Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Encyclopedia : W : WI : WIN : Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 185,776. It is the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, and the fifth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is a prominent municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and home to the tallest building in the area, the Wachovia Center. It is often referred to as the "Twin City" for its dual heritage.
The Old Salem district and related Historic Bethabara site 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, the SciWorks educational facility, and SECCA, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art.
The Winston-Salem metropolitan area (MSA) has an estimated population of 441,607 according to the 2004 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau. The combined statistical area (CSA) of Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point has a July 1, 2005 population of 1,490,886. Source: US Bureau of the Census Released April 2006
History
Salem
The origin of the town of Salem dates back to January 1753, when Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg, on behalf of the Moravian church, selected a settlement site which he called "Muddy Creek du Wachau" (Wachovia, named after the Austrian estate of Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf). The land, just short of 99,000 acres (400 km²), was subsequently purchased from John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.
On November 17, 1753, the first settlers arrived at what would later become the town of Bethabara. This town, despite its rapid growth, was not designed to be the primary settlement on the tract. Instead, the guidance of the Lord was sought for selection of a new town by drawing lots among sites which were suitable. The town established on the chosen site was given the name of Salem (for "peace"). On 6 January, 1766, the first tree was felled for the building of Salem.
Winston
In 1849 the town of Winston was founded, named after a local hero of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Winston, who was well-known in the town of Salem. Shortly thereafter both Winston and Salem were incorporated into the newly formed Forsyth County. It thrived as an industrial town, producing tobacco products, furniture and textiles. In 1851 Winston was designated the county seat, and, with plans to connect the cities of Winston and Salem, the county courthouse square was placed just one mile north of Salem's square.
Winston-Salem
In 1889, the United States Postal Service combined the mail offices for the two towns, and the towns were officially joined as "Winston-Salem" in 1913.The Reynolds family, namesake of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, played a large role in the history and public life of Winston-Salem.
Notable early businesses
- The J.A. and C.E. Bennett Marble and Granite Works was established in 1885.
- In 1903, R.J. Reynolds advertised in the Winston Newspaper horse stud service for $15.00.
- In 1906, the Bennett Bottling Company produced Bennett's Cola, a "Fine Carbonic Drink." The name was later changed to Winston-Salem Bottling Works in 1915.
Geography
Winston-Salem is located at (36.102764, -80.260491)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 283.9 km² (109.6 mi²). 281.9 km² (108.8 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (0.71%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there are 185,776 people, 76,247 households, and 46,205 families residing in the city. The population density is 659.0/km² (1,706.7/mi²). There are 82,593 housing units at an average density of 293.0/km² (758.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 55.57% White, 37.10% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.29% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 8.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.There are 76,247 households out of which 28.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% are married couples living together, 16.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% are non-families. 33.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.95.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,006, and the median income for a family is $46,595. Males have a median income of $32,398 versus $26,335 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,468. 15.2% of the population and 11.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
A 2006 cost of living survey ([Mercer]) ranked Winston-Salem as the cheapest city in the U.S. or Europe, 124th worldwide - slightly over half as expensive as living in Moscow.
Economy
Winston-Salem is the location of the corporate headquarters of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco corporation, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), TW Garner Food Company, and Lowes Foods Stores, Inc. The Wachovia Corporation was based in Winston-Salem until it merged with First Union Corporation in September 2001; the corporate headquarters of the combined company are now in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Although traditionally associated with the textile, furniture, and tobacco industries, Winston-Salem is attempting to attract new businesses in the nanotech, high-tech and bio-tech fields. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem.
