High Point, NC: North Carolina’s International City-A Best Place to Live
Welcome back to another week of the best places to live in the Carolina with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 people.
This week we’re staying in the northern Piedmont region of North Carolina and moving a little more than an hour west from Chapel Hill, NC to an area also known as the Piedmont Triad area.
The Piedmont Triad area consists of three cities, Winston-Salem, NC, Greensboro, NC and our next best place, the city of High Point, NC, population 101,409.
As you may remember from other Carolina Reports, there are a significant number of towns and cities in the northern Piedmont region that owe their existence and growth to the railroads.
In the case of High Point, NC it was the state-owned North Carolina Railroad that looped north from Morehead City, NC to Greensboro, NC and proceeded down to Charlotte, NC.
In fact, much like with Apex, NC the name High Point came from the fact that it was located at the geographical highest point on the rail line.
Although tobacco, textiles and transportation were for a time important industries, what really put High Point, North Carolina on the map was furniture.
Today High Point, NC has over 125 local manufacturers and over 50 retail outlets.
Wow…shopping anyone?
High Point residents quite proudly proclaim their city “The Home Furnishings Capital of the World!”
Just saying that doesn’t have much impact, but believe me when you drive into High Point and see a four story building that looks like a huge chest of drawers (see above) only a couple blocks off Main Street or make a visit to the enormous International Home Furnishings Center you’ll understand what I’m saying.
It really is amazing.
More recently, High Point has benefited greatly from being close to the fast growing Greensboro and Winston-Salem metropolitan areas as well as its proximity to the Research Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC).
I think it’s important that we look at what this means to you as you search for your best place to relocate or retire in the Carolinas.
Moreover this relationship with larger cities usually means greater social and economic diversity.
For instance, while furniture is still a very important part of High Point’s identity, it is newer industries like information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, warehousing and distribution centers that are springing up all around the area.
To you this means jobs and local investment in kinds of things that offer a higher quality of life.
They’re also bringing new people from all over the state, all over the country and all over the world to live and work in High Point, NC.
That “International City” moniker in the title comes from the fact that over 70 international companies have offices or headquarters in High Point.
A big reason they set up shop here is another thing you should keep in mind which is great transportation infrastructure and access.
High Point is close to several major interstates (I-40, I-85, I-73, I-74), is on an Amtrak rail line, and the Piedmont Triad International Airport is only minutes away.
What will really catch your eye about High Point is its amazingly affordable housing market.
Single family resale homes, townhomes and manufactured housing can all be found at affordable rates. For those of you not interested in buying a home, renting in High Point is a popular housing option especially when it comes to single family homes and townhomes.
For me personally, the thing I like about High Point, NC is the very real sense you get there of a city that is really coming into its own.
It's a place that is proud of its heritage yet striding boldly into the future.
I think of the beautiful old neighborhoods with homes from all different architectural styles not far from the more chic restaurants and quaint little specialty shops popping up on Main Street are evidence of just how much High Point knows the kind of future it wants.
There are a host of museums in High Point as well as an active arts and theater community that plays host to the annual North Carolina Shakespeare Festival.
And talk about natural beauty and great opportunity for outdoor activity. From the areas many golf courses to its parks and nature center and nearby lakes there's no shortage of things to do.
I could go on and on about High Point but its safe to say that it is definitely a place to keep in mind when looking for your best place in the Carolinas with a population of 50,000 to 100,000 people.
Till next time take care and I'll see you next week.
Bob
Check out our NC Best Places and SC Best Places page for more info about High Point and some of the other places I mentioned today.
About Bob Bencivenga
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Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
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