FORSYTH COUNTY
County Offices
201 N Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem 336-703-2020
www.co.forsyth.nc.us
Chamber of Commerce
411 West Fourth St
Winston-Salem 336-728-9200
www.winstonsalem.com
Forsyth County is home to more than 320,000 residents. The county was originally settled in 1753 by Moravian Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg, who acquired a 100,000-acre tract of land from Lord Granville, one of the lord proprietors of North Carolina. When Forsyth County was created out of a portion of Stokes County in 1849, the Moravians agreed to sell the government 51 acres north of Salem to become the county seat. The new town was called Winston, after a local Revolutionary War hero. Salem continued to prosper as a trading center, while Winston and the rest of Forsyth grew under the guidance of R.J. Reynolds and his new tobacco company and P.H. Hanes and his knitwear operation. In 1913, the towns merged and the city became Winston-Salem. Today, more than half of Forsyth County’s population lives in Winston-Salem.
Residents of the county are treated to a vast array of exciting activities and even more exciting facilities all contributing to a very high quality of life. These include, The North Carolina School of the Arts, America’s only residential, state-supported school for the arts, attracts talented young men and women to Winston-Salem. NCSA performs more than 350 cultural programs each year in the spectacular 1,200-seat Stevens Center for Performing Arts. The Piedmont Triad Symphony, Piedmont Opera Theatre and touring Broadway shows also perform at Stevens Center. A highlight every two years is the National Black Theatre Festival, which draws 30,000 attendees and talent from across the globe. NCSA also hosts the RiverRun International Film Festival, one of the premier film festivals in the Southeastern United States and is a sponsor of Films on Fourth featuring non-main stream cinema works from around the world.
SciWorks with its many hands-on exhibits, planetarium and environmental park and The Children’s Museum are popular attractions for families. Reynolds House, the former estate of R.J. Reynolds and his wife, features an amazing collection of American art from such masters as Georgia O’Keefe and Frederic Church. And for great shopping, nearby Reynolds Village is popular for its boutiques and restaurants.
The county’s Moravian history comes alive at Historic Bethabara Park, a National Historic Landmark and site of the Carolinas’ first Moravian settlement, and in Old Salem, considered to be one of the most authentic and well-documented colonial sites in America. Tanglewood Park, just west of Winston-Salem near the town of Clemmons, offers 1,300 acres of parkland. There’s something for everyone, whether fishing, horseback riding, camping, swimming or just picnicking with family. Tanglewood is also home to two 18-hole PGA golf courses and also is famous across the state for its annual Christmas Light Festival.
Forsyth County and Guilford County are jointly developed The Triad Park on 426 acres between the two counties. The park offers hiking/biking trails, sports fields, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and picnic areas.
Neighborhoods in Winston-Salem pride themselves on their lush landscaping, towering trees, winding streets, and, above all, safety. The county is home to everything from turn of the century homes in historic districts such as Old Salem to contemporary custom homes in new communities. The cost of living in Winston-Salem is among the most affordable in the country, and there is a home to suit any budget. Forsyth County offers everything that residents could need, right at their front door.
Services
Although traditionally associated with the textile and tobacco industries, the county is transforming itself to be a leader in the nanotech, high-tech and bio-tech fields. Medical research is a fast-growing local industry, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem. Blue Rhino, the nation’s largest propane exchange company and a division of Ferrellgas, is also headquartered in Winston-Salem. A portion of downtown Winston-Salem has been designated as the Piedmont Triad Research Park for biomedical and information technology research and development. It is the location of the corporate headquarters of BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company), HanesBrands, Inc., Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Lowes Foods Stores, ISP Sports, Reynolds American (parent of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company), Reynolda Manufacturing Solutions, Southern Community Bank, K&W Cafeterias and TW Garner Food Company. PepsiCo has its Customer Service Center located in Winston-Salem as well.
