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Winston-Salem, North Carolina
City of Winston-Salem
Skyline of Winston-Salem with the redeveloped Bailey Power Plant in the foreground and 100 North Main Street, Winston Tower, and the Reynolds Building in the background
Skyline of Winston-Salem with the redeveloped Bailey Power Plant in the foreground and 100 North Main Street, Winston Tower, and the Reynolds Building in the background
Flag of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Flag
Official seal of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Seal
Official logo of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Nickname(s): 
Twin City, Winston, W-S, The Dash City, The 336
Motto(s): 
"Urbs Condita Adiuvando" (A city founded on cooperation)
Location in Forsyth County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in Forsyth County and the state of North Carolina.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina is located in the United States
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State North Carolina
Counties Forsyth County
Founded 1766 (Salem),
1849 (Winston)
Consolidated 1913 (Winston-Salem)
Area
 • City 133.82 sq mi (346.59 km2)
 • Land 132.61 sq mi (343.47 km2)
 • Water 1.20 sq mi (3.12 km2)
Elevation
970 ft (300 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 249,545
 • Rank 5th in North Carolina
89th in United States
 • Density 1,864.78/sq mi (4,829.75/km2)
 • Urban
391,204 (US: 96th)
 • Metro
679,948 (US: 88th)
 • CSA
1,699,123 (US: 36th)
Demonym(s) Winston-Salemite
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27023, 27040, 27045, 27101-27110, 27113-27117, 27120, 27127, 27130, 27150, 27152, 27155, 27157, 27198-27199, 27284
Area code(s) 336/743
FIPS code 37-75000
Primary Airport Piedmont Triad International Airport
Interstates I-40.svg I-74.svg I-285.svg
U.S. Routes US 52.svg US 158.svg US 311.svg US 421.svg

Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of, Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020, the population was 249,545, making it the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the fifth most populous city in North Carolina, the third largest urban area in North Carolina, and the 89th most populous city in the United States. With a metropolitan population of 679,948 it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. Winston-Salem is home to the tallest office building in the region, 100 North Main Street, formerly known as the Wachovia Building and now known locally as the Wells Fargo Center.

In 2003, the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point metropolitan statistical area was redefined by the OMB. The region was separated into two major metropolitan areas of Winston-Salem and Greensboro-High Point. The population of the Winston-Salem metropolitan area in 2020 was 679,948. The metro area covers over 2,000 square miles and spans over the five counties of Forsyth, Davidson, Stokes, Davie, and Yadkin.

Winston-Salem is called the "Twin City" for its dual heritage and "the Camel City" is a reference to the city's historic involvement in the tobacco industry related to locally based R.J. Reynolds' Camel cigarettes. Many natives of the city and North Carolina refer to the city as "Winston" in informal speech. Winston-Salem is also home to six colleges and institutions, most notably Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, which ranks as one of the best film schools in America. In 2021, the city ranked No. 46 out of 150 cities on the "Best Places to Live" list from U.S. News & World Report. In April 2021, a study from Lendingtree's Magnify Money blog ranked Winston-Salem as the second-best tech market for women.

History

The city of Winston Salem is a product of the merging of the two neighboring towns of Winston and Salem in 1913.

Salem

The origin of the town of Salem dates to January 1753, when Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg, on behalf of the Moravian Church, selected a settlement site in the three forks of Muddy Creek. He called this area "die Wachau" (Latin form: Wachovia) named after the ancestral estate of Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. The land, just short of 99,000 acres (400 km2), was subsequently purchased from John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.

On November 17, 1753, the first settlers arrived at what would later become the town of Bethabara. This town, despite its rapid growth, was not designed to be the primary settlement on the tract. Some residents expanded to a nearby settlement called Bethania in 1759. Finally, lots were drawn to select among suitable sites for the location of a new town.

