When Rowan County was established in 1753, the county seat was placed at the center of two Native American trails. This hub of transportation and commerce was later named Salisbury, and the city has remained the county seat ever since. The North Carolina Railroad and textile mills sparked population growth throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Salisbury has several historic districts consisting of 19th-century colonial architecture, refurbished factories, museums and landmark sites of historic events. The city has five locally designated historic districts and 10 nationally registered historic districts, including Brooklyn-South Square, Ellis Street Graded School, North Main Street, West Square and Downtown.
Famous southern mansions are open for touring, like the Hall House, built in 1820, and the Old Stone House, built in 1766. “The reason my husband and I moved here is for the preservation and the history. It’s so appealing to drive through town,” says Barb Sorel, longtime resident and vice president of the Historic Salisbury Foundation. “The foundation has preserved more than 1,150 properties over the 50 years it's been around.”
More recently, Salisbury became known as the home of Cheerwine, the Cheerwine Festival and Food Lion grocery stores. The city balances its past and future with historic buildings filled with modern businesses and organizations. Over 35,000 people live in Salisbury, according to the 2020 census. Angie Castro, broker of Monarch Group Realty who has over four years of experience selling homes in the Charlotte Metro area, says, “The downtown is very pretty. They have space for events, and they do live music sometimes. Overall, Salisbury is quieter than Charlotte, and the home prices are lower. Some people move there when they go to Catawba College or Livingstone College.”
Salisbury has beautiful murals depicting the history and culture of the city.
History can be found even on residential streets of Salisbury.
Visitors and residents alike enjoy the beautiful streets and friendly locals of Salisbury.
The local Rowan County Museum showcases the local history of Salisbury.
Food Lion and many other companies call Salisbury home.
The nationally know Cheerwine Brand holds a special place in the history of Salisbury.
Novant Health has a large medical campus within easy reach of Salisbury locals.
Salisbury veterans have access to one of the largest VA Medical centers in the region.
History is showcased by the well maintained and stunning homes of Salisbury.
Home sizes and prices can vary throughout the different communities of Salisbury.
Small courtyards are an oasis for residents in the historic Salisbury downtown.
There are beautiful brick home communities in the suburbs on Salisbury.
Salisbury Community Park is a massive spawling area with athletic fields and trails.
The Bell Tower Green is located in the heart of downtown Salisbury.
Person walking with his dog in Forest Hill Park.
Residents enjoy the use of the massive trail system at Salisbury Community Park.
Visitors stroll along the small locally owned business storefronts of Salisbury's Main Stree
Locals know to arrive early for the popular culinary experience of Hap's Grill in Salisbury.
Friends enjoy outtings together in the quaint Salisbury Main Street for shopping and dining.
Salisbury has a slower pace that locals and visitors appreciate and enjoy throughout the cit
Catawba College promotes students to become involved with the local surrounding Salisbury co
Livingstone College is a historic educational institution of Salisbury.
The Livingstone College is home to the Blue Bears in Salisbury, NC.
Catawba College showcases beautiful architecture throughout the Salisbury campus.
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Manufacturing and distribution centers, like Cheerwine
Health services, distribution centers, and education are the leading sectors of Salisbury’s industry. Organizations like Salisbury VA Health Care System and Food Lion are among the top employers in the city and county. There are also multiple Novant Health facilities in town. L.D. Peeler founded Cheerwine in 1917 after he created a new drink using wild cherry flavoring. For over 100 years, Cheerwine has created jobs and bottled soda in Salisbury, and the city started the Cheerwine Festival to bring the community together and celebrate the sweet soda.
Forward 2040 is a city-wide plan aimed at solving Salisbury’s growing pains with improved infrastructure. The city’s goal is to preserve the town’s history while working to increase parking accessibility, add bike lanes and create more affordable housing.
Food Lion and many other companies call Salisbury home.
The nationally know Cheerwine Brand holds a special place in the history of Salisbury.
Novant Health has a large medical campus within easy reach of Salisbury locals.
Salisbury veterans have access to one of the largest VA Medical centers in the region.
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Historic streets near downtown and growing suburbs
When Salisbury was founded, the surveyors designed it to have a grid-iron pattern, which still exists today throughout town. The median home price is $276,250, lower than the $416,700 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors. Castro says Salisbury has a mix of urban and country living. There are historic homes near downtown, but ranch-style homes built in the 1960s are roughly five minutes away from the city center with acres of land.
Bungalows and ranch-style homes that sell for $175,000 or less often need repairs, and most move-in-ready options range from $175,000 to $300,000. “There’s a whole lot of new construction going on, and it’s been going on for the past few years,” Castro says. “New homes usually go for $300,000 or higher. Country Club of Salisbury and Rolling Hills have beautiful homes with 4,000 square feet and grand ceilings, and they can sell in the $600,000s.” Salisbury has all four seasons, though the summers are humid, and the winters are mild.
History is showcased by the well maintained and stunning homes of Salisbury.
Home sizes and prices can vary throughout the different communities of Salisbury.
Small courtyards are an oasis for residents in the historic Salisbury downtown.
There are beautiful brick home communities in the suburbs on Salisbury.