Dell Computer Plant
In December 2004, the city landed a deal with Dell, Inc. to build a computer assembly plant nearby in southeastern Forsyth County, near the junction of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 311. To attract Dell, the city offered an incentive package that could reach almost $38 million dollars. The State offered additional incentives which could reach $267 million. The incentive packages have sparked a lawsuit and received criticism including that of state representative Paul Luebke, who said that he thinks "North Carolina dramatically overpaid Dell to come here." [link]. Despite the controversy, construction of the plant was completed during the summer of 2005, and the plant celebrated its official opening on October 5, 2005 with 350 employees. Dell expects the number of local employees to increase to 700 by September 2006 and economic studies have projected that, by 2010, the region will gain 1,500 Dell jobs and potentially as many as 6,000 indirect jobs. .[link]Research Park
A portion of downtown Winston-Salem has been recently designated as the Piedmont Triad Research Park for biomedical and information technology research and development. Currently, the research park is undergoing an expansion, with hopes of jumpstarting the city's economy.Features and attractions
Education
Winston-Salem's public school system is Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, which has most of its schools inside Winston-Salem. WS/FC Schools include 41 elementary schools, 17 middle schools and 15 high schools. Winston-Salem also has many great universities, including: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina School of the Arts, Salem College, Piedmont Baptist College, and Winston-Salem Bible College. Private and Parochial schools also make up a significant portion of Winston-Salem’s educational establishment. Until 2001 Winston-Salem was home to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (now in Kernersville, N.C.), one of only 3 Catholic High Schools in North Carolina. Catholic elementary schools include St. Leo The Great and Our Lady of Mercy (which now resides on the same location as the original Bishop McGuinness). Forsyth Country Day School and Summit School are the preeminent secular private schools in the city.Museums
Museums are an important portion of Winston-Salem's heritage. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art (built by the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and now owned by Wake Forest University) is Winston-Salem's premiere museum. The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is a local art museum worthy of interest. The Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology is an excellent anthropological museum, maintained by Wake Forest University, that has many fascinating artifacts and other important pieces of history. The city also offers places oriented for children. SciWorks is a fun, interactive museum for children, teaching basics in all areas of science, and offering fun experiments and educational tours. The Children's Museum of Winston-Salem is based on literature, incorporating classic stories and fairy tales into its permanent and traveling exhibits for younger children.Art
Winston-Salem is often referred to as the "City of the Arts," in part because of its history, in having the first arts council in the United States, founded in 1949, and for the local art schools and attractions. These include the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Piedmont Opera Theater, the Winston-Salem Symphony, 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 and the RiverRun Film Festival. Winston-Salem is also the home of the Art-o-mat, and houses nine of them throughout the city.Gardens
Reynolda Gardens is a 4-acre formal garden set within a larger woodland site, originally part of the R.J. Reynolds country estate.Sports
Shopping
Winston-Salem is home to Hanes Mall, the largest shopping mall in the state. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road, Silas Creek Parkway, and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become the city's largest shopping district. Numerous shopping centers have been built in the area, including Hanes Point Shopping Center, Hanes Commons, Pavillions, Stone's Throw Plaza and Silas Creek Crossing.Other major shopping areas are found along Peters Creek Parkway (home of Marketplace Mall), University Parkway, Jonestown Road, North Point Boulevard, Reynolda Road, and Robinhood Road.
Transportation
Thoroughfares
In 1993, a new east-west freeway opened that bypassed downtown Winston-Salem to the south. Interstate 40 was signed along this stretch of highway replacing the old route through the downtown area, which was given the designation Business 40. U.S. Highway 52 (shared with North Carolina State Highway 8) is the main north-south freeway that passes through the heart of city. U.S. Highway 311 is a partial freeway that links the Winston-Salem to High Point, following I-40 and US 52 through the Winston-Salem business district. The [Winston-Salem Department of Transportation] plans for the US 311 freeway to be extended north along the east side of the city to Business I-40 by 2030, according to the Long Range Plan. U.S. Highway 421 mostly shares Business I-40 through Winston-Salem, but splits west of the city on a freeway to Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
The [Winston Salem Northern Beltway] is a proposed freeway that will loop around the city to the north, providing a route for the Future Interstate 74 on the western section and the Future spur Interstate 274 on the eastern seciton. The [NCDOT] plans for this project to be implemented after 2006. In the near future, U.S. Highway 52 south of Interstate 40 will be signed as Interstate 285.
