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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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