Salisbury, North Carolina

Salisbury ( ) is a city in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, United States; it has been the county seat of Rowan County since 1753 when its territory extended to the Mississippi River. Located northeast of Charlotte and within its metropolitan area, the town has attracted a growing population. The 2020 census shows 35,580 residents.

Salisbury is the oldest continually populated colonial town in the western region of North Carolina. It is noted for its historic preservation, with five Local Historic Districts and ten National Register Historic Districts.

Soft drink producer Cheerwine and regional supermarket Food Lion are located in Salisbury and Rack Room Shoes was founded there.

History

thumb|left|Old Rowan County Courthouse in Salisbury, 1934

thumb|left|Main Street (1914)

thumb|Child laborer in Salisbury, 1908

In 1753 an appointed Anglo-European trustee for Rowan County was directed to enter of land for a County Seat, and public buildings were erected. The deed is dated February 11, 1755, when John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville conveyed for the "Salisbury Township". The settlement was built at the intersection of longtime Native American trading routes. It became an economic hub along what was improved as the Great Wagon Road in North Carolina. It became the principal city of the Salisbury judicial and militia districts in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War.

During the United States Civil War, Salisbury was home to the first and only Confederate Prison in North Carolina, used to house captured Union prisoners-of-war (POWs), dissident Southerners, and Confederate defectors. On July 9, 1861, six weeks after North Carolina declared secession from the Union, the Confederate government asked Governor Henry T. Clark if the state could provide a place to hold prisoners of war (POWs). The 20-year-old Maxwell Chambers textile mill in Salisbury, then vacant, was retrofitted for that purpose. The prison was only designed to hold up to 2,500 prisoners, but by 1864, more than 10,000 prisoners had arrived due to the fall of Atlanta and the ongoing siege of Richmond, Virginia. By February 1865, prisoners were transferred out of the Salisbury prison, and in April 1865, Union Major General George Stoneman destroyed the prison and other Confederate installations collectively known as the Salisbury Arsenal. The next month, Federal troops occupied the town, and in early September 1865 the Union commander turned over civil control of Salisbury to local town officials. The Salisbury National Cemetery was established on a portion of the former prison site, starting because of thousands of Union soldiers who died while imprisoned.

Owing to its Confederate history, Salisbury long retained pride in a deep local culture of Confederate apologism, thanks in part to Rowan County being the home of Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon Bob Jones, whose impact on Salisbury was featured in a PBS documentary film called Klansville, USA. Confederate re-enactments are also a popular activity in Salisbury, including annual re-enactments at the Josephus Hall House, an antebellum manse in downtown Salisbury that was home to Dr. Josephus Hall, who was the surgeon at the Confederate prison.

In the antebellum period and after the American Civil War, Salisbury was the trading city of an upland area devoted to cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop. It was also the business and law center of the county. Numerous houses and other structures were built by wealthy planters and merchants in this period. In the late 19th century, the city was served by railroads, becoming a railroad hub as people and freight were transported along the eastern corridor.

After three black men were lynched in Salisbury in 1906, one of the lynchers was prosecuted. This resulted in the first conviction for lynching in North Carolina, and one of the first in the United States.

In the 20th century, Salisbury's economy grew into an industrial-based economy. Entrepreneurs developed the textile industry for processing cotton, first, and numerous textile mills operated in the city.

The industry owners moved their jobs and mills offshore in the late 20th century, to areas with cheaper labor costs. This change cost the city and area many jobs, and unemployment rose for a period. Since 2000, the city's population has grown rapidly, with people attracted to the city's resources and amenities.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2010, the city has a total area of , all land.

Salisbury is located in the Central Piedmont of North Carolina in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The city is 21 miles north of Concord, 38 miles south of Winston-Salem, and 25 miles northeast of Charlotte.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Salisbury had a population of 35,540. The median age was 38.6 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males age 18 and over.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 16,490 || 46.4%

| Black or African American || 12,830 || 36.1%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 237 || 0.7%

| Asian || 509 || 1.4%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 24 || 0.1%

| Some other race || 3,115 || 8.8%

| Two or more races || 2,335 || 6.6%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 5,060 || 14.2%

2010 census

As of the census Shopping centers include West End Plaza, and formerly the Rowan Mall.

Broadband networks

In 2015 Salisbury's Fibrant system (later called Hotwire) became capable of 10 gigabit capacity town-wide; it is thought to be the only town-owned system in the world with such capacity.

Major employers

Major employers in Salisbury include the headquarters of Food Lion, a regional grocery chain that is one of the US subsidiaries of Ahold Delhaize; the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, the City of Salisbury, and the County of Rowan. Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and the Rowan Salisbury School System, are also major employers. Smaller employers include textile mills and other manufacturing businesses. In 2019, the pet food retailer Chewy announced it would build a 700,000 square foot facility employing 1,200.

