Salisbury is a city located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in the United States. Serving as the county seat of Rowan County since 1753, Salisbury’s jurisdiction once reached as far as the Mississippi River.
Salisbury, located in the western part of North Carolina, boasts a rich history as the oldest continuously inhabited colonial town in the region. The town takes pride in its well-preserved historic sites, with five Local Historic Districts and ten National Register Historic Districts that showcase its cultural and architectural heritage.
In the midst of the United States Civil War, Salisbury played host to a singular and crucial facility: the sole Confederate Prison in North Carolina. This prison served as a holding place for a diverse array of individuals, including Union soldiers who had been captured, Southerners who opposed the Confederacy, and those who had defected from the Confederate cause.
Salisbury is situated in the Central Piedmont region of North Carolina within the Charlotte metropolitan area. It is positioned 21 miles to the north of Concord, 38 miles to the south of Winston-Salem, and 25 miles to the northeast of Charlotte.
According to the 2020 census in the United States, the city had a population of 35,540 individuals, with 12,524 households and 7,325 families living there.
West End Plaza and the Rowan Mall, which was previously known as a shopping center, are both part of the shopping centers in the area.
Salisbury’s Fibrant system, which was later renamed Hotwire in 2015, achieved the ability to provide 10 gigabit capacity across the entire town. This system is believed to be the sole town-owned network globally that offers this level of capacity.
Salisbury’s prominent employers include the corporate headquarters of Food Lion, a prominent grocery chain that falls under the Delhaize umbrella, the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, the City of Salisbury, and Rowan County. Additionally, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and the Rowan Salisbury School System are significant employers in the area.
Since the late 20th century, Salisbury has demonstrated a commitment to preserving its rich history, showcasing its significance as a site of a notable prisoner of war camp during the American Civil War. The city boasts ten National Register historic districts, featuring a plethora of historic homes and commercial buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Several of these structures have earned individual listings on the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting their cultural and historical importance.
The main branch of the Rowan County Public Library can be found at 201 W Fisher Street, Salisbury.
The police department responsible for maintaining law and order in Salisbury is the Salisbury Police Department.
The city is home to a diverse range of educational institutions, including public and private schools.
The Rowan-Salisbury School System was established in 1989 as a result of the consolidation of the Rowan County Schools and the Salisbury City Schools. Of note is Salisbury High School, which is one of the district’s prominent institutions. Additionally, there are two charter schools located in Rowan County: Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School in East Spencer and Faith Academy Charter School in Faith, North Carolina
Several private schools in and around Salisbury cater to its residents. A few of these schools were established as segregation academies following the integration of the public school system.
North Hills Christian School provides education from preschool through twelfth grade. Rockwell Christian School also offers classes from preschool to twelfth grade. RCHSA is a homeschooling group that accommodates students of any age. Sacred Heart Catholic School teaches students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Salisbury Academy offers education from preschool through eighth grade. Salisbury Adventist School provides classes from kindergarten to seventh grade. Salisbury Christian School caters to students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. St. John’s Kindergarten accepts students from preschool to kindergarten.
Institutions of higher learning:
Catawba College
Livingstone College
Rowan–Cabarrus Community College
Hood Theological Seminary
The local daily newspaper, in circulation since 1905, is The Salisbury Post.
The trains operated by Amtrak, specifically the Crescent, Carolinian, and Piedmont, provide service to Salisbury, connecting it to several major cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is conveniently located at the intersection of Depot and Liberty streets.
The healthcare needs of most city residents are met by Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and its associated medical practices. The W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury serves veterans and is run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Salisbury, North Carolina, has been home to a diverse group of notable individuals throughout history. Baseball player Bill Baker, human rights activist Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim, actor Sidney Blackmer, and Major League Baseball catcher George Bradshaw were all born and raised in Salisbury. Rufus Early Clement, an African American educator, and Elizabeth Hanford Dole, a U.S. senator and cabinet member, also called Salisbury home. Mary Peacock Douglas, a librarian and author, and Governor John W. Ellis, who was born in the area and practiced law in Salisbury, round out the list of local luminaries. Actor Mike Evans, co-creator of the TV series Good Times, and NFL lineman Javon Hargrave are also from Salisbury. Josephine D. Heard, an African American teacher and poet, and President Andrew Jackson, who practiced law in Salisbury, add to the city’s rich history. NBA player Bobby Jackson and All-American basketball player Zion Williamson, who played for Duke University, are also from Salisbury. The city is also home to up-and-coming rapper Stunna 4 Vegas, who is signed to Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment.
Salisbury has a single sister city, officially recognized by Sister Cities International: Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.