Sanford, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sanford, North Carolina
City
The Lee County Courthouse in Sanford
Seal
Nickname(s):  Well Centered
Location of Sanford, North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Lee
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• Body	Sanford City Council
Area
• Total	29.83 sq mi (77.26 km2)
• Land	29.57 sq mi (76.59 km2)
• Water	0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation	358 ft (109 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,261
• Density	1,023.33/sq mi (395.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	27330-27332
Area code(s)	919
FIPS code	37-59280
GNIS feature ID	2405419

Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 30,261 people lived there. It is the main town, or county seat, of Lee County. The very center of North Carolina is located nearby, just northwest of the city.

Sanford's Past: A Look at Its History

Steele Street in downtown Sanford

Sanford got its name from C.O. Sanford. He was a civil engineer who helped build the railroad lines through this area. These railroads were very important for the city's growth.

How Lee County and Sanford Grew Together

Sanford is located in Lee County, North Carolina. This county was created in 1907 from parts of three other counties. When Lee County was new, Sanford and Jonesboro were the two biggest towns. Instead of choosing one as the county seat, they built the new courthouse right between them. For many years, Lee County was the only county in the U.S. with a courthouse that had a special "Rural Free Delivery" mail address. Later, Sanford grew so much that it joined with Jonesboro. Jonesboro became Jonesboro Heights, and the combined city kept the name Sanford.

Sanford's Role in Important Wars

The Sanford area played a part in the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Places like the House in the Horseshoe and the Endor Iron Furnace are examples of this history. Over time, the Sanford area became a key source for coal, a type of stone called brownstone, and bricks. Sanford became famous for its brownstone and brick production, providing these building materials to many places across the United States.

Baseball in Sanford

For seven seasons, from 1941 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1950, Sanford had its own professional minor league baseball team. They were called the Sanford Spinners. They played in the Class D league. After World War II, a new Spinners team joined the Tobacco State League. Their home games were played at Temple Park. The Spinners, led by manager Zeb Harrington, won the regular season championship three times.

Major Weather Event in 2011

On April 16, 2011, a large tornado hit Sanford. It caused a lot of damage, destroying a hardware store, a warehouse, and many mobile homes and other buildings. The tornado then moved into Wake County.

Sanford's Sister Cities

Sanford has special relationships with cities in other countries, called "sister cities."

• On October 21, 2014, Sanford became sister cities with Yixing, China.
• On October 5, 2019, Sanford also became sister cities with Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico.

Historic Places in Sanford

Many important buildings and areas in Sanford are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value. Some of these include:

• Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Cemeteries
• Downtown Sanford Historic District
• East Sanford Historic District
• Euphronia Presbyterian Church
• Farish-Lambeth House
• Hawkins Avenue Historic District
• Lee Avenue Historic District
• Lee County Courthouse
• Lee County Training School
• John D. McIver Farm
• Railroad House
• Rosemount-McIver Park Historic District
• Sanford High School, Former
• Seaboard Milling Company
• Temple Theatre

Sanford's Location and Natural Features

Sanford is located about 42 miles southwest of Raleigh, which is the state capital. It's also about 57 miles southeast of Greensboro and 36 miles northwest of Fayetteville.

Land and Water Areas

The city covers a total area of about 29.83 square miles (77.26 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water. Several creeks flow through Sanford. Little Buffalo Creek flows through the middle of the city, and Big Buffalo Creek flows through the west side. All of Sanford's water eventually flows into the Cape Fear River.

Who Lives in Sanford: Population Facts

Sanford has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1880, only 236 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 30,261 people.

Sanford's Diverse Community (2020)

In 2020, the city was home to 30,261 people. Here's a quick look at the different groups that make up Sanford's population:

• White (non-Hispanic): 42.25%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 23.59%
• Native American: 0.32%
• Asian: 1.48%
• Pacific Islander: 0.09%
• Other/Mixed races: 4.03%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 28.25%

Sanford's Economy: What the City Makes

Sanford sits on a unique geological spot where white beach sand meets clay from the Piedmont region. This makes it a great place for producing clay bricks. In 1959, Sanford made 10% of all the bricks in the United States! Because of this, it was called the "Brick Capital of the USA." Brick making is still an important industry today, with companies like General Shale and Lee Brick and Tile.

Sanford also produces textiles (fabrics and clothing). A company that makes vaccines, Wyeth, became the largest employer in the area in 2006.