Old Salem-1
Historic Winkler Bakery in Old Salem

The town established on the chosen site was given the name of Salem (from "Shalom" meaning "Peace",after the Canaanite city mentioned in the Book of Genesis) chosen for it by the Moravians' late patron, Count Zinzendorf. On January 6, 1766, the first tree was felled for the building of Salem. Salem was a typical Moravian settlement congregation with the public buildings of the congregation grouped around a central square, today Salem Square. These included the church, a Brethren's House and a Sisters' House for the unmarried members of the Congregation, which owned all the property in town. For many years only members of the Moravian Church were permitted to live in the settlement. This practice had ended by the American Civil War. Many of the original buildings in the settlement have been restored or rebuilt and are now part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens.

Salem was incorporated as a town in December 1856. Salem Square and "God's Acre", the Moravian Graveyard, since 1772 are the site each Easter morning of the world-famous Moravian sunrise service. This service, sponsored by all the Moravian church parishes in the city, attracts thousands of worshipers each year.

Winston

In 1849, the Salem congregation sold land north of Salem to the newly formed Forsyth County for a county seat. The new town was called "the county town" or Salem until 1851 when it was named Winston for a local hero of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Winston. For its first two decades, Winston was a sleepy county town. In 1868, work began by Salem and Winston business leaders to connect the town to the North Carolina Railroad. That same year, Thomas Jethro Brown of Davie County rented a former livery stable and established the first tobacco warehouse in Winston. That same year, Pleasant Henderson Hanes, also of Davie, built his first tobacco factory a few feet from Brown's warehouse. In 1875, Richard Joshua Reynolds, of Patrick County, Virginia, built his first tobacco factory a few hundred feet from Hanes's factory. By the 1880s, there were almost 40 tobacco factories in the town of Winston. Hanes and Reynolds would compete fiercely for the next 25 years, each absorbing a number of the smaller manufacturers, until Hanes sold out to Reynolds in 1900 to begin a second career in textiles.

Winston-Salem 1891
A map of then known "Winston-Salem" in 1891, showing the development of Main Street and Fourth Street during the industrial tobacco boom--dozens of tobacco factories appear in downtown Winston, including ones owned by Hanes and Reynolds.

Winston-Salem

In the 1880s, the US Post Office began referring to the two towns as Winston-Salem. In 1899, after nearly a decade of contention, the United States Post Office Department established the Winston-Salem post office in Winston, with the former Salem office serving as a branch. After a referendum the towns were officially incorporated as "Winston-Salem" in 1913. The USPS Address Information System (AIS) does not recognize the hyphen. Ironically, the sign hanging on the USPS location in downtown Winston-Salem reads "United States Postal Service, Winston-Salem, NC."

The Reynolds family, namesake of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, played a large role in the history and public life of Winston-Salem. By the 1940s, 60% of Winston-Salem workers worked either for Reynolds or in the Hanes textile factories. The Reynolds company imported so much French cigarette paper and Turkish tobacco for Camel cigarettes that Winston-Salem was designated by the United States federal government as an official port of entry for the United States, despite the city being 200 miles (320 km) inland. Winston-Salem was the eighth-largest port of entry in the United States by 1916.

In 1917, the company bought 84 acres (340,000 m2) of property in Winston-Salem and built 180 houses that it sold at cost to workers, to form a development called "Reynoldstown." By the time R.J. Reynolds died in 1918, his company owned 121 buildings in Winston-Salem.

In 1920, with a population of 48,395, Winston-Salem was the largest city in North Carolina and the largest city between Atlanta and Washington, DC.

In 1929, the Reynolds Building was completed in Winston-Salem. Designed by William F. Lamb from the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, the Reynolds Building is a 314 feet (96 m) skyscraper that has 21 floors. When completed as the headquarters of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, it was the tallest building in the United States south of Baltimore, Maryland, and it was named the best building of the year by the American Institute of Architects. The building is well known for being the predecessor and prototype for the much larger Empire State Building that was built in 1931 in New York City. Every year the staff of the Empire State Building sends a Father's Day card to the staff at the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem to pay homage to its role as predecessor to the Empire State Building.