The County affords outstanding educational opportunities at all levels. Public and private schools offer strong college preparatory, vocational and technical programs. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools serve 48,300 students in 70 schools, and each school provides programs for academically gifted children. The community is dedicated to providing a top-rate school system. The public school system operates a “Schools of Choice” program that allows parents to select the elementary and middle schools for their children within a defined zone. Students attend high school according to where they live. There are also six Charter Schools in the county and approximately 30 private schools, both religious and secular.
The medical community in Forsyth County is among the best in the Southeast. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center includes N.C. Baptist Hospitals, Inc., as well as 20 affiliate or subsidiary hospitals and 87 satellite clinics. Baptist Hospital is an 830-bed teaching hospital that is regularly ranked among the nation’s top medical centers. Forsyth Medical Center is an 847-bed not-for-profit regional medical center. Coupled with Medical Park Hospital, a 136-bed elective, outpatient surgery center, Forsyth Medical Center is the state’s second largest tertiary care hospital and was the first hospital in the state to be nationally certified as a primary stroke care center. Combined, these two medical centers provide some of the highest quality medical care in the nation.
Winston-Salem is increasingly being recognized as a medical think tank for research and development, with a growing list of research successes and medical accolades. On the pharmaceutical side, is Targacept, a Winston-Salem-based company that has gained world-wide notoriety for its advances in developing neuroscience medicines specifically in the areas of manic depression, ADHD and Alzheimer’s.
Clemmons
Village Offices
3715 Clemmons Road
Clemmons 336-766-7511
www.clemmons.org
Chamber of Commerce
3540 Clemmons Road
Clemmons 336-970-5100
www.lewisville-clemmons.com
The area now known as the Village of Clemmons was established in 1802 by Peter Clemmons. In fact, the village is named after him. The first railroad entered the area in the 1870s. The village was officially incorporated in December, 1986. Today the Village of Clemmons is a thriving community encompassing about twelve square miles with a population of more than 19,000. The residents of Clemmons enjoy a low unemployment rate and a high median household income. Clemmons continues to grow as people find the area a desirable place to live and work. West Forsyth Senior High School, the largest high school in Forsyth County, is located in Clemmons. The school was founded in 1964. While staying Clemmons, you can visit the Tanglewood Park Arboretum and Rose Garden. You can also choose to watch plays and concerts at the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem. It is also worth visiting the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Shopping can be enjoyed at the Clemmons Village Shopping Center and Westwood Shopping Center.
Kernersville
City Offices
134 East Mountain Street
Kernersville 336-996-3121
http://toknc.com
Chamber of Commerce
136 East Mountain Street
Kernersville 336-993-4521
www.kernersvillenc.com
Kernersville is centrally located in the heart of the Piedmont Triad Area of North Carolina. Specifically located between the two I-40’s and surrounded by the cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. This provides for easy access to major roadways and is local to an international airport. The town has a population of just over 24,000 residents who live an enviable quality of life in a small city surrounded by a major metropolitan area. Historic Downtown Kernersville offers a variety of retail shops, salons, restaurants, offices and the public library. Located throughout the town, you will also find major chain stores and restaurants for your convenience with a variety of unique shops and cafes nestled in between. Many people who work in Winston-Salem, Greensboro or High Point live in Kernersville. As well as those who work in one of the many business that are based in the town. The Piedmont Land Conservancy has proposed a Greenway that would run from Winston-Salem to Greensboro, passing right through Kernersville and adding one more charming element to this friendly town. The community is home to 10 public schools, several private schools and a community college. Residents enjoy year round activities with several annual festivals including Holiday parades and more. Homes range from restored historic properties in the historic district to modern homes with every current gadget. Community spirit and family recreation are important factors to life here, with several family centers, YMCA and community facilities available. Youth sports and other organized activities make sure that residents are never bored. Kernersville’s mix of old and new mean that new residents and visitors alike will find everything they need.