Other major thoroughfares in Winston-Salem include NC 67 (Silas Creek Parkway & Reynolda Road), NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway), U.S. Highway 158 (Stratford Road), University Parkway, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, North Point Boulevard, and Hanes Mall Boulevard.
Aviation
Winston-Salem is served by Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport. The airport also serves much of the surrounding Piedmont Triad area, including High Point, North Carolina.A smaller airport, known as Smith Reynolds Airport, is located within the city limits, just northeast of downtown. It is mainly used for general aviation, but there are some passenger flights. Every year, Smith Reynolds Airport hosts an air show for the general public. The Smith Reynolds Airport is home to the Winston-Salem Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol.
Media
Newspapers
The Winston-Salem Journal is the main daily newspaper in Winston-Salem. The [Winston-Salem Chronicle] is a weekly newspaper that focuses on the African-American community.Radio Stations
These radio stations are located in Winston-Salem, and are listed by call letters, station number, and name. Many more radio stations can be picked up in Winston-Salem, however, they are not located in Winston-Salem.- WFDD, 88.5 FM, Wake Forest University (NPR Affiliate)
- WBFJ, 89.3 FM, Music From The Heart (Religious)
- WSNC, 90.5 FM, Winston-Salem State University
- WXRI, 91.3 FM, Southern Gospel
- WMQX, 93.1 FM, Oldies 93
- WZTX, 101.1 FM, FM Talk 101
- WTQR, 104.1 FM, Country Radio
- WKZL, 107.5 FM, #1 Hit Music Station
- WSJS, 600 AM, News-Talk Radio
- WPIP, 880 AM, Berean Christian School
- WAAA, 980 AM, Oldies
- WPOL, 1340 AM, The Light Gospel Music
- WTOB, 1380 AM, Spanish Radio
- WSMX, 1500 AM, Religious Radio
- WFBJ, 1550 AM, Music From The Heart (Religious)
Television stations
Winston-Salem makes up part of the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television designated market area. These stations are listed by call letters, channel number, network and city of license.- WFMY-TV, 2, CBS, Greensboro
- WGHP, 8, FOX, High Point
- WXII-TV, 12, NBC, Winston-Salem
- WGPX, 16, Pax, Burlington
- WTWB-TV, 20, WB, Lexington
- WUNL-TV, 26, PBS/UNCTV, Winston-Salem
- WXLV-TV, 45, ABC, Winston-Salem
- WUPN-TV, 48, UPN, Greensboro
- WLXI-TV, 61, TBN, Greensboro
Surrounding areas
Some minor outlying areas and surrounding municipalities are:
- Bethania, North Carolina
- Clemmons, North Carolina
- Dozier, North Carolina
- Kernersville, North Carolina
- King, North Carolina (mostly in Stokes County)
- Lewisville, North Carolina
- Midway, North Carolina (in Davidson County)
- Old Town, North Carolina
- Pfafftown, North Carolina
- Rural Hall, North Carolina
- Seward, North Carolina
- Stanleyville, North Carolina
- Tobaccoville, North Carolina
- Union Cross, North Carolina
- Walkertown, North Carolina
- Wallburg, North Carolina (in Davidson County)
Some nearby major cities are:
Sister cities
Winston-Salem has two sister cities, as designated by [Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI)]:
Famous residents
- Ed Berrier, NASCAR driver
- Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner
- Mark Grace, former first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks
- Josh Howard, NBA player on the Dallas Mavericks.
- Patrick O'Sullivan, NHL prospect for the Los Angeles Kings
- Chris Paul, NBA player on the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
- Matt Kendrick, Jazz Bassist
See also
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools School district
- Piedmont Triad
- I-85 Corridor
- SC-NC-VA Tornado Outbreak
External links
- [Official website of Winston-Salem, NC]
- [Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce]
- [Winston-Salem Convention & Visitors Bureau]
- [Winston-Salem Journal]
- [Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem]
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