Notable early businesses

Old Salem, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Tavern at Old Salem, est. 1784
  • In 1799, the Winkler Bakery, famous for its Moravian cookies, was commissioned, and in 1807, the congregation brought in Christian Winkler of Pennsylvania to operate the bakery; his family owned and operated the business until 1929. It continues to operate today as part of Old Salem.
  • In 1875, R J Reynolds founded R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company later famous for branded products such as Prince Albert pipe tobacco (1907) and Camel cigarettes (1913). Other brands which it made famous are Winston, Salem, Doral, and Eclipse cigarettes. The Winston-Salem area is still the primary international manufacturing center for Reynolds brands of cigarettes, although employment is down from its peak of nearly 30,000 to under 3,000.
RJR Tobacco
A smoke stack from R.J. Reynolds' historic Bailey Power Plant
  • In 1901, J. Wesley Hanes's Shamrock Hosiery Mills in Winston-Salem began making men's socks. Shortly afterward, his brother Pleasant Henderson Hanes founded the P.H. Hanes Knitting Company, which manufactured men's underwear. The two firms eventually merged to become the Hanes Corporation, now known as Hanesbrands, innovators in the textile industry.
  • In 1906, the Bennett Bottling Company produced Bennett's Cola, a "Fine Carbonic Drink." The name was changed to Winston-Salem Bottling Works in 1915.
  • in 1911, Wachovia Bank and Trust was formed by the merger of Wachovia National Bank (founded 1879) and Wachovia Loan and Trust (founded 1893). The company was purchased by First Union in 2001, which changed its name to Wachovia. Wachovia was purchased by Wells Fargo in 2009, and the Wachovia name was retired in 2011.
  • In 1928, Miller's Clothing Store was opened by Mrs. Henry Miller. Miller's Variety Store still operates at the same location at 622 North Trade Street. Miller's was the first store in Winston-Salem to offer bell-bottoms in the area in the 1960s. It was a popular place to shop.
  • In 1929, the local T.W. Garner Foods introduced Texas Pete, a popular hot sauce.
  • In 1929 Quality Oil Company was organized in December 1929, initially to launch a distributorship for the then little known Shell Oil Company.
  • In 1934, Malcolm Purcell McLean formed McLean Trucking Co. The firm benefited from the tobacco and textile industry headquartered in Winston-Salem, and became the second largest trucking firm in the nation.
  • In 1937, Krispy Kreme opened its first doughnut shop on South Main Street.
    Shell Service Station-WS NC
    Only surviving novelty Shell service station, one of several built by Quality Oil Company, a local distributor.
  • In 1945 Piedmont Bible College opened (now Piedmont International University).
  • In 1948, Piedmont Airlines was formed out of the old Camel City Flying Service. The airline was based at Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem but marked its first commercial flight out of Wilmington, North Carolina on February 20, 1948. Piedmont grew to become one of the top airlines in the country before its purchase by USAir (now US Airways) in 1987. US Airways maintains a reservation center in the old Piedmont Reservations office.

Geography and climate

PilotMt890611
Pilot Mountain, a nearby member of the Sauratown Mountains. Winston-Salem is visible from its peak.

Winston-Salem is in the northwest Piedmont area of North Carolina, situated 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the geographic center of the state. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 133.7 square miles (346.3 km2), of which 132.4 square miles (343.0 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2), or 0.93%, is water.

Less than 30 miles (48 km) north of Winston-Salem are the remains of the ancient Sauratown Mountains, named for the Saura people who lived in much of the Piedmont area, including where is now Winston-Salem.

The nearest major cities are Greensboro, 30 miles (48 km) to the east, and High Point 20 miles (32 km) to the southeast.

