT and matches SNAP purchases up to $20 per customer per market day, according to its website.

Matthews Alive

The biggest weekend of the year is Matthews Alive, a four-day Labor Day weekend festival downtown. It's produced by Matthews Alive, Inc., a volunteer-run nonprofit that works with the town. The organizers say the festival continues a Labor Day tradition of more than 50 years that began as the "Stumptown Festival," and it now has three stages, vendors, carnival games and a parade. Two things to know if you live nearby: downtown streets get busy that weekend, and pets aren't allowed at the festival (service animals are welcome).

Parks, greenways and sports

  • Four Mile Creek Greenway. The Matthews segment is a paved trail of about 2 miles, built jointly by the town and Mecklenburg County, that connects Matthews Elementary, Squirrel Lake Park and East John Street, according to the Carolina Thread Trail. Leashed dogs are allowed, and trailhead parking is at Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Road.
  • Squirrel Lake Park has a playground, a small lake with a dock and restrooms along the greenway.
  • Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews. At 2425 Sports Parkway, the county's Sportsplex has 11 lighted multipurpose fields (nine synthetic turf, two natural grass) and a 4,300-seat stadium. It hosts youth soccer, lacrosse and high school events, and teams and groups can reserve fields.

Housing

Matthews has a broad mix: older homes near downtown, established single-family subdivisions, and newer townhome and apartment communities closer to the main corridors. Prices and inventory change quickly, so talk with a local agent and compare recent sales for the specific street.

Retail keeps growing along the edges. Our news desk has covered Cadia Village, a Publix-anchored center under construction in Matthews.

Health care

Novant Health Matthews Medical Center is at 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, so residents have a full hospital in town rather than a drive into Charlotte.

Schools

Public schools in Matthews are part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Assignments are based on the home address and can change when boundaries are redrawn, so confirm the schools for a specific address with CMS's address lookup before you buy. Our South Charlotte schools guide explains how the lookup, the magnet lottery and charter applications work.

Getting around

Matthews is car-oriented. Most commuters use Independence Boulevard (US-74) toward uptown or I-485 to reach Ballantyne, SouthPark and the airport, and both can be slow at rush hour. Check the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) route map for bus options from your address. Test your commute at rush hour before you commit.

Rail isn't coming soon. WFAE reported in March 2026 that the planned LYNX Silver Line is slated to run from the airport to Bojangles Coliseum. A consultant estimated that extending it to Central Piedmont Community College's campus in Matthews would cost an additional $2.4 billion and would likely require a new quarter-cent sales tax. No extension to Matthews has been funded.

Is Matthews a good fit?

Matthews tends to suit people who want:

  • A walkable historic downtown with a weekly farmers market and regular community events.
  • An established town with its own government, close to Charlotte jobs and shopping.
  • Quick access to greenways, parks and youth sports.

It may be less of a fit if you need rail transit for your commute, or if you want large new-construction subdivisions with lots of acreage. For those, compare Waxhaw and Weddington or Steele Creek.

For a side-by-side look at Matthews and its neighbor to the west, read Matthews and Pineville: Small-Town Charm Next to the City. You can also see our Matthews neighborhood page and our Moving to South Charlotte guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Matthews, NC part of Charlotte?

No. Matthews is its own incorporated town in Mecklenburg County, southeast of Charlotte. It has its own town government and services, and its public schools are part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Why was Matthews called Stumptown?

According to the Town of Matthews, the early settlement was nicknamed Stumptown for the tree stumps farmers left as they cleared land for cotton. It was later called Fullwood, after postmaster John Miles Fullwood, before the railroad arrived in 1874 and the stop was named for railroad director Edward Matthews.

What is the population of Matthews, NC?

The 2020 Census counted 29,435 people in the Town of Matthews, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

When is the Matthews farmers market open?

The Matthews Community Farmers' Market at 188 N. Trade St. runs on Saturdays year-round. The market's website lists 8 a.m. to noon for the 2026 main season (April 11 to Nov. 21) and 9 to 11 a.m. for the winter season that starts Dec. 5, 2026. Check the market's site for holiday changes.

When is Matthews Alive?

Matthews Alive is a four-day festival in downtown Matthews over Labor Day weekend, produced by the volunteer nonprofit Matthews Alive, Inc. with the Town of Matthews. The organizers note that pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome.

Will the LYNX Silver Line reach Matthews?

Not in the current plan. WFAE reported in March 2026 that the Silver Line is slated to run from the airport to Bojangles Coliseum, and that a consultant estimated extending it to Central Piedmont's campus in Matthews would cost another $2.4 billion and likely require a new sales tax.

Sources