Sanford (North Carolina)

human settlement in Lee County, North Carolina, United States of America

Sanford is a city of about 30,000 people (2018) in the North Carolina countryside, in between the Piedmont Triad, Research Triangle, and Fayetteville. Sanford is known for its large brick production as well as local pottery, and offers outdoor activities and historic districts. Sanford also produces textiles, and has since seen the influx of the biotech industry with the Wyeth Vaccines, aka Pfizer, facility becoming the area's largest employer in 2006.

The Lee County Courthouse in Sanford

Understand

History

Sanford was named for C.O. Sanford, a railroad civil engineer instrumental in the building of the rail lines through the area that formed the foundation of what became the city of Sanford.

The Sanford area played key roles in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, specifically regarding sites like the House in the Horseshoe and Endor Iron Furnace. Over the following decades, the Sanford area became an important source of coal, brownstone, and brick. In particular brownstone and subsequent brick production made Sanford a key provider of these building materials for areas throughout the United States. Because Sanford sits where white beach sand from the coast meets the Piedmont clay, the city has the right ingredients to be a large producer of clay bricks. In 1959, Sanford produced 10% of the bricks in the United States and was named "Brick Capital of the USA".

On April 16, 2011 a large tornado ripped through Sanford, demolishing a Lowe's hardware store, and a warehouse, and destroying multiple homes and buildings before moving into Wake County.

The 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, and Temple Theatre are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitor information

Get in

By car

Driving is the only feasible way to get to Sanford, which is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 1, 421, and 15-501. It's about a one-hour drive from Fayetteville and a similar distance from Raleigh.

By plane

The nearest commercial airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), where you can rent a car to drive to Sanford.

If you're taking a chartered flight, you can fly into Raleigh Executive Jetport (FAA: TTA) approximately 7 miles northeast of Sanford via U.S. 1.

By bike

The Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1 passes through downtown Sanford and Lee County.

Get around

By bus

The County of Lee Transit System (COLTS) is a coordinated transit system that provides transportation services in Sanford and Lee County.

See

Steele Street in downtown Sanford
  • 🌍 Historic Railroad House, 110 Charlotte Ave. Sanford's historic railroad depot and museum, which also features a preserved locomotive from 1911 and offers other historic tours. (updated May 2015)
  • 🌍 Gross Farms, 1606 Pickett Rd, ☏ +1 919 498-6727. A large family farm open to the public at seasonal times throughout the year. The farm features strawberry patches, a pumpkin patch, a 15-acre corn maze, hayrides, and other activities. Check website for dates of operation. (updated Oct 2016)

Do

  • 🌍 Temple Theater, 120 Carthage St. Known as Central Carolina's Performing Arts Center, the Temple Theater dates back to 1925 and offers musicals and occasional movie screenings. (updated Oct 2015)
  • There is a half-mile greenway trail in the Kiwanis Family Park with additional mileage under development.
  • 🌍 San-Lee Park. Features several miles of mountain bike trails, ranging from intermediate to advanced, as well as hiking trails, just a few miles from downtown Sanford. 

Buy

  • Shops of Steele Street, Steele Street. A collection of shops in the downtown areas where you can buy pottery, antiques, local art, and crafts. (updated Aug 2017)

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

Routes through Sanford
Raleigh ← Apex ←  N  S  → Southern Pines → Columbia
Durham ← Pittsboro ←  N  S  → Pinehurst → Southern Pines
Winston-Salem ← Greensboro ←  N  S  → Wilmington → Fort Fisher


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