ROWAN COUNTY
County Offices
130 West Innes Street
Salisbury 704-216-8180
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Chamber of Commerce
204 East Innes Street
Salisbury 704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Services
Situated northeast of Mecklenburg County, Rowan County is steeped in historic legacy and rural charm. Thriving businesses, premier recreational opportunities, welcoming communities, and first-rate services are drawing an increasing number of new residents. The county offers an outstanding public school system, opportunities for private education, and several institutions of higher learning. Catawba College, Livingstone College, and Rowan-Cabbarrus Community College provide a wealth of enrichment and degree programs for students of all ages. The Rowan-Salisbury School System features a number of award-winning schools, continually adding new facilities to keep pace with residential expansion. Premier resources include the Horizons Unlimited Supplementary Education Center and Museum, a 19,000-square-foot facility that combines exhibits with a planetarium and rooftop observatory. Many field trips and special events are held in local parks, supported by the cooperative Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department.
Newcomers will also find exceptional healthcare facilities and services that combine personalized care in comfortable settings with leading-edge diagnostics and treatment. Preventative care and wellness programs, public health screenings, and community education on issue from diet to fitness are part of the comprehensive approach. Rowan Regional Medical Center anchors the county’s healthcare system, providing major medical services, innovative health programs, and a number of specialties. New facilities and expanded services meet the needs of a growing population, including greatly expanded emergency and surgery centers. The hospital offers an award-winning program for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement, a leading stroke program, and advanced neurology services. Another recognized leader in the healthcare industry is the 457-bed Northeast Medical Center, providing state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical and surgical services and a number of award-winning departments on the 60-acre main campus in Concord. Rowan County is home to one of the state’s four veteran’s hospitals, the William Hefner VA Hospital.
Lifestyle
Nestled along the rolling Piedmont region, Rowan County blends rural landscapes with growing communities and historic preservation. The county seat and largest town of Salisbury is well known for its vintage architecture and treasures from the past. Two dozen blocks of the downtown district are listed in the National Register of Historic Districts, and regional visitors arrive each year for the historic home tour. Highlights include the antebellum Dr. Josephus Hall House circa 1820 and the 1766 Old Stone House. At the same time, Salisbury serves as a cultural center and active arts community, home to the meticulously restored Meroney Theater in the Tom and Martha Smith Performing Arts Center. The Waterworks Visual Arts Center, fine art galleries, the Piedmont Players Theatre Company, a symphony orchestra, and choral groups join touring companies for a full calendar of special events. With its private schools, colleges, and cultural enrichment, rural Rowan County offers many advantages associated with densely populated cities. Those who are interested in exploring the bright lights of Charlotte, the Atlantic Ocean beaches, or North Carolina mountain getaways can take advantage of the Interstate highway system running through the county.
An expanding downtown district in Salisbury integrates thriving businesses with dining experiences and shopping. Large retailers join specialty shops in malls and shopping plazas. Rowan County is proud of its status as the home of North Carolina’s first “Senior Center of Excellence,” a first-rate resource that offers everything from aquatics to day trips. Recreational facilities and amenities for all age groups and interests include an expansive county park system crowned by the 425-acre Dan Nicholas Park. Among the amenities are a nature center, petting zoo, carousel, miniature train ride, miniature golf course, 10-acre lake, and campground. Yadkin River Trail encourages fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, playgrounds, sports courts and fields, horseback riding trails, hiking paths, and excellent biking trails are all available in Rowan County. Newcomers can choose from an extensive housing selection, from charming historic homes to vibrant new construction in modern subdivisions or country manors. Golf-course communities, lakefront properties, farmland, patio homes, and condominiums are other options for comfort and quality in beautiful Rowan County.
China Grove
Municipal Offices
704-857-2466
https://www.chinagrovenc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Incorporated in 1889, historic China Grove evolved into an agricultural trading center by the late 1800s. Still characterized as a rural and friendly small town, the community is home to the Farmer’s Day celebration each July. More than 200 craft and food vendors attract thousands of visitors and local residents to a medley of great food, colorful displays, and enjoyable activities. Residents of China Grove benefit from the expanded amenities and services available in Salisbury, including a strong performing and fine arts community and modern shopping centers. Regional parks and natural areas provide opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, water sports, golfing, and tennis. Students enjoy access to award-winning schools on the elementary and secondary levels as well as easily accessible higher education in public and private institutions.
