Spencer is a historic railroad town next to Salisbury
Spencer is a Rowan County town of about 3,000 situated about halfway between Greensboro and Charlotte. This tree-filled, residential community sits 3 miles up U.S. Route 29 from Salisbury and about 20 miles from Kannapolis. “It is a growing area, right on the outskirts of Salisbury,” says Tonya Johnson, a Keller Williams agent who sells in Spencer. “And the Kannapolis area is growing. There are a few things to do in Spencer, but if you’re really looking for entertainment, you’re not too far from the Queen City.”
Spencer was named after Samuel Spencer, the first president of the Southern Railway. Throughout the 20th century, Spencer was a major stop along the rail line, as its train repair station was halfway between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia. The locomotive industry remains important to the town today due to the North Carolina Transportation Museum. This museum has transformed the former train station into a 60-acre educational attraction. Here, families can ride a train through the museum’s grounds, attend seasonal events and learn about vintage cars, trucks and tractors.
New construction intermixed with 20th-century homes in Spencer
Spencer’s gridded center is made up of 20th-century homes and streets lined with leafy trees, including stately oaks and magnolias. Newer homes typically lie further from the gridded center in cul-de-sacs. The residential landscape includes farmhouses, ranch-styles and Craftsman-inspired bungalows. Single-family home prices range from about $140,000 to $390,000, with fixer-uppers starting at about $80,000. There are a handful of homes in the $500,000s: these are typically larger properties sitting on at least one acre. Lots typically cost between $3,500 and $75,000.
Students are zoned for Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Rowan-Salisbury Schools, rated B-minus on Niche, serves the area. North Rowan Elementary, Middle and High Schools are all located in Spencer, within walking distance of some homes. The elementary and middle schools are rated C, while the high school is rated C-plus. The high school’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Design focuses on project and career management for those interested in starting their own small businesses.
Parks in Spencer offer recreation and community spaces
At the northern tip of Spencer, the Yadkin River Park trailhead takes cyclists and dog walkers across the pedestrian-friendly Wil-Cox Bridge to Yadkin River Park. Here, canoes and kayaks can enter the Yadkin River, and further inland, kids can play on the playground and dogs can run in the dog park. Library Park is a more centrally located green space; it has a gazebo framed by leafy trees and shaded sidewalks. The town is also developing a new green space called Spencer Town Park. It will have a stage and lawn for events bordered by landscaped sidewalks, plus picnic areas and a kid-friendly water feature.
Shopping and dining along U.S. Route 29
Restaurants and retailers line U.S. Route 29. Hendrix Barbecue is a popular spot with a dining area and drive-through window. It serves Southern classics like North Carolina barbecue, Cheerwine and sweet tea. Groceries are available at Food Lion. More local cafés, bars and restaurants sit in downtown Salisbury further down U.S. Route 29, in addition to specialized small businesses selling books, pottery, bikes and more. Chain stores like Big Lots and Ashley Store + Outlet are also in Salisbury, alongside a variety of fast-food joints.
Fun at Spencer’s museums and Winterfest
Spencer residents don’t have to drive to bigger cities for entertainment. In addition to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, Spencer is home to the North Carolina Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures. This museum collects and displays toys of generations past, from vintage Barbies to toy trains that locomotor enthusiasts of all ages can view.
One of the town’s annual celebrations is Winterfest. This three-day Christmas market features an ice-skating rink, twinkling lights, live music, photos with Santa and other kid-friendly activities—plus craft, food and beverage vendors. Once construction is finished, Spencer Town Park will host Winterfest going forward.
Getting around Rowan County by car and public transit
U.S. Route 29 goes through town, connecting drivers to Salisbury and Charlotte. Interstate 85 leads about 50 miles southwest into downtown Charlotte. Both roads extend about 50 miles northeast towards Greensboro. However, Winston-Salem is the closest major city; it’s about 35 miles up Interstate 285. Plane travelers can choose between Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, about 30 miles southwest, or Charlotte Douglas International Airport, about 50 miles southwest. A Greyhound bus stop is across the train tracks in East Spencer. Salisbury has the nearest Amtrak station and hospital, the Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. A bus route transports passengers between Spencer and Salisbury, stopping at the Greyhound station, the hospital and other stops.