Arts and culture

Historic preservation

thumb|right|upright|[[Gloria Victis (Confederate monument)|Salisbury Confederate Monument, Gloria Victis (moved in 2020 to the Old Lutheran Cemetery)]]

Salisbury has developed a strong record of historic preservation since the late 20th century. It is the site of a noted prisoner of war camp during the American Civil War and has ten National Register 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.

Since 1975, Salisbury City Council has designated five Local Historic Districts, encompassing hundreds of historically and architecturally significant buildings. Owners of properties within locally designated historic districts are required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Salisbury Historic Preservation Commission before making exterior changes to residential or commercial buildings. The City of Salisbury offers a variety of incentive grants to historic homeowners and downtown business owners to defray the cost of repairs and rehabilitation projects.

Walking tour

A walking tour begins at the Rowan County Convention and Visitor's 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 has exhibits that incorporate the use of three buildings: Salisbury's 1854 County Courthouse, the circa 1815 Utzman–Chambers House Museum, and the 1820 Josephus Hall House. These provide information regarding Historic Salisbury. The City of Salisbury currently has 10 National Register Historic Districts with more than 1,200 contributing properties.

The Salisbury History and Art Trail is made up of a series of markers throughout the city that incorporate both history and art for self-guided tours. They mark events and stories from Salisbury's past. The markers are organized info five broad historic eras. This trail was jointly developed by Downtown Salisbury, Inc. and the Salisbury Community Appearance Commission.

Salisbury has a strong commitment to historic preservation, high levels of arts and cultural activity, a citizen base that places high value on arts education, and a strong local tradition of civic volunteerism. The city has a growing population of professional and amateur artists drawn from many disciplines, with support from local patrons and foundations. It has a high rate of participation in and support for the arts, coupled with an emerging downtown public art program. It has been nationally accredited since 1999 and is one of 13 accredited museums in the state. It provides diverse opportunities in the arts through exhibitions, education, and outreach programs. The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra performs in the city. Performances of live theatre take place at the Piedmont Players Theatre (Meroney Theatre & Norvell Children's Theatre), Lee Street Theatre, and Looking Glass Collective Black Box Theater, with other opportunities for community engagement.

Bell Tower Green is a park which takes up most of the block bounded by Innes, Church, Fisher and Jackson Streets and named for the bell tower that was part of the former building of First Presbyterian Church. It officially opened October 1, 2021 after more than two years of construction, funded primarily with more than $13 million in donations. It is expected to help with economic development in the downtown area and it adds a location for concerts.

Libraries

The headquarters of the Rowan County Public Library is located at 201 W Fisher Street in Salisbury. This library contains the Edith M. Clark History Room, with concentration of works on western North Carolina history and genealogy.

Government

Salisbury is governed by a city council, which was chaired by the mayor, Karen Alexander. The other city council members include: mayor pro tempore Tamara Sheffield, David Post, Anthony Smith, Harry Mclaughlin. Members of the council are elected from single-member districts.

The city council appoints a city manager to run the day-to-day operations. W. Lane Bailey was appointed as City Manager February 18, 2015. Since 2011, the City of Salisbury's financial foundation has been strengthened due to management's actions, which resulted in two credit rating increases to bring the city to a AA rating.

On the state level, Salisbury is represented in the North Carolina House of Representatives as a part of the 77th district, which includes the city and northern and western parts of Rowan County. The current representative is Republican Harry J. Warren. Salisbury is represented in the North Carolina Senate, as part of the 34th district, by Republican Andrew Brock as a part of the 34th district. Senator Brock also represents Davie County.

On the national level, Salisbury is a part of North Carolina's 8th congressional district. It is represented by Republican Dan Bishop. The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Republican Thom Tillis, who was elected to the Senate in 2014. The junior Senator is Republican Ted Budd, who was elected in 2022.

The law enforcement authority is the Salisbury Police Department.

Education

thumb|right|[[Salisbury High School (North Carolina)|Salisbury High School]]

thumb|right|upright|[[Catawba College]]

Salisbury has a number of educational institutions, both public and private.

Rowan–Salisbury School System

The Rowan–Salisbury School System was formed in 1989 after the merger of the Rowan County Schools and the Salisbury City Schools. Most notable is Salisbury High School. There are two charter school in Rowan County, Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School, in East Spencer and Faith Academy Charter School in Faith North Carolina.

Private schools

Many private schools, both inside and outside the city of Salisbury, serve its citizens. Some schools were founded as segregation academies when the public school system was integrated.

North Hills Christian School (PK-12)
Rockwell Christian School (PK-12)
RCHSA, Homeschool group (any age)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (K-8)
Salisbury Academy (3K-12)
Salisbury Adventist School (K-7)
Salisbury Christian School (K-12)
St. John's Kindergarten (PK-K)

Colleges and universities

Catawba College
Livingstone College
Rowan–Cabarrus Community College
Hood Theological Seminary

Media

The Salisbury Post, founded in 1905, is the local daily newspaper.