Lewisville
Town Offices
6510 Shallowford Road
Lewisville 336-945-5558
www.lewisvillenc.net
Chamber of Commerce
3540 Clemmons Road
Clemmons 336-970-5100
www.lewisville-clemmons.com
Lewisville officially incorporated in 1991 and today is one of the fastest growing communities in Forsyth County with almost 13,000 residents. One of the motivations in moving toward incorporation was to preserve the small town ambience that existed in 1991. Much attention and planning has gone into preserving the community’s pedestrian-friendly environment in the downtown, and community spirit is fostered through events and activities at the town’s Shallowford Square. The town square was the vision of Lewisville’s interim manager in 1991, Kent Matthewson. It was Matthewson, an experienced and much respected city manager and planner with national and international experience, who envisioned a town square as a focal point for downtown and a way to set the tone for future development. Today the town has a second park built on land donated by Mary Alice Warren in honor of her late husband, Jack. Jack Warren Park is a passive park on 16-acres near downtown. Currently, there are 14 historical sites that are marked by the Historical Society of Lewisville, some of them are: the Shiloh Lutheran Church, the Lewis Laugenour House, and Concord United Methodist Church (which was called the Waggoner’s Chapel in 1781.) Another landmark in the community is the Roller Mill, built in 1910 and operated until 1984. While no longer an operating mill, the building still stands, now housing other businesses and serving as an anchor for downtown development. Lewisville is one of the oldest settlements in Forsyth County, and maintains a charm that many people look for in today’s hectic world, making this a great community to call home.
Rural Hall
Town Offices
423 Bethania-Rural Hall Road
Rural Hall 336-969-6856
https://www.ruralhall.com/
Rural Hall is home to a little more than 2,500 residents. It is located 10 miles N of Winston-Salem and 76 miles northeast of Charlotte. The town is considered part of the Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point metropolitan area. It is a small community nestled in the northern part of the county that shares in the growth and excitement of the state’s robust Piedmont Triad region. The community’s history can be traced to a trapper’s cabin built in the 1740s. Today, that small cabin structure stands as part of a stately 18th century home in southern Rural Hall. Rural Hall offers a quiet and laid back pace of life. Its location, just minutes from Winston-Salem, means that it has become one of the places for those who work in the city to live and commute. This can be seen in the number of newer home communities that have been built in recent years and those that are planned as well. The city is proud of its long heritage and has an active historical society.
Tobaccoville
Village Offices
4260 Tobaccoville Road
Tobaccoville 336-983-0029
https://tobaccovillenc.org/
Tobaccoville is a small village with a population of just over 2,600. While a Tobaccoville post office was established in 1887, the village was not incorporated until 1991. Tobaccoville was named for a plug chewing tobacco factory owned and operated in the 1870’s by Charles Orrender. The factory was located on what is now Doral Drive, one mile south of the present day post office at the Tobaccoville crossroads. The Orrender Tobacco Factory was the principal landmark in the area, and the name “Tobaccoville” was suggested for the post office. Tobacco is still a major part of the community with R. J. Reynolds’ having a 2 million square foot plant in the village. The village is also home to several parks community facilities, with the Village Park recreational facilities designed to fit in with the natural surroundings and picnic areas. The mostly rural atmosphere of the community surrounding the park enhances its natural beauty. Small town feel and lifestyle is the best way to describe living in this community. Annual celebrations including holiday lights festival and more add to the feel.
Walkertown
Town Offices
5177 Main Street
Walkertown 336-595-4212
www.townofwalkertown.us
Walkertown is a small town of just over 4,000 residents. It is a primarily residential community with a wide range of home style available. The housing choices range from classic homes on large lots to new homes in modern subdivisions. It close location to the urban centers of the county makes it an ideal choice for those who want to live in a quieter community and commute to larger areas. The town is home to a brand new High School campus that offers its students every modern opportunity to better their education. It is also home to a large branch of the county library system. Residents have plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities right at their doorstep – with plenty of unspoiled nature to choose from.
Winston-Salem
City Offices
101 N. Main Street
Winston-Salem 336-727-8000
http://cityofws.org
Chamber of Commerce
411 West Fourth Street
Winston-Salem 336-728-9200
www.winstonsalem.com
Winston-Salem is home to a population of more than 230,000 residents. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to the tallest office buildings in the region, such as 100 North Main Street. It is called the “Twin City” for its dual heritage and “City of the Arts” for its dedication to fine arts and theater. “Camel City” is a reference to the city’s historic involvement in the tobacco industry related to locally-based R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s popular Camel cigarettes.