Climate

The city of Winston-Salem has a humid subtropical climate characterized by cool, sometimes moderately cold winters, and hot, humid summers. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Cfa. The average high temperatures range from 51 °F (11 °C) in the winter to around 89 °F (32 °C) in the summer. The average low temperatures range from 28 °F (−2 °C) in the winter to around 67 °F (19 °C) in the summer.

Climate data for Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26)
83
(28)
91
(33)
93
(34)
101
(38)
104
(40)
104
(40)
104
(40)
102
(39)
96
(36)
84
(29)
79
(26)
104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 49.5
(9.7)
52.0
(11.1)
60.6
(15.9)
69.9
(21.1)
78.8
(26.0)
85.8
(29.9)
87.8
(31.0)
86.2
(30.1)
81.3
(27.4)
71.8
(22.1)
60.1
(15.6)
50.3
(10.2)
69.5
(20.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 39.1
(3.9)
41.2
(5.1)
49.0
(9.4)
57.7
(14.3)
66.8
(19.3)
74.7
(23.7)
77.3
(25.2)
76.0
(24.4)
70.4
(21.3)
59.5
(15.3)
48.1
(8.9)
39.9
(4.4)
58.3
(14.6)
Average low °F (°C) 28.8
(−1.8)
30.3
(−0.9)
37.5
(3.1)
45.7
(7.6)
54.9
(12.7)
63.6
(17.6)
66.8
(19.3)
65.7
(18.7)
59.5
(15.3)
47.1
(8.4)
36.2
(2.3)
29.5
(−1.4)
47.1
(8.4)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23)
−1
(−18)
12
(−11)
21
(−6)
22
(−6)
40
(4)
43
(6)
47
(8)
36
(2)
21
(−6)
7
(−14)
−3
(−19)
−10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.30
(84)
3.38
(86)
3.82
(97)
3.45
(88)
3.92
(100)
3.83
(97)
4.70
(119)
4.46
(113)
3.38
(86)
3.01
(76)
2.63
(67)
3.51
(89)
43.40
(1,102)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.0
(7.6)
2.5
(6.4)
1.6
(4.1)
0.3
(0.76)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.2
(0.51)
1.7
(4.3)
9.3
(24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9 9 10 9 10 9 11 10 7 6 7 9 106
Source: Southeast Regional Climate Center (normals and extremes 1899–2012)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 443
1880 4,194 846.7%
1890 10,729 155.8%
1900 13,650 27.2%
1910 22,700 66.3%
1920 48,395 113.2%
1930 75,274 55.5%
1940 79,815 6.0%
1950 87,881 10.1%
1960 111,135 26.5%
1970 133,683 20.3%
1980 131,885 −1.3%
1990 143,485 8.8%
2000 185,776 29.5%
2010 229,617 23.6%
2020 249,545 8.7%
2020 U.S Census

2020 census

Winston-Salem racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 109,714 43.97%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 79,788 31.97%
Native American 607 0.24%
Asian 6,275 2.51%
Pacific Islander 191 0.08%
Other/Mixed 10,129 4.06%
Hispanic or Latino 42,841 17.17%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 249,545 people, 94,884 households, and 53,708 families residing in the city.

Winston-Salem's population grew by 9.2% from 2010 to 2020, making it the fifth largest city in North Carolina.

2017

As of the estimate of 2017, the population was 244,605, with 94,105 households and a population density of 1,846.08 people per square mile.

Winston-Salem was 53.0% female, and 27.8% of its firms were owned by women. The median age was 35 years. 23.9% of the population was under 18 years old, and 13.7% of the population was 65 years or older.

The racial composition of the city in 2017 was 56.1% White, 34.7% Black or African American, 2.2% Asian American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific native alone, and 2.3% two or more races. In addition, 14.8% was Hispanic or Latino, of any race. Non-Hispanic Whites were 45.8% of the population in 2017.

