Wadesboro offers country living outside the Charlotte metro area
Wadesboro is the county seat and largest municipality in Anson County, but despite these designations, the area is considered a small town with a rural atmosphere. It's a place to live in a quiet country setting with recreation nearby and routes to busy cities. "People want country living. They can get that there,” says Tina Hunter Howell, an experienced Realtor and broker with Hunter Homes Realty who has been selling homes since 2001. “You just get that small-town charm. The cost of living is less. You still have great roadways to get you into the Charlotte metro area, if you needed to get there. It’s a nice place to live outside the metropolitan area.” People might move into a home close to downtown that has been standing since the late 1800s or a newer ranch-style home on a sprawling lot. Either way, residents will be away from busy city life, but not so far to feel isolated from the rest of the world.
Older homes downtown and some with large lots among farms
There are Craftsman bungalows, ranch-style homes and historic Colonial Revivals throughout town. "You’ve got some typical older neighborhoods in the city limits, but when you get out in the country, you’ll find anything from an acre to 100 acres-plus tract land," Howell says. Ranch-style homes on large lots and 1800s homes with recent upgrades have sold for $400,000 to around $600,000. Properties within city limits tend to sell for about $200,000 to $400,000. Some properties have sold for under $200,000, like the newly built bungalows in the growing Hillcrest subdivision and older ranch-style and manufactured homes that need improvements.
Anson County Schools district offers summer camps to see the stars
The Anson County Schools district gets a C rating from Niche. Wadesboro Primary teaches kindergarten through third grade and receives a C-plus. Wadesboro Elementary School also has a C-plus and feeds into the C-rated Anson Middle School. Anson High School gets a C-minus. Anson County Schools worked with the Wadesboro Rotary Club in 2005 to found the Rotary Science Center and Henry H. "Punky" Morton Planetarium. Elementary-age students can join summer camps held at the center to learn more about space and science.
Commuting to Charlotte or Cheraw for work
U.S. Route 74 flows through downtown Wadesboro and about 50 miles to downtown Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. " You have more commuting that goes on,” Howell says. “Wadesboro is not far from the South Carolina line, near the Cheraw area. I’ve had clients who work in that area but still live in the Wadesboro area." The drive to Charlotte can take over an hour in morning and evening traffic, though the Monroe Bypass reduces the commute time. While people may travel for work, there are amenities like Atrium Health Anson that are a short drive from home. Some people even live close enough to walk to places of worship like First Baptist Church. Downtown has sidewalks, though most residential streets are sidewalk-free.
Family-owned restaurants and a must-visit farmstand
Wadesboro has a few restaurants near the center of town, like the family-run Oliver's Restaurant. Lady Bug Family Restaurant serves classic comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Up the road, La Suerte De Sake is a destination in Wadesboro for Mexican dishes. "There's a little place called Peaches n' Cream that has the best homemade ice cream," Howell says. "They have fruit and produce; it's great. I drive all the way from Stanley with my grandkids to get their ice cream. It's probably my favorite place in Wadesboro." Residents can pick up other groceries at Food Lion or the Wadesboro IGA. From August to October, the Anson County Farmers Market fills an open-air building off Route 52. Vendors from across the area set up booths to sell homemade crafts, fresh produce and to-go meals.
Wadesboro Park, Twin Valley Golf and Pee Dee National close to home
Wadesboro Park is tucked away behind tall trees. Visitors can let their kids explore the playground or cool off on the splash pad. Many people walk and run the trail that follows the park's perimeter. Toward the outskirts of town, the 18-hole Twin Valley Golf Club is open to the public, though some players purchase memberships to join tournaments or access the private billiard room. Howell points out that Wadesboro is about three hours from mountains and three hours from beaches, but there are outdoor destinations closer to home. There’s a lot of natural areas, and then you’re not far from the Morrow Mountain Range,” Howell says. “I’m in the Stanley County area, the next county over, and we’ve got Lake Tillery and Bayden Lake. So, there’s a lot of natural resources nearby that are a 30-minute commute." The Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge has ponds open to fishing, hunting grounds and drivable trails for anyone who wants to spot wildflowers and visiting birds.
