L.L. Polk had a vision when he turned farmland into Polkton
When Col. Leonidas Lafayette Polk founded what is known today as Polkton in southeastern North Carolina, he envisioned a town that would blossom from the success that would surely follow the installation of the Carolina Central Railroad. Polk maintained his farm, but he ran a general store and newspaper print out of his home, both of which drew residents to the newly minted town. Times have changed, but farming and small-town living are still at the core of this Anson County area. “Polkton is a nice place to call home. It’s quiet and peaceful,” says Brenda McMillian, Realtor with United Real Estate Queen City, who’s been in real estate since 1998. “People have the hustle and bustle at work, and then they go home to relax, hear the crickets and see stars at night. It’s soothing to come home to rest and not hear car horns and sirens. You can get a house you want with the space you want without having to sacrifice.”
Residents who don’t own a farm live close to one, and neighbors have plenty of space between each other without feeling isolated. Despite the rural setting, U.S. Route 74 is nearby and guides drivers to Wadesboro, where there are restaurants and shops, and to Monroe, which has even more retail. South Piedmont Community College — L. L. Polk Campus gives students opportunities to earn associate degrees even while in high school.
Ranch-style and Craftsman homes among farms and mature trees
Polkton homes don’t go on the market often, especially because the area has more farms and dense patches of trees than homes. “Polkton is good if you want to get that country life without having to pay city prices,” McMillian says. “Taxes are low in Anson County. People are moving out from Wingate and Monroe to get a house for a great price that they couldn’t get in the city.”
Of the properties that have sold, ranch-style homes or Craftsman bungalows on at least an acre of land have ranged between $115,000 and $375,000. Some properties with over 20 acres have sold for around $750,000. Anything that sells for less than $100,000 is likely an older manufactured home or a ranch-style house in need of repair. The rural setting means that some homes on the outskirts of Polkton run on septic tanks and well water systems, but the town offers public utility access and garbage services.
Anson County public schools and learning at SPCC
Peachland-Polkton Elementary School gets a B-plus from Niche and offers kindergarten through sixth grade. The C-rated Anson Middle School has seventh through eighth grade and feeds into Anson High School, also rated C. Anson County Early College High School gets a B-plus and shares a campus with South Piedmont Community College — L.L. Polk Campus, rated B-minus.
Small-town amenities, like East Polkton Park
The Anson Athletic Youth Association plays baseball and softball at the Field of Dreams complex. Peachland Park is the nearest public green space with a playground and fields for baseball and soccer. East Polkton Park on Crump Street has a paved walking trail that loops around an open field and covered picnic tables. Near the intersection of Old Highway 74 and William Street, a long walking track parallels the train tracks. When residents need more space to explore, they drive about 20 minutes to Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, where hikers follow walking trails and cross boardwalks to spot sparrows flitting from tree to tree or mallards resting in ponds.
Restaurants in Wadesboro and shops in Monroe
Tres Taquitos Mexican Grill serves lunch and dinner, but most residents drive to Wadesboro to dine at Oliver's Restaurant for some Southern home cooking or the new Native State Beer Garden for drinks and food trucks. There’s a Dollar General in town that sells basic groceries, though Peaches n’ Cream off Route 74 is popular for buying fresh fruit, cobblers and homemade ice cream. Wadesboro has the Wadesboro IGA grocery store, while nearby Wingate has a Food Lion. Businesses in Polkton are usually feed stores or manufacturing companies, so residents drive to Monroe to shop at chain stores like Target along the highway or locally owned boutiques downtown.
Polkton Fun Day is about music, games and Halloween candy
Polkton life is quiet and laid-back, but the town comes alive for the annual Polkton Fun Day in October. The festival is held behind the town hall, where vendors set up booths to sell handmade items or food, and kids explore bouncy houses and carnival games. Bands play live music, and residents line up their cars for the Trunk or Treat event in the evening. The Anson County Chamber of Commerce hosts events throughout the county, but the Big Game Hunt Tournament is held at Polkton’s Four Branches Sporting Preserve every November. Any participant in the adult and youth categories who brings in the biggest deer will win a cash prize.
Route 74 is for commuting to work in Wadesboro, Monroe or Charlotte
Route 74 is the main path commuters take to drive nearly 9 miles to Wadesboro and about 24 miles to Monroe. “There aren’t many jobs in Anson County, but Polkton has three prisons and the school system,” McMillian says. “People go to Charlotte for most jobs.” Anyone who needs to visit Uptown Charlotte or the Charlotte Douglas International Airport has an hour-long trip using Route 74. The nearest hospital is Atrium Health Anson, off Route 74.
Streets throughout Polkton are sidewalk-free, so residents drive to get around town and beyond. Train tracks cross roads that connect to Route 74, like William Street, so drivers might get stuck waiting for a train to pass before continuing to the highway. The area’s churches are close to the tracks, including Polkton Baptist Church, organized around 1853 when it was known as Piney Grove Baptist Church.
