Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, is estimated to have a population of 671,588, according to a 2008 census. About 1,675,495 people live in its metropolitan area. The city has a total area of 242.9 square miles. Charlotte is composed of 199 neighborhoods. The City of Charlotte has a reputation for being one of the nation’s leading financial centers. It is home to the nation’s largest and third largest financial institutions, Bank of America and Wachovia, resectively. Several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Charlotte including Lowe’s, Duke Energy, and Family Dollar. The city is famous for its high level of involvement in the motorsports industry. Several NASCAR offices and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which will be completed in 2009, can be found in Charlotte. The second largest public school system, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School, can be found in Charlotte. There are approximately 161 elementary, middle, and high schools that teach over 132,000 students in this city. Several colleges including the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, and Davidson College, are in Charlotte. Different religions have their main offices in Charlotte. The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church have their headquarters in this city. To get around the city, travelers can use express shuttles, historical trolleys, and any of Amtrak’s three train routes.