The city is full of historic attractions and offers residents and visitors a great opportunity to explore its unique history. The Old Salem district and related Historic Bethabara and Bethania sites are the city’s oldest historical attractions. Also of historical interest is Reynolda Village (which includes Reynolda Gardens and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art). Other sites of interest include the Horne Creek Historic Farm, Tanglewood Park golf course, the SciWorks educational facility, and SECCA, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Museums are an important portion of Winston-Salem’s heritage. Most famous of Winston-Salem’s museums is Old Salem, a living history museum centered on the main Moravian settlement founded in 1766. Along with the original 18th century buildings, Old Salem is also home to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), a gallery of 18th and 19th century furniture, ceramics, and textiles. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art (built by the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and now affiliated with Wake Forest University) is another of Winston-Salem’s premier museums. The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is a local art museum. The Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology is an anthropological museum, maintained by Wake Forest University that has many artifacts and other pieces of history. The city also offers places oriented for children. SciWorks is an interactive museum for children, teaching basics in all areas of science, and offering experiments and educational tours. The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem offers engaging exhibits and programs designed to develop creative thinking, strengthen language skills, and encourage curiosity for children ages birth to eight.
Winston-Salem is often referred to as the “City of the Arts”, because of its history, in having the first arts council in the United States and because of the local art schools and attractions. These include the University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts, Twin City Stage, Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, the Piedmont Opera Theater, the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Stevens Center for the Performing Arts, and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts. There are many galleries and workshops in the city’s art district centered at Sixth and Trade streets. The city plays host to the National Black Theatre Festival, the RiverRun International Film Festival and the Reynolda Film Festival. Winston-Salem is also the home of the Art-o-mat and houses nine of them throughout the city. The city is also home to Carolina Music Ways, a grassroots arts organization focusing on the area’s diverse, interconnected music traditions, including bluegrass, blues, jazz, gospel, old-time string band, and Moravian music. Once a year the city is also the home of the Heavy Rebel Weekender music festival.
The city’s major sports and entertainment venues are organized in a group known as the Winston-Salem Entertainment-Sports Complex. Winston-Salem provides a number of athletic attractions. The Dash is a Class A Minor-League baseball team currently affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. After 52 years at historic Ernie Shore Field, the Dash now plays its home games at the new BB&T Ballpark, which opened in 2010. Previous names for the team include the Winston-Salem Spirits and, most recently, the Winston-Salem Warthogs. Its players have included Carlos Lee, Joe Crede, Jon Garland, and Aaron Rowand, all of whom have played extensively at the major league level. Wake Forest University is an original member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Wake Forest’s football team plays its games at BB&T Field (formerly Groves Stadium), which seats 32,500. Also Wake Forest’s soccer program made four consecutive final four appearances (2006–2009) and was NCAA champions in 2007. Their women’s field hockey team won three consecutive national championships between 2002 and 2004. NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing takes place from March until August at city-owned Bowman Gray Stadium, after which the stadium is converted for football and is used by Winston-Salem State for Rams games. Winston-Salem offers a variety of community and children’s sports programs and has an active YMCA presence. Several community pools are available for membership.
For those who prefer to enjoy the challenges of finding a great deal or just the pleasure of a stroll, shopping in the city is second to none. Winston-Salem is home to Hanes Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in North Carolina. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become the city’s largest shopping district. Other shopping areas exist in the city, including Thruway Shopping Center, Hanes Point Shopping Center, Hanes Commons, Pavilions, Stone’s Throw Plaza, Silas Creek Crossing, and the Marketplace Mall.
Residents of this active and growing city have the best of all worlds when it comes to lifestyle choices. They can choose to live in a historic home, a modern sub division or condo, they have art and music, sports and outdoor adventures all right at their doorstep. Winston-Salem is truly a great place to call home.
