Walnut Cove is a town in Stokes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,536 at the 2020 census.
It is the home of the Walnut Cove Springfest, which draws many visitors to the area. Festival-organizers marked 1889, the town's incorporation date, but the town's roots date to the mid-18th century when it was known as Town Fork.
Town Fork settlers formed a bond with Moravians in Bethania and Bethabara. Eventually, William Lash, a Moravian settler at Bethania, bought land along the Town Fork Creek, which later developed into a large plantation named Walnut Cove.
The Town was a railroad center in its former years, and today remnants of the old Train Depot still stand on Depot Street.
It is also home to historic Covington House (built in 1821), Fulp-Marshall Home (built in 1836), Culler Roller Mill now known as Monitor Roller Mill (built in 1900).
Walnut Cove is also home to South Stokes High School, a big part of the town is located to the west of town, near NC 8 and Hawkins Road. Belews Lake and Hanging Rock State Park are located nearby. Winston-Salem is to the southeast via US 311, US 158 and Salem Parkway (US 421). Danbury is to the north via NC 89. Germanton is 6.6 miles to the west-southwest via NC 65. Madison and Mayodan are to the northeast via US 311. Other nearby cities include Kernersville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Stokesdale, and the small community of Pine Hall.
History
thumb|right|Main Street, 1900s
The Christ Episcopal Church and Walnut Cove Colored School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Burt Myers, a race car driver for NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour is from Walnut Cove.
American country music artist Joe Nichols lived in Walnut Cove, attending South Stokes High School.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km), all of it land.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Walnut Cove racial composition
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)
| 1,083
| 68.28%
|-
!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
| 358
| 22.57%
|-
!scope="row"| Native American
| 9
| 0.57%
|-
!scope="row"| Asian
| 3
| 0.19%
|-
!scope="row"| Pacific Islander
| 1
| 0.06%
|-
!scope="row"| Other/Mixed
| 85
| 5.36%
|-
!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino
| 47
| 2.96%
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,586 people, 802 households, and 493 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census