At the southeastern border of Mecklenburg County near Charlotte, the town of Matthews is home to about 22,000 people. Matthews is a small, family-friendly town where close to 70% of households are made up of married couples and almost half have children under 18.Matthews, known for its small-town charm, offers tree lined streets and a quaint historic downtown. 
Education
Matthews is served by both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District and the Union County School District. The latter district runs Weddington Elementary, Weddington Middle School, and Weddington High School. The former district runs Crown Point Elementary, Elizabeth Lane Elementary, Matthews Elementary, Crestdale Middle School, and David W. Butler High School. Alternatively, students can go to 1 of 3 private schools: Bible Baptist Christian School (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade), Covenant Day School (K-9) or Carmel Christian School (K-8). Postsecondary education is available at Wingate University: Metro College, a school of graduate and adult education, and Central Piedmont Community College–Levine Campus. Additionally, there are many schools in Charlotte, including the well-known University of North Carolina.
 Recreation
Matthews has multiple parks, an indoor recreation center, and a library for its residents. The Matthews Athletic and Recreation Association offers programs in baseball, softball, football, basketball and cheerleading. The Matthews Community Center is also available to residents.  It features performances, meeting space, and opportunities for cultural events and celebrations. Performances at the center include children's performances put on by Matthews Playhouse, which also offers classes to students of all ages. There are several annual festivals and events, including the Golf Classic, ArtFest and the Matthews Alive! Festival, a 4-day Labor Day weekend celebration featuring music and the arts. Additionally, Matthews is in very close proximity to the large city of Charlotte.