38.4% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,228, and the median income for a family was $53,222. The mean income for a household in the city was $60,637, and the mean income for a family was $74,938. Males had a median income of $41,064 versus $33,683 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,728. 20.6% of the population and 15.7% of all families were below the poverty line. 26.2% of the total population, 31.6% of those under the age of 18 and 8.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Religion

Home Moravian Church - panoramio
Moravian Church

Winston-Salem is the most religious city in North Carolina,‘ with 54.14% of the population being religiously affiliated. Christianity is the largest religion, with Baptists (15.77%) making up the largest religious group, followed by Methodists (12.79%) and Catholics (4.39%). Pentecostals (2.97%), Episcopalians (1.3%), Presbyterians (2.59%), Lutherans (0.96%), Latter-Day Saints (0.90%) make up a significant amount of the Christian population as well. The remaining Christian population (11.93%) is affiliated with other churches such as the Moravians and the United Church of Christ. Islam (0.43%) is the second largest religion after Christianity, followed by Judaism (0.20%). Eastern religions (0.02%) make up the religious minority.

The city's long history with the Moravian church has had a lasting cultural effect. The Moravian star is used as the city's official Christmas street decoration. In addition, a 31-foot Moravian star, one of the largest in the world, sits atop the North Tower of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Another star sits under Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel during the Advent and Christmas seasons as well. Also, Moravian star images decorate the lobby of the city's landmark Reynolds Building.

Attractions

  • Bethabara Historic District is a site where Moravians from Pennsylvania first settled in North Carolina, the 195-acre (0.79 km2) area includes a museum and a Moravian church and offers hiking, birdwatching and many varieties of trees and plants.
  • Old Salem is a restored Moravian settlement founded in 1766. Seventy percent of the buildings are original and the village is a living history museum with skilled tinsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers, gunsmiths, bakers and carpenters practicing their trades while interacting with visitors. Along with the original 18th-century buildings, Old Salem is also home to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), a gallery of 18th- and early 19th-century furniture, ceramics, and textiles.
  • Reynolda Gardens is a 4-acre (16,000 m2) formal garden set within a larger woodland site, originally part of the R. J. Reynolds country estate.
  • The Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology is an anthropological museum, maintained by Wake Forest University, that has many artifacts and other pieces of history.
  • SciWorks – An interactive museum for children, SciWorks has 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of exhibit space, 119-seat Planetarium and 15-acre (61,000 m2) outdoor Environmental Park. Permanent exhibits include: Foucault Pendulum, PhysicsWorks, SoundWorks, HealthWorks, BioWorks and KidsWorks. The Environmental Park includes habitats for river otter, deer and waterfowl.
  • Children's Museum of Winston-Salem offers exhibits and programs designed to develop creative thinking, strengthen language skills, and encourage curiosity for children ages birth to eight. Despite the name, it is primarily an indoor playground for children with activities (admission fee or membership required).
  • New Winston Museum is the community history museum for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. It focuses on time periods since 1850 and features exhibitions and public programs.

Art

Winston-Salem is often referred to as the "City of the Arts", partly because it created the first arts council in the United States, founded in 1949, and because of the local art schools and attractions. These include the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Twin City Stage, Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, the Piedmont Opera Theater, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Stevens Center for the Performing Arts, the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, the Hanesbrands Theater, and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts.

The city's Arts District is centered around Sixth and Trade Streets, where there are many galleries and workshops; nearby is also the ARTivity on the Green art park, established by Art for Art's Sake.

It is also home to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), a nationally known art center, as well as the Reynolda House Museum of American Art (the restored 1917 mansion built by the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and now affiliated with Wake Forest University), displays a premiere collection of American art.

The city plays host to the National Black Theatre Festival, the RiverRun International Film Festival and the Reynolda Film Festival.

Winston-Salem is also the home of the Art-o-mat and houses nine of them throughout the city.

The city is also home to Carolina Music Ways, a grassroots arts organization focusing on the area's diverse, interconnected music traditions, including bluegrass, blues, jazz, gospel, old-time stringband, and Moravian music.

