Salisbury SAULZ-ber-ee is a city in and the county seat of Rowan County, North
Carolina, United States. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census. Salisbury
is the home to famed North Carolina soft drink, Cheerwine, regional supermarket
Food Lion, and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
Association. It is one of only two cities in North Carolina to have gigabit
capacity through its municipally-owned broadband system Fibrant. A press
conference held September 3, 2015 at Catawba College announced Salisbury's
Fibrant system is now capable of 10 gigabit capacity city-wide; believed to
be the only city owned system in the world with this capacity.
Historic sites Salisbury has developed a strong record
of historic preservation over the last few decades. It is the site of a noted
prisoner of war camp during the American Civil War and has ten National Register
historic districts. The city has many historic homes and commercial buildings
dating from the 19th century and early 20th century, several of which are
individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
They include the: Bernhardt House, Boyden High School, Brooklyn-South
Square Historic District, Maxwell Chambers House, Community Building,
Eastover, Ellis Street Graded School Historic District, Fulton Heights
Historic District, Griffith-Sowers House, Grimes Mill,
Grubb-Sigmon-Weisiger House, Hambley-Wallace House, Archibald
Henderson Law Office, J. C. Price High School, Kesler Manufacturing Co.-Cannon
Mills Co. Plant No. 7 Historic District, Livingstone College Historic District,
Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House, Walter McCanless House, McNeely-Strachan
House, Monroe Street School, Mount Zion Baptist Church, North Long Street-Park
Avenue Historic District, North Main Street Historic District, Salisbury
Historic District, Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury Railroad Corridor
Historic District, Salisbury Southern Railroad Passenger Depot, Shaver Rental
Houses District, John Steele House, and Calvin H. Wiley School.
Geography Salisbury is located at 35°40′6″N
80°28′43″W. According to the United States Census
Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.8 square miles, all of it land.
Demographics As of the census of 2010, there were
33,663 people, 10,276 households, and 6,186 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,488.3 people per square mile. There were 11,288
housing units at an average density of 634.9 per square mile. The racial makeup
of the city was 57.30% White, 37.56% African American, 0.28% Native American,
1.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 1.48% from
two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.30% of the population.
As of 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Salisbury reached a diversity
milestone: the new racial makeup of the city is now only 48.6% non-Hispanic
White, with other ethnicities comprising the majority 51.4% of Salisbury's
population. There were 10,276 households out of
which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were
married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband
present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of
individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18,
13.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who
were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100
females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were
86.3 males. The median income for a household in the
city was $32,923, and the median income for a family was $41,108. Males had a
median income of $31,149 versus $25,019 for females. The per capita income for
the city was $18,864. About 12.2% of families and 16.0% of the population
were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of
those age 65 or over. 2010 Census data will be available in January 2011.
Historic engagement A walking tour begins at the Rowan
County Convention and Visitor's Bureau and winds through the history of
Salisbury and the state's Piedmont Region. Structures from the 19th
century, as well as artifacts, such as the desk that President Andrew Jackson
used when he studied law in Salisbury, are viewable. The Rowan Museum, located
in both the Salisbury's 1854 Courthouse and the circa 1815 Utzman-Chambers House
Museum, as well as the 1820 Hall House, provide information regarding Historic
Salisbury. The City of Salisbury currently has 10 National Register
Historic Districts with over 1,200 contributing properties.
Downtown Salisbury, Inc. and the Salisbury Community Appearance
Commission offer a glimpse into the city's history through the Salisbury
History and Art Trail. A series of markers throughout the city incorporate
both history and art into the trail to assist in sharing events, stories, and
experiences from Salisbury's past. The markers are organized info five broad
historic eras. Shopping
Salisbury, North Carolina is home to a vibrant downtown area that encompasses
several blocks near the intersection of Innes Street and Main Street. The
downtown area is dominated by small locally owned merchants.
Downtown Salisbury also provides an array of shops, antique stores, and
cultural attractions. Downtown Nights Out, held from time to time throughout
the year, provide opportunities for late night shopping, musical entertainment,
and fine dining. Cultural arts community
The Salisbury community presents an area rich in cultural resources with
tremendous citizen support and stewardship for arts and cultural
development. Salisbury boasts a tradition of valuing arts and diligently
strives to protect existing resources while linking arts and cultural
resources to key economic, neighborhood development, educational, and social
goals of the broader community. Salisbury is characterized by a strong
commitment to historic preservation, high levels of arts and cultural
activity, a citizen base that places high value on arts education, and a
strong local tradition of civic volunteerism. The city offers a growing
population of professional and amateur artists drawn from many disciplines with
vast support from local patrons and foundations.
A unique participation and support for the arts, coupled with that of an
emerging downtown public art program, have provided Salisbury with a stable
foundation for an exemplary cultural arts plan. The Salisbury Sculpture Show
is an example of an existing public art program.
The local Rowan Arts Council offers a Rowan Art Crawl on the second Saturday
of each month and provides access to more than 25 professional artists,
studios, and galleries. The Rail Walk Arts District, located
near the restored Salisbury railroad depot, provides an array of artists and
galleries. The Waterworks Visual Arts Center
provides diverse opportunities in the arts through exhibitions, education, and
outreach programs. The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra offers
an opportunity to experience the joy and excitement of music.
The Piedmont Players Theatre, The Looking Glass Collective Black Box
Theater, and The Norvell Children's Theater provide venues for creative
community engagement through the performing arts.
