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Salisbury, North
Carolina exudes the grace and charm of a small Southern city.
Serving as the seat of Rowan
County, Salisbury lies in the heart of the Central Piedmont
Region and the industrial center of North Carolina. Salisbury is 40 miles
north of Charlotte
and 35 miles south of Winston-Salem.
Founded in 1755, Salisbury was a thriving hub for commerce and
transportation. For many years, it was western NC’s largest city, and an
important center for politics and trade. Salisbury served as the final outpost
for pioneers exploring the west. Today, this colorful city houses ten separate
historic districts. It was the site of the Salisbury
Confederate Prison during the Civil
War. While the prison no longer stands, a number of walking and driving
tours take visitors to numerous sites. The Salisbury
National Cemetery is one, where the Confederacy dug mass graves for Union
soldiers. A number of stunning monuments, such as the Federal Monument to the
Unknown Dead commemorate those painful years of U.S. history.
In modern times, Salisbury
holds a supreme business location directly on Interstate 85, where US highways
29, 52, 70 and 601 intersect. With the Charlotte
Metropolitan Area to the south and the Greensboro
Triad Region to the north, over 3 million people live within 90 miles of
Salisbury. An overnight truck drive can reach 60% of the U.S. population. The Charlotte
International Airport and the Piedmont
Triad International Airport in Greensboro
are each only an hour’s drive. The Rowan
County Airport in Salisbury provides service for small, local planes. The Rowan
County Economic Development Commission offers numerous incentives to new businesses wanting to take advantage of Salisbury’s prime location.
Many modern industrial parks stand ready for incoming firms.
Downtown
Salisbury experienced major revitalization in the 1980’s, and today is
known as one of North Carolina's
most successful downtown areas. The streets have cobblestones and gazebos stand
in courtyards. Fascinating architecture from various centuries looms throughout.
Over 1200 properties make up Salisbury’s ten historic districts, many of which
are now businesses. Housed in an 1854 courthouse building is the Rowan
Museum. The Utzman
Chambers House is an 1819 Federal townhouse. Seventy-five unique shops
and fifteen restaurants thrive in Salisbury’s Downtown.
Census
2000 recorded Salisbury’s population at 26,462. The city boundaries extend
almost 18 square miles. Salisbury, NC residents enjoy a moderate southern
climate. The mighty Blue
Ridge Mountains to the east block the cold winter winds. Winter temperatures
average 41 degrees, with six inches of snowfall. Summer temperatures are milder
than most southern cities, with highs averaging 87 and lows of 66. Extended heat
or cold waves are rare here.
Salisbury comes alive with sound each year at the Rowan
Blues and Jazz Fest. The Salisbury
Symphony Orchestra performs at the city’s Catawba
and Livingstone
Colleges. The Rowan
County Fair held in Salisbury is a time to celebrate the agricultural
delights of the surrounding rural area.
Salisbury,
North Carolina carefully preserves the lessons and traditions of its colorful
past. Salisbury remains a city where one can step back into the past to reflect,
or look forward into the dynamic future.
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About North Carolina
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