WSAT, "Memories 1280", is an AM radio station whose programming consists largely of older pop music. It also broadcasts games of the Carolina Panthers, Catawba College, and local high schools.

WSTP is an AM station associated with Catawba College and training students for broadcasting careers. Co-owned with WSAT, the station went dark on August 30, 2016, citing signal issues.

iHeartMedia-owned alternative rock radio station WEND (New Rock 106.5 The End) is licensed to Salisbury; its transmitter is located in China Grove.

Salisbury has no broadcast television stations licensed in the city, but is served by network affiliates and independent stations broadcasting from nearby Charlotte. WSRG-TV is a government-access channel located on Hotwire (the city's former fiber optic telephone, Internet and MVPD service) on channel 394 and Spectrum Salisbury (channel 16) but not available by satellite. It serves Rowan County, including Salisbury, Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith, China Grove and Cleveland.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Amtrak's Crescent, Carolinian, and Piedmont trains connect Salisbury with 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, US Highways 601, 29, 52, and 70, and the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport (formerly Rowan County Airport).

Salisbury is just south of the halfway point between Charlotte and Greensboro. Exits 74 (Julian Road), 75 (US Highway 601/Jake Alexander Boulevard), and 76 (Innes Street/US Highway 52) are designated as Salisbury exits from I85.

The City of Salisbury's Transit System (STS) 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.

Health care

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and affiliated doctors' offices provide a majority of the city residents' healthcare. The W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center is a veterans' hospital in Salisbury and is operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Notable people

Bill Baker (1911–2006), MLB player
Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim (born 1943), human rights activist
Sidney Blackmer (18951973), actor, born and raised in Salisbury
George Bradshaw (1924–1994), Major League Baseball catcher for 1952 Washington Senators
Rufus Early Clement (1900–1967), African American educator
Elizabeth Brownrigg Henderson Cotten (1875–1975), civic leader, activist, and librarian
Elizabeth Hanford Dole (born 1936), U.S. senator 2003–2009, US Secretary of Labor, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, president of American Red Cross
Mary Peacock Douglas (1903–1970), librarian and author
Governor of North Carolina John W. Ellis (18201861), born in what was then eastern Rowan County and practiced law in Salisbury.
Mike Evans (1949–2006), actor and co-creator of TV series Good Times
Lacy Gibson (1936–2011), Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter
James Goodnight (born 1943), CEO of SAS Institute
Javon Hargrave (born 1993), lineman for NFL's San Francisco 49ers
Josephine D. Heard (1861–1924), African American teacher, poet
Archibald Henderson (1877–1963), professor of mathematics who wrote on many subjects
Mary Ferrand Henderson (1887–1965), suffragist and Democratic party leader
Tripp Isenhour (born 1968), professional golfer
President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), practiced law in Salisbury.
Bobby Jackson (born 1973), NBA player
Bob Jones (1930–1989), state leader of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s
Roland Jones (1813–1869), represented Louisiana in United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1855
Baxter Byerly "Buck" Jordan (19071973), baseball first baseman
E. J. Junior (born 1959), National Football League linebacker 1981–1993
Ralph Ketner (1920–2016), businessman and philanthropist; co-founder of Food Lion
Clyde Kluttz (1917–1979), MLB player, executive and scout
Susan W. Kluttz, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, formerly Salisbury's longest-serving mayor
Elizabeth Duncan Koontz (1919–1989), African-American educator and politician
Francis Locke Sr. (1722–1796), planter, Colonel in the Rowan County Regiment, victor at Battle of Ramseur's Mill
James T. Loeblein, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (2015–2016)
Ben Martin (1930–2017), photographer and photojournalist for TIME magazine
Daniel Newnan (1780–1851), politician and physician
Britt Nicole (born 1985), Contemporary Christian music artist
Lee Slater Overman (18541930), U.S. senator from North Carolina
Karen L. Parker (born 1944) journalist and first Black female to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bobby Parnell (born 1984), MLB pitcher for New York Mets
Lucius E. Polk (1833–1892), Brigadier general in Confederate States Army
Christian Reid (real name Frances Fisher Tiernan, 1846–1920), author of novels including The Land of the Sky
Jay Ritchie (1936–2016), MLB pitcher
Julian Robertson (born 1932), financier and philanthropist
Florence Wells Slater (1864–1941), entomologist and educator
Edgar Maddison Welch (born 1988), Pizzagate conspiracy theorist who fired an assault rifle inside Washington D.C.'s Comet Ping Pong pizza restaurant in 2016
Zion Williamson (born 2000), NBA, All-American at Duke University
Stunna 4 Vegas (born 1996) rapper, signed to Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment