Lowkey living close to major cities in North Carolina’s Piedmont
Once a hub of textile production, Alamance has reinvented itself as a cozy bedroom community in North Carolina's Alamance County. Just south of Burlington and commutable to cities like Greensboro, Durham and Chapel Hill, this accessible village still has a down-home feel. "It gives you almost a rural setting, but you are literally five minutes or less from any convenience you'd need," says Misty Folwell, Alamance's town administrator. "It is a very sweet place. It's quiet."
Homebuying options in Heritage Glen subdivision
Alamance's Heritage Glen subdivision features two-story, New Traditional-style homes. Many houses here have two-car garages, manicured landscaping and brick-front exteriors, and these properties typically sell for between $450,000 and $650,000. "The roads are big and wide, you can just walk and be out and appreciate no traffic," Folwell says. Ranch-style homes and cottages built from the mid-to-late 20th century are popular throughout the rest of the village and tend to have large lawns dotted with mature trees. These properties commonly sell for between $190,000 and $300,000.
Small-town dining in Alamance and major retailers in Burlington
Locals can spend the morning at the Alamance County Historical Museum and grab a hamburger or hot dog for lunch at K&J Grille & Grocery. "It's just a little grill connected to a gas station, but it's really good," Folwell says. This is currently the village's only restaurant, but there are plans for more on the way. "We're hoping that next year, we're going to be getting a nice little coffee shop that'll sit in front of town hall," Folwell says. "They are being thoughtful about how that'll look. Maybe some patio space, firepits, perhaps a pizza place beside it where people can come and order and sit out back and just enjoy some conversation."
Major retailers are less than 4 miles away in Burlington, including Target, Walmart and Food Lion. There are also shops, including Dillard's, Barnes & Noble and T.J. Maxx nearby.
Alamance's Plaid Day Festival and National Night Out
Alamance honors its history of textile production with the annual Plaid Day Festival in April. Alamance Plaid, a white and indigo design, was the former Alamance Cotton Mill's signature pattern. It was particularly notable as one of the first colored cotton fabrics commercially produced in the South. These days, the festival features local history exhibits, vendors, bouncy houses and live music.
In August, the village hosts its National Night Out event. Attendees can check out Alamance County fire trucks and police cars, chat with first responders and enjoy some free food. "We started having a regular event for the National Night Out, and now it's one of the largest in Alamance County," Folwell says. "We're very focused on the community."
Students attend Alamance-Burlington public schools
The Alamance-Burlington School System earns an overall B-minus grade from Niche. Students in the village are zoned to attend B-rated E.M. Holt Elementary, and they continue to B-minus-rated Southern Alamance Middle and B-minus-rated Southern Alamance High. In addition to standard coursework, students at Southern Alamance High can take career and technical education courses in pathways including marketing, finance, health science, manufacturing and human services. For extracurriculars, students can join groups including jazz club, choir club, current events and book club.
Expansive parks are just a few minutes away
Just west of the village, Lake Mackintosh Park covers nearly 1,200 acres, and the lake's shoreline spans over 60 miles. In addition to providing drinking water to the area, Lake Mackintosh has kayaking and boating, a fishing pier and a playground. Park visitors can hike through wooded trails and stop for a picnic lunch overlooking the peaceful water. Just down the road, Alamance Battleground has Colonial-era landmarks and walking paths. A few miles away, Alamance County operates Cedarock Park. Several miles of hiking trails along Rock Creek lead to an old mill dam with a waterfall, and Cedarock Park Pond has fishing and kayaking. This park also has a playground, volleyball court, multipurpose fields and 36 holes of disc golf.
Commuting around the Piedmont from Alamance
State Highway 62 goes through Alamance and connects drivers to major roadways, such as Interstate 40, across the region. The city of Burlington is just 4 miles north, and several other cities in the Piedmont are within commuting distance: Greensboro is 20 miles west, Durham is 45 miles east and Chapel Hill is 30 miles east. Travelers can get to the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro or the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in under an hour.
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Written By
Faith Wakefield
