Small-town charm in Rowan County
In southeastern Rowan County sits the humble town of Rockwell. With local businesses lining Main Street and a population of about 2,400, Rockwell is the embodiment of small-town U.S.A. The main drag is about a mile long and lined with sidewalks, making much of the community walkable and bikeable. “It’s a very small town, but it is growing,” says Michael Bulvin, a Realtor at Redwood Realty Group and lifelong resident of southwestern North Carolina. “It’s a quiet, faith-based town.” The community lies about 10 miles south of Salisbury and 40 miles northeast of Charlotte, providing straightforward commutes to the local hospital and regional corporate hub, respectively. “Rockwell sits on the outskirts of Salisbury, the county seat for Rowan County,” Bulvin says. “More people are moving up here because of urban sprawl. The population is moving away from the big corporate areas, but people do commute from Rockwell to Charlotte.”
Rockwell homes range from midcentury ranches to modern builds
Rockwell’s residential streets are lined with level lots and grassy lawns. Yards may contain a small garden or a swing hanging from the sturdy branch of a mature oak tree. Not all homes have garages, so cars are likely to be parked in driveways and carports. The community includes 20th-century ranch-styles and some recently built modern transitional homes. Prices range from about $180,000 to $460,000, with a median sale price of $310,000, which is lower than both the state and national medians.
Students are zoned for Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Rowan-Salisbury Schools, rated B-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students may begin at Rockwell Elementary, rated B. Erwin Middle School, rated C and East Rowan High, rated C-plus, sit a few miles up U.S. Route 52. Musically inclined students may join the high school’s marching band or wind ensemble. Since 1995, East Rowan High has hosted the Mustang Classic, an annual competition for marching bands across the state. Rockwell Christian School, rated C, offers a private, faith-based option for all grade levels.
Small businesses in Rockwell and more options in Salisbury
There are a couple of local barbecue joints in Rockwell, like Darrell’s Bar-B-Q, which serves sandwiches and meat by the pound alongside classic sides like pasta salad and hushpuppies. Rockwell Café sits in the center of town, where locals can meet up over coffee and hearty breakfast plates or cheeseburgers and an iced tea. Rockwell’s specialty shops include a hardware store and a sporting goods store, and Food Lion supplies the area with groceries. Salisbury has broader commercial offerings, including Lowe’s Home Improvement, Walmart Supercenter, Chick-fil-A and a Cinemark movie theater.
Getting outside at Rockwell Park, High Rock Lake and Tiger World
For an afternoon out in nature, residents can take a walk around Rockwell Park. This recreational space is quiet on a typical day, but the covered picnic pavilion can host a large party or gathering. The park also has a playground and courts for basketball and volleyball. Lakeside recreation like boating and fishing await to the east. “There are three lakes up that way: High Rock Lake, Badin Lake and Lake Tillery,” Bulvin says. The lakes flow into one another, starting with High Rock Lake about 10 miles away, which is the closest and largest of the three. A few miles west of Rockwell, animal lovers of all ages can take guided tours of Tiger World, a nonprofit conservation and education center. Tiger World is home to several species of endangered tigers as well as other exotic animals like kangaroos and anacondas.
Getting around by car, plane and train from Rockwell
The intersection of State Route 152 and U.S. Route 52 marks the center of town. State Route 152 heads west, connecting drivers to Interstate 85. U.S. Route 52 also connects to I-85 as it leads drivers north into Salisbury and to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, the closest hospital. I-85 takes drivers about 40 miles southwest to downtown Charlotte and 45 miles to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Additionally, a railroad winds through the west side of Rockwell, connecting to the Amtrak stop in Salisbury.
