Rural atmosphere and college town chic in Louisburg
Louisburg offers the atmosphere of both a quaint Southern village and a hip college town, just a few streets apart. South of the Tar River are narrow residential streets, modest residences and local churches, while north of the river is the private Louisburg College, along with dive bars, tattoo shops and thrift stores downtown. "It adds a little bit of college life to the town," says Barry Wilkins, a broker at Stellar Realty Group who has lived and worked in Louisburg for nearly 20 years. "It gives it a diverse culture of young and old that has helped revitalize the downtown." Louisburg is also on the outskirts of the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, known for the major colleges and universities around Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The demand for housing around these major hubs has driven many buyers outward to rural communities like Louisburg. Aside from its proximity to major cities, Louisburg has a vibrant community spirit, with local farms and events that unite neighbors, like the annual whole-hog barbeque contest.
Thriving downtown with small businesses
Louisburg's small downtown area features thrift stores like Safe Space Inc., Thrifties, and the Louisburg Flea Market for various goods. Along Main Street, there's Tar Banks Brewing Company, where patrons can enjoy a selection of local brews on a pet-friendly patio and order from food trucks hosted by the brewery. The Blue Collie Coffee Shop entices visitors to browse the shelves of new and used books while sipping on a latte. South of downtown are restaurants like Johnny Bull's Steakhouse, offering steak and seafood entrees in a down-home dining area. Louisburg Road runs through the heart of the town and is dotted with grocery stores from Food Lion to the local Moss Foods market and a Walmart Supercenter.
Barbecue competitions, concerts and balloon rides in the summer
Louisburg is the site of the Franklin County Farmer's Market, which is held seasonally on Fridays at the Shannon Village Shopping Center. In June, there's the town's annual BBQ in the Burg, a whole-hog cook-off where teams from all over the region compete to grill the best Carolina barbecue. Friday Nights on the Tar summer concert series showcases local musicians, food trucks and other businesses at the local brewery. The First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival is held every Memorial Day Weekend and features hot air balloon rides, live performances and fireworks shows.
Franklin County schools and the historic Louisburg College
Franklin County Schools is the main district serving Louisburg. Louisburg Elementary has a B-minus rating from Niche, while Terrell Lane Middle School includes an Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program and has a B-rating. Louisburg Magnet High School embraces the motto "seize opportunities; practice excellence; create the future," and has a B-minus rating. Louisburg College is the oldest chartered two-year college in the nation, educating students since 1787. It is a co-ed religious institution, tied to the United Methodist Church, and has over 400 full-time and part-time students, according to Niche.
Rural community along the Research Triangle
Residents of Louisburg are car-dependent, due to the town's lack of public transit options. The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently expanded U.S. Route 401, also known as Louisburg Road, from two lanes to four to accommodate more commuters. Locals can reach Raleigh after a 32-mile drive south on Route 401, while Durham is 39 miles west on North Carolina Highway 56. Depending on traffic, drives to either city take just under an hour. The nearest full-service hospitals are in Raleigh, like WakeMed North Hospital, just 26 miles away. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 42 miles from downtown Louisburg and offers domestic and international flights.
Early aught homes and new construction properties
Single-family homes are priced from $150,000 to $900,000, depending on square footage, lot size and remodel status. Tucked along narrow grid-patterned streets are ramblers and Southern bungalows with open porches, some built in the early 1900s. On the town's outskirts, new suburbs and gated communities have been developed to meet increased demand in the area, but the distance between subdivisions ensures that Louisburg retains its rural atmosphere. In these subdivisions are pricier modern farmhouses and New Traditionals that complement the rolling pastoral farmland. There are also manufactured homes that come on the market occasionally. Despite the Tar River running through town, Louisburg has a minor flood risk.
Local parks and petting zoos
At Riverbend Park, visitors can go fishing or canoeing on the Tar River, while Joyner Park offers sports fields, picnic shelters and hiking trails. Local farms like Breezy Pond Farm teach guests about sustainable farming and animal care and have petting zoos with goats and pigs. Perry's Mill Pond is a mile long and is a popular spot for locals to go fishing or boating.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