Once a year the city is also the home of the Heavy Rebel Weekender music festival, featuring over 70 bands, primarily rockabilly, punk and honky tonk, over three days.

Shopping

Winston-Salem is home to Hanes Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in North Carolina. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become the city's largest shopping district.

Other shopping areas exist in the city, including Thruway Shopping Center, the city's first shopping center, Hanes Point Shopping Center, Hanes Commons, Pavilions, Stone's Throw Plaza, Silas Creek Crossing, and the Marketplace Mall.

Movies filmed in Winston-Salem

  • The Bedroom Window (1987)
  • Mr. Destiny (1990)
  • Eddie (1996)
  • The Lottery, made-for-television adaptation of Shirley Jackson's short story (1996)
  • George Washington (2000)
  • Brand X, X-Files, episode involving the tobacco industry (2000)
  • A Union in Wait (2001, documentary)
  • Junebug (2005)
  • Lost Stallions: The Journey Home (2008)
  • Goodbye Solo (2008)
  • Leatherheads (2008)
  • Eyeborgs (2009)
  • The 5th Quarter (2010)
  • Are You Here (2013)
  • Goodbye to All That (2014)
  • The Longest Ride (2014)

Transportation

Public transportation

Winston-Salem Transit Authority Map (2019)
Map of Winston-Salem Transit Authority

The Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) has the responsibility of providing public transportation. It took over from the Safe Bus Company, founded in the 1920s as the largest black-owned transportation company in the United States, in 1972. Operating out of the Clark Campbell Transportation Center at 100 West Fifth Street, WSTA operates 30 daytime bus routes, 24 of which provide night service; 24 routes that operate from morning until midnight on Saturday and 16 Sunday routes. WSTA makes nearly 3 million passenger trips annually. In February 2010 WSTA added 10 diesel-electric buses to its fleet.

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) operates a daily schedule from the Campbell center connecting Winston-Salem to Boone, Mt. Airy, High Point and Greensboro, where other systems provide in-state routes to points east. PART also offers the Route 5 (Amtrak Connector) which provides daily service to and from the Amtrak Station in High Point with multiple times during the day.

Thoroughfares

Exits 6 at Westbound I-40 Business in Winston-Salem, NC
US 421 (Formerly Business I-40) at the US 52 interchange in downtown Winston-Salem. (US 311 has since been truncated further north)

US 52 (which runs concurrent with NC 8) is the predominant north–south freeway through Winston-Salem; it passes near the heart of downtown. US 421 is the main east–west freeway through downtown Winston-Salem; this was the original routing of I-40, and was the main east–west route through the city until 1992, when a bypass loop of I-40 was built. US 421 splits in the western part of the city onto its own freeway west (signed north) toward Wilkesboro, North Carolina and Boone, North Carolina. I-74 (which was once US 311) links Winston-Salem to High Point (southeast). Silas Creek Parkway is an expressway that loops around the western side of the city and it serves as a popular route for drivers going to Wake Forest University, Hanes Mall, Forsyth Medical Center, and Forsyth Tech. It also serves as an alternative route for I 40 and US 421 drivers going through the city.

The Winston-Salem Northern Beltway is a proposed freeway that will loop around the city to the north, providing a route for the Future I-74 on the eastern section and the Future Auxiliary Route I-274 on the western section. The NCDOT plans for this project to begin after 2010.

As of November 2018, US 52 south of I-40 is signed Spur Route I-285.

Major thoroughfares in Winston-Salem include NC 67 (Reynolda Road), NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway), US 158 (Stratford Road), University Parkway, Hanes Mall Boulevard, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, North Point Boulevard, Country Club Road, Jonestown Road, Patterson Avenue, Fourth Street, Trade Street, Third Street, Liberty Street, and Main Street.

NC-082 Seal2
Winston-Salem Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron patch

Aviation

Winston-Salem is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport. The airport also serves much of the surrounding Piedmont Triad area, including Greensboro and High Point; the Authority that manages the airport is governed by board members appointed by all three cities as well as both of their counties, Guilford and Forsyth.

