Page 7 - Wilkes County NCG

About

THE AREA

Wilkes is the state’s the south side of the Yadkin River, with
13th largest county at a courthouse square, Main Street, and a
more than 757 square-miles vibrant downtown section.
of foothills and mountains.
We are home to a diverse slate Wilkesboro offers laid-back living and
of industries, including Fortune 500 plenty of opportunities for outdoor
mainstays Tyson Foods and Lowe’s recreation such as mountain biking,
Companies, manufacturers of textiles, birding, and kayaking. The city hosts
furniture, and construction materials. several festivals, including MerleFest,
We also enjoy strong agritourism and which celebrates Americana music on
ecotourism. Wilkes is easily accessible the Wilkes Community College campus.
to major interstates leading to other
notable areas in North Carolina, including Ronda (pop. 438)
The Mountains Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. Ronda is a hamlet northeast of Wilkesboro
and So Much More and North Wilkesboro along the Yadkin
Wilkes is a hub for culture, arts, River. The town is a short drive to multiple
entertainment, festivals, and countless vineyards and wineries and Stone Mountain
W ilkes County is where pristine outdoor pursuits. Parents and students State Park.
experience a high-quality educational system.
natural beauty and thriving
communities come together to produce an People move here for many reasons, but Local legend says Ronda was named for the
local estate “Roundabout,” the residence of
unmatched quality of life. From the foothills mostly because it is an excellent place to Benjamin Cleveland, a colonel in the North
to the mountain peaks, Wilkes County is a live, do business, and raise a family. Carolina militia during the Revolutionary
place where people care about each other and War. Although a small town, Ronda is known
their environment, where an entrepreneurial North Wilkesboro (pop. 4,382) for its access to outdoor activities, vineyard
spirit fosters growth and prosperity, and The Town of North Wilkesboro, formed festivals, and exceptional hospitality.
where arts and culture thrive. in 1891, was founded to reap the benefits
of the railroad and provide a commercial Moravian Falls (pop. 3,018)
Wilkes County (pop. 65,969) center on the north side of the Yadkin River. Just south of Wilkesboro, unincorporated
Wilkes County is a cornerstone of Northwest Moravian Falls derives its name from its
North Carolina and gateway to the Blue Entrepreneurial roots run deep here, from 35-foot waterfall and the Moravian Church
Ridge Mountains. Established in 1777, the beginnings of NASCAR on the North that purchased property here in 1753.
Wilkesboro Speedway to the founding of Moravian Falls is a popular residential
Lowe’s, to the many small businesses in the area for families. Wilkes Central High
revitalized downtown area. School and Central Wilkes Middle School
are in Moravian Falls.
Arts and outdoors are two other hallmarks
of North Wilkesboro. Browse local works in Other Unincorporated Communities
Wilkes Art Gallery, catch a performance by • Boomer • Hays
the Wilkes Playmakers, fish along Reddies
River in downtown, or enjoy miles of trail • Brushy Mountain • McGrady
on the Yadkin River Greenway. • Clingman • Roaring River
• Cricket • Traphill
Wilkesboro (pop. 3,687) • Fairplains • Windy Gap
Wilkesboro has been the county seat since • Ferguson
1778, when the new county of Wilkes was
formed. The town was incorporated in
DOWNTOWN WILKESBORO 1847. Wilkesboro maintains its original
layout from more than 200 years ago on
wilkeschamber.com 3