Warsaw offers small-town living and a popular Veterans Day parade
Warsaw is a small town in eastern North Carolina that’s known for its military pride. “It’s a good neighborly atmosphere to raise your children,” says Dora Jernigan, a former high school teacher in the area who is now a Realtor with Simpson Real Estate Group. “It’s small-town living. It’s mainly neighbors helping neighbors, going to church together and attending community events. It’s also the home of the oldest Veterans Day parade in the United States.” There are several military bases in the region, and Jernigan says that many here are veterans themselves. The parade attracts thousands to the area each November, and the town celebrates its military connections throughout the year at the Duplin County Veterans Memorial Museum.
Ranch-style homes in town or rural areas
Warsaw’s grid of streets is lined with ranch-style homes. Neat lawns and mature trees on half-acre lots are common, and most homes have driveways leading to carports or garages. The rural area surrounding the town features flat expanses of farmland and ranch-style and manufactured homes that sit on multiple acres. “You can find a better value in the Warsaw area than anywhere else around,” Jernigan says. “You can find some really nice homes at a very good price.” Prices typically range from around $70,000 to $380,000. There are several apartment complexes with rental options on the town’s edges. Though most of the area isn’t in a floodplain, the community can experience flooding and wind damage from hurricanes.
Teachers with community ties and Friday night football games
“A lot of people teaching in the public schools actually graduated from the schools — they're homegrown teachers,” Jernigan says. Kids can start school at Warsaw Elementary, which earns a C from Niche and teaches pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. At the C-rated James Kenan High, kids can join 15 sports teams, including golf, swimming and football. “By being in a rural area and a small community, you see more athletic support for the high school,” Jernigan says. “A lot of folks around here go to football games. It’s like ‘Friday Night Lights.’”
The Veterans Day Parade attracts crowds from throughout the state
The Warsaw Veterans Day Parade and Celebration has taken place on the first Saturday of November since 1921 — before Veterans Day was officially a holiday. “It always draws a big crowd. All the armed forces are there,” Jernigan says. The parade starts with a flyover where paratroopers jump from planes, and the parade features active military personnel, veterans’ groups and local organizations. The event also includes vendors, kids' activities and live music. The annual Farm Fest each April draws locals to Memorial Park for a pork cook-off, antique tractors and pony rides.
A car-reliant community along Interstate 40
Interstate 40 passes through the community, leading 59 miles to Wilmington and Wilmington International Airport. U.S. Route 117 leads 30 miles to Goldsboro. Fayetteville is a 49-mile drive on state Route 24. A cargo rail line passes through Warsaw, which can cause traffic delays in town and noise for residents. Sidewalks in the town’s commercial areas make it pedestrian-friendly. There are several houses of worship throughout the community, including Warsaw Baptist Church and Warsaw Presbyterian Church. ECU Health Duplin Hospital is about 8 miles away.
A variety of shopping and dining options are in town
In Warsaw’s town center, businesses are concentrated mostly along Front Street and around the intersection of Pine and College Streets, where stores sell hardware, furniture and auto parts. Puerto Escondido Bar and Grill serves Mexican comfort food in a casual atmosphere, while the family-owned Peggy’s Kitchen Table serves Italian and American cuisine. Chain restaurants like Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q and Waffle House are near I-40. Grocery stores include Piggly Wiggly and Family Dollar. National retailers like Walmart are a 14-mile drive away in Clinton.
Area parks and museums honor local sacrifices
The 10-acre Memorial Park has a playground, sports fields and the Warsaw Community Center, which has an indoor basketball court. The Stacy Britt Gardens is a greenspace with benches dedicated to the memory of a firefighter who died on duty. The Duplin County Veterans Memorial Museum, located in the historic L.P. Best House, honors the community’s military history. The Atlantic Ocean beaches of Surf City are a 63-mile drive away.
Written By
Annie Franklin
