Erwin has transformed from an industrial hub to a growing town
Once considered the Denim Capital of the World and home to a massive textile operation, Erwin has adapted to life in the post-industrial world. “It used to be a very booming town when the denim mill was there years and years and years ago. When the mill closed down, it kind of hindered Erwin a bit,” says Misty Lyons, Realtor and owner of Lyons Group, eXp Realty. Located in the rural but quickly growing Harnett County, Erwin has seen renewed investment and growth since the mill closed in 2000. “Several years ago, Walmart came into Erwin, and they also have Lowe’s. Erwin is on a rebound,” Lyons says. Today, homebuyers in Erwin will find both 100-year-old homes mixed in with newly constructed properties. Less than an hour from Raleigh and 30 minutes from Fayetteville, locals commute all around central North Carolina from this small town.
Old mill homes and newer construction offer diverse options
Properties lining Erwin’s gridded streets include bungalows and cottages. Lyons says many of these houses are old mill homes built in the early 1900s. “You can tell that the boards are actually cut by a sawmill. These are some of the sturdiest homes in this area. You can’t get a house like that anymore.” Options also include red brick ranch-style houses built in the second half of the 20th century and newly constructed Craftsman-inspired properties. On the outskirts of Erwin, there are also homes sitting on spacious lots among farmland. The median single-family home price is around $245,000.
Walmart, Lowe’s and more shopping and dining nearby
Restaurants, Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement line U.S. Highway 421 between Erwin and Dunn. Dollar General and Charlie C’s IGA are also in Erwin, as well as a fire department, library and several churches. Locals can pick up pizzas and subs at Pizza House on East H Street or purchase cookies, donuts and custom cakes at Burney's Sweets & More of Erwin.
The expansive Erwin Cotton Mills building sits in the middle of town. This 1-million-square-foot industrial building once produced over 7 million yards of denim each week. The building has since been sold to a New York-based developer. There have been talks of repurposing the old space, though no construction had begun as of May 2025.
Denim Days celebrates Erwin’s industrial past
Each year in October, Erwin hosts its Denim Days festival. Denim Days originates from the Overall Days once held every year by the mill for its employees. Today, Erwin residents don their jeans and celebrate the town’s past with pageants, a vintage car show, a parade, carnival rides and vendors.
Hiking along the Cape Fear River and a trail to Dunn among recreation offerings
The Cape Fear River runs along the western side of Erwin. Visitors can access the water through Cape Fear River Trail Park, which has hiking trails, fishing areas and canoeing access. The Dunn-Erwin Rail Trail connects Erwin and Dunn’s downtown areas by a 5-mile paved pathway across farmland and wetlands. For athletics, Al Woodall Municipal Park has softball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, a splashpad and playground. The park hosts adult and youth sports leagues as well. On the south side of town, Chicora Golf Club is an 18-hole course open to the public. For indoor recreation, Buffaloe Lanes Erwin is a bowling alley just off North Carolina Highway 55.
Harnett County Schools serve Erwin
Students typically begin at Erwin Elementary School, which has a C grade from Niche, before attending C-plus-rated Coats-Erwin Middle School and B-minus-rated Triton High School. Triton High School’s career and technical education offerings include horticulture, animal science, electrical trades and business. The school also has over 20 clubs, including Army JROTC, Robotics Club and THS Showstoppers & Gospel Choir. Campbell University, a private Christian school that enrolls 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, is about 7 miles northwest.
Within an hour of Raleigh and Fayetteville
Locals living in the town area of Erwin can walk to some places, like Charlie C’s and the elementary school, but the area is largely car-dependent overall. Highway 55 extends north from Erwin and connects to Wake County. The road is undergoing a major expansion. Lyons says that, once completed, this expansion will expedite trips to Wake County but will also bring more traffic to the area. Route 421 also goes through Erwin, connecting drivers to the rest of the state and beyond, while Interstate 95 is less than 5 miles east. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is about 45 miles north, while downtown Raleigh is about 40 miles north. Fayetteville, home to Fort Bragg, the nation’s largest Army base, is 25 miles south.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