Arts and Culture in Sanford

Sanford offers places to learn about history and enjoy performances.

Museums to Visit

• Railroad House Museum: This museum tells the story of Sanford's railroad history.

Performing Arts Venues

• Temple Theatre: A historic theater where you can watch plays and other live shows.

Learning in Sanford: Education

Sanford has many options for education, from colleges to public and private schools.

Central Carolina Community College

The Lee County campus of Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) is in Sanford. This college offers many programs where students can earn degrees, diplomas, and certifications.

Lee County Public Schools

The public school system in Lee County includes:

• Three high schools: Lee County High School, Lee Early College (on the CCCC campus), and Southern Lee High School. Southern Lee High School and Lee Early College both opened in the 2005-2006 school year.
• Three middle schools: West Lee Middle School, East Lee Middle School, and SanLee Middle School. SanLee Middle School opened in the 2008-2009 school year.
• One alternative school: Bragg Street Academy, which serves students from 6th to 12th grade.
• Seven traditional elementary schools: B.T. Bullock, Broadway, Deep River, Greenwood, J. Glenn Edwards, J.R. Ingram, Jr., and W.B. Wicker Elementary.
• One year-round elementary school: Tramway Elementary, which uses a lottery system for enrollment.

Charter and Private Schools

Sanford also has public charter schools and private Christian schools:

• Charter schools: MINA Charter (Kindergarten to 5th grade), Ascend Leadership Academy, and Central Carolina Academy (both 6th to 12th grade).
• Private Christian schools: Grace Christian and Lee Christian, both serving preschool through 12th grade.

Media in Sanford: News and Radio

Sanford has its own local newspaper and several radio stations.

Local Newspapers

• The Sanford Herald: This is the city's main newspaper and has been published since 1930. It comes out five mornings a week.
• "The Rant": Started as a radio show in 2008, it became an online news site in 2014. It also publishes a monthly print edition.

Radio Stations

You can listen to many different types of music and shows on Sanford's radio stations:

• WFJA Classic Hits and Oldies 105.5 FM
• WWGP 1050 AM Today's Best Country
• W204AV 88.7 – Christian music
• WDCC 90.5 – variety (owned by Central Carolina Community College)
• WLHC 103.1 – pop standards
• WDSG 107.9 – beach, oldies, and gospel music
• WXKL 1290 – gospel music

Getting Around Sanford: Transportation

Sanford has various ways to travel, including an airport, highways, and public transit.

Air Travel

Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA) is about 8 miles northeast of Sanford. It opened in 2000 and offers services for both fun flights and business jets.

Major Roads and Highways

Main Street (N.C. Route 78) passing through Jonesboro Heights

Several important roads pass through Sanford:

• United States Highways: U.S. 1, U.S. Route 15, U.S. Route 421, and U.S. Route 501.
• North Carolina Highways: N.C. Route 42, N.C. Route 78, and N.C. Route 87.

Train Services

Sanford is served by several train lines:

• CSX Transportation
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Atlantic and Western Railway (a short line)
• Atlantic and Yadkin Railway

Public Transportation

The County of Lee Transit System (COLTS) provides bus and transportation services throughout Sanford and Lee County.

Biking and Walking Paths

• The U.S. Bicycle Route 1, which goes from Maine to Florida, passes through downtown Sanford.
• There's also a half-mile greenway trail in Kiwanis Family Park, with plans to add more paths.

Famous People from Sanford

Many interesting people have connections to Sanford:

• Hardy Boyz: WWE wrestlers Matt and Jeff Hardy lived in Sanford for a few months. Matt was born there.
• Britton Buchanan: He was the runner-up on the 14th season of The Voice.
• Floyd Council: A well-known blues musician.
• Lita (Amy Dumas): A former WWE Diva.
• Bill Harrington: A pitcher in MLB.
• J. D. McDuffie: A NASCAR driver.
• Jack Pittman: An illustrator and cartoonist.
• ACHES (Patrick Price): A professional eSports player famous for playing Call of Duty.
• Herb Thomas: Another NASCAR driver.
• Dennis Wicker: A former lieutenant governor of North Carolina.

Sanford's Sister Cities

Sanford has two sister cities, which are cities in other countries that it shares a special bond with:

• Yixing, Jiangsu, China
• Atizapán de Zaragoza, State of México, Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Sanford (Carolina del Norte) para niños