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Learn Why Salisbury, NC Is a Great Residential Area

Salisbury (SAULZ-ber-ee) is a city in and the county seat of Rowan County, North Carolina. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 census (growing 27.8% from the previous census in 2000). Salisbury is the home of famed North Carolina soft drink, Cheerwine, and the regional supermarket Food Lion. All information below is taken from https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/Salisbury,_North_Carolina.

Historic Engagement

Salisbury has developed a strong record of historic preservation over the last few decades. It is the site of a noted prisoner-of-war camp during the American Civil War and has 10 National Register of Historic Places historic districts. The city has many historic homes and commercial buildings dating from the 19th century and early 20th century, several of which are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A walking tour begins at the Rowan County Convention and Visitors Bureau and winds through the history of Salisbury and the state’s Piedmont Region. Structures from the 19th century as well as artifacts, such as the desk that President Andrew Jackson used when he studied law in Salisbury, are viewable. The Rowan Museum, located in both the Salisbury’s 1854 Courthouse, the circa 1815 Utzman-Chambers House Museum, as well as the 1820 Hall House, provides information regarding historic Salisbury. The City of Salisbury currently boasts 10 National Register of Historic Places historic districts with over 1,200 properties.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc. and the Salisbury Community Appearance Commission offer a glimpse into the city’s rich and diverse history through the Salisbury History and Art Trail. A series of markers throughout the city incorporate both history and art into the trail to assist in sharing events, stories, and experiences from Salisbury’s past. The markers are organized into five broad historic eras.

Downtown Salisbury Ghost Walks and Tours provide a blend of evening enlightenment and education as participants tour the historic city on foot.

Shopping & Dining

Salisbury, North Carolina is home to a vibrant downtown area that encompasses several blocks near the intersection of Innes Street and Main Street. The downtown area is dominated by small locally owned merchants. The area offers many restaurants with a variety of cuisines.

  • Hap’s Grill
  • The Smoke Pit Restaurant
  • GoBurrito
  • Bangkok Downtown- Sushi
  • Ivan’s
  • La Cava
  • Sweet Meadow Café
  • Salty Caper

Downtown Salisbury also provides an array of unique shops, antique stores, and cultural attractions. Downtown Nights Out, held throughout the year, provide opportunities for late-night shopping, musical entertainment, dining, and fellowship.

Walmart, Kmart, Staples, Office Depot, PetSmart, Old Navy, Outback, Cold Stone Creamery, O’Charley’s, a Tinseltown movie theater, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and a Cracker Barrel are around exit 76 (Innes Street/US 52) from Interstate 85. Many other lodging establishments and restaurants are also located around this exit. At exit 75, Jake Alexander Boulevard, and exit 74, Julian Road, there are many other restaurants and shopping areas.

Cultural Arts Community

The Salisbury community presents an area rich in cultural resources with tremendous citizen support and stewardship for arts and cultural development. Salisbury boasts a tradition of valuing arts and diligently strives to protect existing resources while linking arts and cultural resources to key economic, neighborhood development, educational, and social goals of the broader community.

Salisbury is characterized by a strong commitment to historic preservation, high levels of arts and cultural activity, a citizen base that places a high value on arts education, and a strong local tradition of civic volunteerism. The city offers a growing, strong population of professional and amateur artists drawn from many disciplines with vast support from local patrons and foundations.

A unique participation and support for the arts, coupled with an emerging downtown public art program, have provided Salisbury with a stable foundation for an exemplary cultural arts plan. The Salisbury Sculpture Show is an example of an existing public art program.

  • The local Rowan Arts Council offers a Rowan Art Crawl on the second Saturday of each month and provides access to more than 25 professional artists, studios, and galleries.
  • The Rail Walk Arts District, located near the restored Salisbury railroad depot, provides an array of artists and galleries.
  • The Waterworks Visual Arts Center provides diverse opportunities in the arts through exhibitions, education, and outreach programs.
  • The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra offers an opportunity to experience the joy and excitement of music.
  • The Piedmont Players Theatre, The Looking Glass Artist Collective Black Box Theater, and The Norvell Theater provide venues for creative community engagement through the performing arts.
  • The Fisher Street area of Downtown Salisbury recently bricked and revitalized for use as an entertainment venue, has become the site for numerous outdoor concerts, special attractions, and holiday events. Brick Street Live, an outdoor summer concert series, takes place in Downtown Salisbury at the corner of Fisher and Lee Streets. The series offers performances by artists from diverse genres.

Climate

The climate in the Salisbury area is moderate. The massive mountains of Western North Carolina form a natural barrier against the cold east-west winds. While definitely “southern” in climate, Salisbury is far enough north and has sufficient altitude to escape the humid summers endured by many other southern regions. Extremes in climates are rare and short-lived. In winter, the high temperature averages about 50 °F with a low of around 32 °F. The total snowfall is normally about six inches a year. Summer highs average about 87 °F with a low of 66 °F. All in all, the climate of Salisbury affords many pleasant days of enjoyable living.

Transportation

Amtrak’s Crescent, Carolinian, and Piedmont trains connect Salisbury to the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at Depot and Liberty Streets. Salisbury is also served by Interstate 85, U.S. Routes 601, 29, 52, and 70, and the Rowan County Airport.

Salisbury is an important point on Interstate 85 as it is just south of the halfway point between Charlotte and Greensboro. Exits 74 (Julian Road), 75 (U.S. Route 601/Jake Alexander Boulevard), and 76 (Innes Street/U.S. Route 52) are designated as Salisbury exits.

The City of Salisbury’s transit system provides public transportation and offers three routes. Each route arrives and departs from the Transfer Site, which is located on Depot Street. Any member of the general public may ride the Salisbury transit bus. Salisbury transit does not operate on Sundays and some holidays.

Major Highways

Interstate 85 passes through the county from southwest to northeast. In the early 2000s, I-85 underwent an extensive widening in the central and northern parts of the county, from exit 68, US 29 Connector north almost to the Davidson County line. A new bridge over the Yadkin River is planned.

U.S. Route 70 enters the northwestern part of Rowan County, west of Cleveland. It runs southeast into Salisbury, where it follows Jake Alexander Boulevard to the southeast and then joins US 29 North as Main Street. US 70 continues northeast as Main Street and then Salisbury Avenue in Spencer before crossing into Davidson County.

U.S. Route 29 forms Main Street in Kannapolis, China Grove, and Landis in the southern part of the county. It joins US 70 as Main Street through Salisbury, and as Salisbury Avenue in Spencer.

U.S. Route 52 is the main artery for the southeastern part of the county, serving the towns of Gold Hill, Rockwell, and Granite Quarry. Just before reaching downtown Salisbury, US 52 joins Interstate 85, which it follows into Davidson County.

Adjacent Counties:

  • Cabarrus County, North Carolina – South
  • Davidson County, North Carolina – East
  • Davie County, North Carolina – North
  • Iredell County, North Carolina – West
  • Stanly County, North Carolina – Southeast
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