The Arboretum is the general area of Charlotte, North Carolina which surrounds the eponymous mixed-use shopping center, apartment community, office complex and medical park which opened in 1989. The shopping center is home to Charlotte's first Wal-Mart store, and the area's name comes from the abundance of trees in the area. The center of the neighborhood is at Route 16 and 51, and the community is bordered by the SouthPark neighborhood to the northwest, the Ballantyne area to the southwest and the town of Matthews and Providence High to the east.
The Arboretum area is schooled by Elizabeth Lane Elementary, Providence Spring Elementary, South Charlotte Middle, and Providence High. United Faith Christian Academy and Carmel Christian Schools are local private schools in the area. In 2009, Fire Station 39 was constructed for the area.
The area is home to the wealthy subdivisions of Providence Plantation, Hembstead, Beverly Crest, Raintree and the communities at Piper Glen. Since the early 1990s, as with many other areas of Charlotte, The Arboretum has seen explosive growth.
The Arboretum shopping center includes stores such as Barnes & Noble, Rite Aid (formerly Eckerd), Bed Bath & Beyond, and Harris Teeter.