Faith
Municipal Offices
704-279-7500
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Best known for its extravagant and popular Independence Day celebration, the small community known as Faith was incorporated around the turn of the century in 1903. Although the town is home to less than 1,000 residents, its lavish Fourth of July festivities stretch over an entire week to include thrill rides, live entertainment, musical concerts, a lively parade, and the culmination of a dazzling fireworks display. Local lore explains the unusual name of the town from a story about a newspaper columnist who settled into the area to open a quarry on the rocky terrain. With no experience in the quarry business, he said that he was moving forward on “faith.” New residents to Faith will find a close-knit community spirit that reflects decades of small-town living and stable residential neighborhoods. Neighbors in Faith know each other by name, wave from front porches, and stop to chat on evening walks.
Granite Quarry
Municipal Offices
704-279-5596
https://www.granitequarrync.gov
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Another town in Rowan County that was incorporated at the turn of the century in 1901, Granite Quarry claims the oldest structure in Rowan County—the 1766 Old Stone House. The town’s legacy and namesake of granite quarries still flourishes today in a single but highly successful operation of unusually beautiful pink granite. Planners and residents are committed to building and maintaining an attractive cityscape, reflected by the active Community Appearance Commission. One example of the prevailing civic pride is Granite Civic Park, a popular recreational site for individuals, couples, and families who gather to enjoy the green space, tennis courts, playground, ball field, and picnic shelter. Regional recreational sites and county parks add opportunities for horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, hiking, and biking. Easy access to Salisbury’s first-rate cultural assets adds to the quality of life in a small but charming town.
Landis
Municipal Offices
704-857-2411
https://www.townoflandis.com
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Incorporated in 1901, Landis offers a small-town residential atmosphere in rural Rowan County. The prominent landowners of the Linn family founded a mill at this location at the turn of the century, followed by the Landis Depot and the Linn Brothers Store. These structures, along with the vintage post office and jail, remain as historic landmarks in modern Landis. The community attracts regional visitors to its lively Landis Heritage Days in June, a hometown celebration that features arts and crafts, great food, midway rides, live entertainment, and an evening street dance. Families in Landis enjoy access to lush parkland and preserves for camping, fishing, water sports, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. They can also take advantage of cultural attractions that are associated with highly developed metropolitan areas in the county seat of Salisbury, where everything from symphony performances to touring productions are showcased in first-rate venues.
Rockwell
Municipal Offices
704-279-2180
https://www.rockwellnc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
The early German settlers of the Rockwell area arrived in the 1760s, although the town was not incorporated until 1911. Two of the original stone churches that were built in the fledgling community remain as examples of the day’s fine craftsmanship. In fact, Organ Lutheran Church is distinguished as the oldest Lutheran structure in North Carolina. The name of Rockwell was derived from the “rock well” that served local residents and ensured a refreshing drink to weary travelers. Even today, the Rockwell community is proud of its eight wells and the quality of the water they provide. The tranquility and small-town intimacy of rural living in Rockwell is enhanced by easy access to Rowan County’s exceptional cultural and recreational amenities. For professional sports and world-class metropolitan attractions, the bright lights of Charlotte are available within a reasonable commute.
Salisbury
Municipal Offices
704-638-5224
https://salisburync.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Proud of its rich history and progressive amenities, Salisbury serves as the seat of county government and the hub of cultural, educational, and commercial amenities. Ten historic districts preserve the charm and architectural character of yesterday, showcased in the popular Heritage Tour. Remarkable renovations include The Plaza, towering seven stores above the town square to house businesses and luxury apartments. Fascinating museums, expansive performing art centers, the stimulation of college campuses, famous performing arts groups, and a flourishing retail sector are just a few of the attractions to Salisbury. The hometown atmosphere of Salisbury has encouraged growth in residential and business sectors, strengthening the regional economy and spurring the development of lovely new homes and subdivisions. Golf courses, tennis courts, well-equipped parks, campgrounds, multi-purpose trails, sports programs and leagues, and regional recreation combine with an ideal climate for virtually unlimited outdoor enjoyment.
Spencer
Municipal Offices
704-633-2231
https://www.facebook.com/TownofSpencerNC
Chamber of Commerce
704-633-4221
https://www.rowanchamber.com
Well known as the home of the North Carolina Transportation Museum, the small town of Spencer was incorporated in 1905. The town and the museum share the same genesis. The area known as Spencer was undeveloped land until the Southern Railway selected it as the site of a major steam locomotive serving facility between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia. Since the plant employed thousands, a town sprang up around the facility. Today, the museum invites visitors to experience the comprehensive transportation legacy of North Carolina in one convenient location. The quaint town of Spencer also features a revitalized Main Street that brings back images of yesterday’s friendly shopkeepers and charming storefronts. Spencer enjoys an ideal location off the bustling corridor of Interstate 85, which enhances access to the museum and the community’s quaint retail district. A variety of affordable, attractive housing is available along quiet, tree-shaded streets or in the surrounding countryside.
