Located seven miles southeast of Charlotte and adjacent to I-485, Union County is home to as much diversity in one county as there is in the state of North Carolina. The Gateway region of the County, nearest to Charlotte, is a well-developed area, optimally suited for corporate offices and distribution locations. The central portion of the county has developed a strong base in advanced manufacturing, most notably in aerospace, and has the state's highest concentration of aerospace companies - 19 companies in a seven mile radius. Agriculture reigns supreme on the eastern side of the county, where production of soybeans, corn and broiler chickens ranks among the highest in North Carolina. These attributes, along with the County's strong workforce development pipeline from the public schools, South Piedmont Community College and Wingate University, combine to make Union County the ideal location for many manufacturers to call home.