A smaller airport, known as Smith Reynolds Airport, is located within the city limits, just northeast of downtown. It is mainly used for general aviation and charter flights. Every year, Smith Reynolds Airport hosts an air show for the general public. The Smith Reynolds Airport is home to the Winston-Salem Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron, also known as NC-082. The Civil Air Patrol is a non-profit volunteer organization.

Rail

Winston-Salem is one of the larger cities in the South that is not directly served by Amtrak. However, an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach operates three times daily in each direction between Winston-Salem and the Amtrak station in nearby High Point, 16 miles east. Buses depart from the Winston-Salem Transportation Center, then stop on the Winston-Salem State University campus before traveling to High Point. From the High Point station, riders can board the Crescent, Carolinian or Piedmont lines. These lines run directly to local North Carolina destinations as well as cities across the Southeast, as far west as New Orleans and as far north as New York City.

Sister cities

Economy

Reynolds Building street view
Former R.J. Reynolds headquarters, built in 1929

It is the location of the corporate headquarters of HanesBrands, Inc., Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Lowes Foods Stores, ISP Sports, Reynolds American (parent of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company), Reynolda Manufacturing Solutions, K&W Cafeterias, and TW Garner Food Company (makers of Texas Pete). Blue Rhino, the nation's largest propane exchange company and a division of Ferrellgas, is also headquartered in Winston-Salem. Wachovia Corporation was based in Winston-Salem until it merged with First Union Corporation in September 2001; the corporate headquarters of the combined company was located in Charlotte, until it was purchased by Wells Fargo in December 2008. PepsiCo has its Customer Service Center located in Winston-Salem. BB&T was also based in Winston-Salem until it was merged with SunTrust Banks in December 2019; the corporate headquarters of the combined company were relocated to Charlotte.

Although traditionally associated with the textile and tobacco industries, Winston-Salem is transforming itself to be a leader in the nanotech, high-tech and bio-tech fields. Medical research is a fast-growing local industry, and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem. In December 2004, the city entered into a deal with Dell, providing millions of dollars in incentives to build a computer assembly plant nearby in southeastern Forsyth County. Dell closed its Winston-Salem facility in January 2010 due to the poor economy. In January 2015, Herbalife opened a manufacturing facility in the space left vacant by Dell.

Public and private investment of $713 million has created the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, an innovation district in downtown Winston-Salem which features business, education in biomedical research and engineering, information technology and digital media, as well as public gathering spaces, apartment living, restaurants, and community events.

Largest employers

According to the Winston-Salem Business Inc.'s 2012–2013 data report on major employers, the ten largest employers in the city were:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 11,750
2 Novant Health 8,145
3 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools 6,692
4 City/County Government 4,689
5 Reynolds American, Inc. 3,000
6 Wells Fargo 2,800
7 Hanesbrands Inc. 2,251
8 Truist Financial 2,200
9 Wake Forest University 1,680
10 Lowe's Foods 1,500

Major industries

According to the Winston-Salem Business Inc.'s 2012 data report on major industries, the major industries in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County are by percentage:

# Employment by Sector  % Percentage
1 Health Care and Social Assistance 29%
2 Trade, Transportation and Utilities 19%
3 Professional and Business Services 14%
4 Manufacturing 10%
5 Leisure and Hospitality 10%
5 Financial Activities 6%
7 Public Administration 4%
8 Construction 3%
9 Other Services 3%
10 Information 1%

Sports

Team Sport League Venue
Winston-Salem State University Rams Basketball NCAA C. E. Gaines Center
Winston-Salem State University Rams American Football NCAA Bowman Gray Stadium
Winston-Salem State University Rams Softball NCAA Washington Park
Winston-Salem State University Rams Tennis NCAA WSSU Tennis Center
Winston-Salem State University Rams Track & Field NCAA Civitan Park
Winston-Salem Dash Baseball MiLB Truist Stadium
Carolina Thunderbirds Ice Hockey FPHL Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex
Winston-Salem Wolves Basketball East Coast Basketball League Childress Center
Wake Forest football American football NCAA Truist Field at Wake Forest
Wake Forest basketball Basketball NCAA LJVM Coliseum

