The Hornets Nest Evolution Project (HNEP) is a (presently solo) Citizen lead, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) project dedicated to digitizing the historical evolution of Mecklenburg County, and surrounding areas, via physical infrastructure, primarily roads and railways, and other traces left in the present.
The project is ongoing, with new data being pulled in from multiple sources for different time periods. I am starting as early back as I have good data for and working forward. Please keep checking back for new data to see how it evolves!
I am always looking for fellow appreciators of history interested in contributing to the project, whether that be via tracking down sources, pulling those into the map, or just suggestions. Get more info and reach out on the project's github by "opening an issue"!
You can also support by buying me a coffee. As a token of gratitude I will prioritize researching a neighborhood of your choice, providing a quick report about it, and adding an info point crediting you as a patron
Thank you in advance for any and all support, even if it is just admiring the hidden history of Charlotte!
Last Update: 5/3/2025 This is the first release!
Coming soon: more data from 1910 and a slice of 1800!