Decades of growth have given the now-booming metropolis of Ballantyne a taste of city living with suburban curb appeal after it was formerly isolated in South Charlotte. Ballantyne is an “edge city”, neighboring the lines of both North and South Carolina and is an affluent area dotted here and there with small parks, greenways, and ponds which are all great for families. Beautiful residences, shopping malls, as well as some of the best restaurants in the country, can all be found in this suburban region of the city. Four statues that honor the Ballantyne’s relationship to Charlotte highlight the neighborhood’s very center. These statues were commissioned by Johnny Harris, one of the area’s initial developers. Although Ballantyne is a part of Charlotte, the majority of people refer to it as a separate city because it has its own country club, business district, and golf course.