The Winston-Salem State University Rams have men's and women's NCAA Division II sports teams that are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

The Winston-Salem Dash is a Class High-AA Minor-League baseball team currently affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. After 52 years at historic Ernie Shore Field, the Dash now plays its home games at the new Truist Stadium, which opened in 2010. Previous names for the team include the Winston-Salem Cardinals, Twins, Red Sox, Spirits and, most recently, the Winston-Salem Warthogs. Its players have included Vinegar Bend Mizell, Earl Weaver, Bobby Tiefenauer, Harvey Haddix, Stu Miller, Ray Jablonski, Don Blasingame, Gene Oliver, Rico Petrocelli, Jim Lonborg, George Scott, Sparky Lyle, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Dwight Evans, Cecil Cooper, Butch Hobson, Wade Boggs, Carlos Lee, Joe Crede, Jon Garland, and Aaron Rowand, all of whom have played extensively at the major league level.

The Carolina Thunderbirds minor league hockey team began play in 2017 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex in Winston-Salem.

Wake Forest University is an original member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Wake Forest's football team plays its games at Truist Field at Wake Forest (formerly BB&T Field, and Groves Stadium), which seats 32,500. Wake Forest's soccer program made four consecutive final four appearances (2006–2009) and were NCAA champions in 2007.

The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum is home to Wake Forest and some Winston-Salem State basketball games.

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing takes place from March until August at Bowman Gray Stadium. The K&N Pro Series East also races here. It is NASCAR's longest-running racing series, dating to the 1940s. In the fall, the stadium is used for Winston-Salem State Rams football games.

Winston-Salem hosts an ATP tennis tournament every year, the Winston-Salem Open. The matches are played at the Wake Forest tennis center.

Education

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Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University
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Watson Hall at University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has most of its schools inside Winston-Salem. WS/FC Schools include 51 elementary schools, 25 middle schools and 13 high schools. The school with the largest student body population is West Forsyth High School with over 2,400 students as of the 2017–2018 school year. The district is the most diverse school system in North Carolina. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System is the fourth largest school system in North Carolina with about 59,000 students and over 90 schools operating in the district.

Private

Private and parochial schools also make up a significant portion of Winston-Salem's educational establishment.

  • Catholic elementary schools include St. Leo The Great and Our Lady of Mercy. Protestant Christian schools include Winston-Salem Christian School (formerly First Assembly Christian School), Calvary Day School (Baptist), Gospel Light Christian School, Salem Baptist Christian School, Redeemer School (Presbyterian), St. John's Lutheran, Cedar Forest Christian School, Winston-Salem Street School, Salem Montessori School, Berean Baptist Christian School and Woodland Baptist Christian School. Until 2001, Winston-Salem was home to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (now in Kernersville, North Carolina), one of only three Catholic high schools in North Carolina.
  • Salem Academy, located in Old Salem, has been providing education to young women since 1772.
  • Forsyth Country Day School (in nearby Lewisville, North Carolina) and Summit School are secular private schools that serve the area.

Post-secondary institutions

Winston-Salem has a number of colleges and universities, including:

  • Wake Forest University, a four-year private research university, founded in 1834 and moved to Winston-Salem in 1956
  • Winston-Salem State University, a historically black university founded in 1892
  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts (formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts)
  • Salem College, the oldest continuously operating educational institution for women in America, founded in 1772
  • Forsyth Technical Community College
  • Living Arts Institute
  • Carolina University (formerly Piedmont International University)

Notable people

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Winston-Salem para niños

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Winston-Salem, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.