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Over 500 acres of parks to explore
Salisbury residents have access to 29 parks and recreation sites, totaling 508 acres of green space. The Salisbury Community Park stays busy, but there are also garden parks and over 20 miles of greenways. Another way to see the city is by taking a trolley tour to historic locations throughout the downtown area, including the original Cheerwine building and the only prison in North Carolina used during the Civil War. Bell Tower Green is right across from the Rowan Public Library. This park was designed around the 1892 Bell Tower. This 3-acre space is filled with a garden, amphitheater and play space. A couple blocks away, the Rowan Museum fills the 1857 courthouse with displays detailing the county’s history and offers optional group tours.
According to the FBI, there were 1,483 reported property crimes and 626 reported violent crimes in 2023. There was a roughly 12% increase in property crimes and violent crimes, compared to reports from 2022. The Salisbury Police Department is taking steps to combat these issues, such as expanding the use of foot patrols and walking routes for officers. There are community outreach programs, like Summer Cease Fire, which is an initiative to lessen gun violence during the summer months. SPD officers also hop in the Neighborhood Ice Cream Express truck to hand out ice cream in neighborhoods and at special events to make positive connections with the community.
Salisbury Community Park is a massive spawling area with athletic fields and trails.
The Bell Tower Green is located in the heart of downtown Salisbury.
Person walking with his dog in Forest Hill Park.
Residents enjoy the use of the massive trail system at Salisbury Community Park.
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Downtown restaurants and Cheerwine Festival
Boutiques, small restaurants and shops make up Salisbury’s downtown, especially along Main Street. The family-owned Go Burrito! opened in Salisbury in 2013, and its success allowed the expansion to Missouri and Tennessee. Guests can order burritos on the restaurant’s first floor and then head upstairs to the rooftop bar. La Cava Restaurant serves Italian cuisine in an 1897 church, still standing with stained glass windows and a wine alcove that originally held the church’s altar. Innes Street Market, south of I-85, is a shopping center with big box stores and a Cinemark movie theater.
The downtown area is more than just a place to shop and dine. Every May, thousands visit for the Cheerwine Festival. Main Street, Fisher Street and Innes Street fill with vendors, food trucks and beer gardens. Attendants can grab a Cheerwine, hang out in the Fun Zone or catch a live show on the main stage. Money raised from selling 20-ounce bottles of Cheerwine goes toward a local nonprofit. The first festival was held in 2017, and over 100,000 people attended in 2023.
Visitors stroll along the small locally owned business storefronts of Salisbury's Main Stree
Locals know to arrive early for the popular culinary experience of Hap's Grill in Salisbury.
Friends enjoy outtings together in the quaint Salisbury Main Street for shopping and dining.
Salisbury has a slower pace that locals and visitors appreciate and enjoy throughout the cit
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Commuting to Charlotte and Concord
Residents who don’t work in Salisbury often use Interstate 85 to commute 23 miles to Concord or 43 miles to Charlotte. The Mid-Carolina Regional Airport is south of the city and offers flights to multiple East Coast destinations, but the Charlotte Douglas International Airport has more commercial airline and destination options. Wide sidewalks flow past historic storefronts in downtown Salisbury, and there are dedicated free parking areas, making it easy to park and walk to a store or restaurant.
Roads with bike lanes are sparse, but the Salisbury Station connects residents to AMTRAK routes, some running south to Charlotte and north to New York. Saturday bus services are suspended, but Salisbury buses run three routes that wind throughout the city during the rest of the week. Most places of worship in Salisbury are churches, though there’s also a small Islamic center and synagogue near the downtown area.
Two private colleges and a highly ranked early college
The Rowan-Salisbury School District has 35 schools and earns a B-minus from Niche. Rowan County Early College ranks the highest with an A-minus, and the school shares a campus with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Students who attend can earn their high school diploma and an associate's degree. Salisbury has two private colleges: Catawba College, founded in the 1740s, and Livingstone College, founded in 1879. Catawba College gets a C-plus, and most students major in health sciences or business. Livingstone College is a historically black institution with Christian values and receives a C.
Catawba College promotes students to become involved with the local surrounding Salisbury co
Livingstone College is a historic educational institution of Salisbury.
The Livingstone College is home to the Blue Bears in Salisbury, NC.
Catawba College showcases beautiful architecture throughout the Salisbury campus.
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Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Justin Stapp
Video By
Ellie Brown
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Karla Murillo,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Salisbury, NC sell after 58 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Salisbury, NC over the last 12 months is $289,945, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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New 2 bed / 1 bath duplex in Salisbury, NC.$1,400 Monthly Rent. $1,400 Security Deposit.Landscaping is included with rent; also included is a range, microwave, and refrigerator for tenant use during lease. Central Heat & A/C. Electric water heater and appliances. For showing, come by our office with a picture ID and $50 CASH for key deposit, and go view the home on your own. This must
3 bed/2.5 bath two story townhome in peaceful town of Granite Quarry. Modern finishes with durable LVP flooring, bright & open floor plan and a full kitchen complete with SS appliances & granite countertops. On the second floor you'll find 3 good sized bedrooms with the primary bedroom having an en suite bathroom. Enjoy maintenance free living with lawncare provided. *The washer and dryer are
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