The Fisher Street area of Downtown Salisbury, recently bricked and
revitalized for use as an entertainment venue, has become the site for numerous
outdoor concerts, special attractions, and holiday events. Brick Street Live,
an outdoor summer concert series, takes place in Downtown Salisbury at the
corner of Fisher and Lee Streets. The series offers performances by artists
from diverse genres. Health care
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and affiliated doctors' offices provide a
majority of the city residents' healthcare. The W.G. Hefner VA Medical
Center is a veterans' hospital in Salisbury operated by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. Economy
Major employers in Salisbury include the headquarters of Food Lion, a regional
grocery chain that is one of the US subsidiaries of Delhaize, Delhaize USA,
Bottom Dollar Food, Bloom, the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center, the City of
Salisbury and the County of Rowan. Rowan Regional Medical Center and the Rowan
Salisbury School System, are also major employers. Smaller employers include
textile mills and other manufacturing businesses.
Education Salisbury has a number of educational
institutions, both public and private. = Rowan–Salisbury School System =
The Rowan–Salisbury School System was formed in 1989 after the merger of the
Rowan County Schools and the Salisbury City Schools. Most notable is Salisbury
High School. There are no charter schools in Rowan County.
= Private schools = Many private schools, both inside and
outside the city of Salisbury, serve its citizens.
North Hills Christian School Rockwell Christian School
RCHSA, Homeschool group Sacred Heart Catholic School
Salisbury Academy Salisbury Adventist School
Salisbury Christian School St. John's Kindergarten
= Colleges and universities = Catawba College
Livingstone College Rowan–Cabarrus Community College
Hood Theological Seminary = Libraries =
Rowan Public Library = Government =
On the national level, Salisbury is a part of North Carolina's 12th
congressional district, and is currently represented by Democrat Alma Adams. The
state's senior member of the United States Senate is Republican Richard
Burr, who was elected to the Senate in 2004. The junior Senator is Republican
Thom Tillis, who was elected in 2014 to replace Kay Hagan.
On the state level, Salisbury is represented in the North Carolina House
of Representatives as a part of the 77th district, which includes the city and
northern and western parts of Rowan County. The current representative is
Republican Harry J. Warren. Salisbury is also represented in the North Carolina
Senate by Republican Andrew Brock as a part of the 34th district. Senator Brock
also represents Davie County. Salisbury is governed by a city council
which is chaired by the mayor, Paul Woodson. The other city council members
include: mayor pro tempore Maggie Blackwell, William "Pete" Kennedy, Karen
Alexander, and Brian Miller. The city council appoints a city manager to run
the day-to-day operations. — W. Lane Bailey was appointed as City Manager
February 18,2015. Since 2011, the City of Salisbury's financial foundation has
been strengthened due to management's actions, which resulted in two credit
rating increases to bring the city to a AA rating.
Transportation Amtrak's Crescent and Carolinian and
Piedmont trains connect Salisbury with the cities of New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham
and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at Depot and Liberty Streets.
Salisbury is also served by Interstate 85, US Highways 601, 29, 52, and 70, and
the Rowan County Airport. Salisbury is an important point on
Interstate 85 as it is just south of the halfway point between Charlotte and
Greensboro. Exits 74, 75, and 76 are designated as Salisbury exits.
The City of Salisbury's Transit System provides public transportation and
offers three routes. Each route arrives and departs from "the Transfer Site",
which is located on Depot Street. Any member of the general public may ride
the Salisbury Transit bus. Salisbury Transit does not operate on Sundays and
some holidays. Media
The Salisbury Post, founded in 1905, is the local daily newspaper.
WSAT, "Memories 1280", is an AM radio station whose programming consists
largely of older pop music. It also broadcasts games of the Carolina
Panthers, Catawba College, and local high schools.
WSTP is an AM station whose primary objective is to train Catawba College
students for broadcasting careers. ACCESS16 is a government access channel
on located on Fibrant and Time Warner Cable Salisbury but not available by
satellite. It serves Rowan County, including Salisbury, Granite Quarry,
Rockwell, Faith, China Grove and Cleveland.
Salisbury receives its television stations from the Charlotte TV market.
Notable people Bill Baker, MLB player
Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim, Human rights activist
Sidney Blackmer, Actor George Bradshaw, Major League Baseball
catcher for the 1952 Washington Senators Rufus Early Clement, African American
educator Elizabeth Dole, United States Senator
2003–2009 Mike Evans, Actor and co-creator of the
show Good Times James Goodnight, CEO of SAS Institute
Josephine D. Heard, African American teacher, poet
Archibald Henderson, Professor of mathematics who wrote on many subjects
Tripp Isenhour, Professional golfer Bobby Jackson, National Basketball
Association player Artemus James, Musician
Roland Jones, Represented Louisiana in the United States House of
Representatives from 1853–1855 E. J. Junior, National Football League
linebacker 1981–1993 Clyde Kluttz, MLB player, executive and
scout Susan W. Kluttz, Secretary of North
Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and former longest serving
mayor of Salisbury. James T. Loeblein, United States Navy
Flag Officer Daniel Newnan, Politician and physician
Bobby Parnell, MLB pitcher for the New York Mets
Lucius E. Polk, Brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
Christian Reid, Author of novels including The Land of the Sky
Jay Ritchie, MLB pitcher Julian Robertson, Financier and
philanthropist See also
Salisbury Township The Salisbury District
References External links
Official website Salisbury Post
Salisbury-Rowan County Visitor's Bureau Salisbury Prison web site
Historic Salisbury web site Rowan Museum web site
The Salisbury Murders and Lynching Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
Transparency in Rowan County and Municipalities