Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem
City
Winston-Salem skyline Wake Forest University Shell Service Station Old Salem Reynolds Building
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s): The Twin City, Winston, W-S, The Dash City, The 336, Camel City
Motto(s): Urbs Condita Adiuvando (Latin) ("A city founded on cooperation")
Interactive map of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem Show map of North Carolina Winston-Salem Show map of the United States
Coordinates:36°06′10″N80°15′39″W / 36.10278°N 80.26083°W /36.10278; -80.26083
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Forsyth
Founded	1766 (Salem), 1849 (Winston)
Consolidated	1913 (Winston-Salem)
Named for	Joseph Winstonand "Shalom" (Hebrewmeaning "Peace")
Government
• Mayor	Allen Joines(D)[1]
• Interim City Manager	Johnnie Taylor[2]
Area [3]
• Total	134.74 sq mi (348.98 km2)
• Land	133.53 sq mi (345.84 km2)
• Water	1.21 sq mi (3.14 km2) 0.90%
Elevation [4]	791 ft (241 m)
Population ( 2020)
• Total	249,545
• Estimate (2023)	252,975
• Rank	5thin North Carolina 89thin United States
• Density	1,868.82/sq mi (721.55/km2)
•Urban	420,924 (US:98th)
• Urban density	1,354.4/sq mi (522.9/km2)
•Metro [5]	695,630 (US:86th)
Demonym(s)	Winston-Salemite, Winstonian
Time zone	UTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP codes	27023, 27040, 27045, 27101-27110, 27113-27117, 27120, 27127, 27130, 27150, 27152, 27155, 27157, 27198-27199, 27284
Area codes	336, 743
FIPS code	37-75000
GNIS ID	2405771[4]
Website	www.cityofws.org

Winston-Salemis acityin and thecounty seatofForsyth County, North Carolina, United States.^[6]At the2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it thefifth-most-populous city in North Carolina, and the90th-most-populous city in the United States.^[7]The population of the Winston-Salemmetropolitan areawas estimated to be 695,630 in 2023.^[5]It is the second-most-populous city in North Carolina'sPiedmont Triadregion, home to about 1.7 million residents.

Winston-Salem is called the "Twin City" for its dual heritage, and the "Camel City" as a reference to the city's historic involvement in thetobacco industryrelated to locally basedR. J. Reynolds'Camelcigarettes. Many natives of the city andNorth Carolinarefer to the city as "Winston" in informal speech. Winston-Salem is also home to six colleges and institutions, most notablyWake Forest University,Winston-Salem State University, and theUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Siouan-speaking tribes such as theCherawand theKeyauwee Indiansinhabited the area. Followers of theMoravian Churchhad interacted withCherokees.^[8][9]The city of Winston-Salem is a product of the merging of the two neighboring towns of Winston and Salem in 1913.

The origin of the town of Salem dates to 1753, when BishopAugust Gottlieb Spangenberg, on behalf of theMoravian Church, selected a settlement site in the three forks ofMuddy Creek. He called this area "die Wachau" (LatinformWachovia) after the ancestral estate ofCount Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. The land, just short of 99,000 acres (400 km²), was subsequently purchased fromJohn Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.

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

The town established on the chosen site was given the name of Salem (from "Shalom", Hebrew meaning "Peace", after the Canaanite city mentioned in theBook of Genesis) chosen for it by the Moravians' late patron CountZinzendorf. 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 (todaySalem 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 theAmerican Civil War. Many of the original buildings in the settlement have been restored or rebuilt and are now part ofOld Salem Museums & Gardens.^[10]

Salem was incorporated as a town in December 1856.^[11]Salem Square andGod's Acre Cemetery, the Moravian graveyard, have been the site of the Moraviansunrise serviceeachEastermorning since 1772. This service, sponsored by all the Moravian church parishes in the city, attracts thousands of worshipers each year, some from overseas.^[12]

In 1849, the Salem Congregation sold land north of Salem to the newly formedForsyth Countyfor a county seat. The new town was called "the county town" or Salem until 1851, when it was renamed Winston for a local hero of theRevolutionary War,Joseph Winston.^[13]For its first two decades, Winston was a sleepy community. In 1868, work began by Salem and Winston business leaders to connect the town to theNorth Carolina Railroad.^[14]By the 1880s, there were many different tobacco factories in the town, with notable ones owned by Pleasant Hanes andR.J. Reynolds.^[15]Pleasant Hanes would later go on to foundHanes(formerly called Shamrock Knitting Mills) in 1900.^[16]

Robert Gray, as a featured speaker at the 1876 centennial celebration, was the first to mention the two towns as one. In the 1880s, the US Post Office began referring to the two towns together as Winston-Salem. In 1899, after nearly a decade of contention, theUnited States Post Office Departmentestablished 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.

TheReynolds family, namesake of theR. 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.^[17]The Reynolds company imported so much French cigarette paper and Turkish tobacco forCamel cigarettesthat 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.^[17]Winston-Salem was the eighth-largest port of entry in the United States by 1916.^[17]In 1917, the Reynolds 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".^[17]By the timeR.J. Reynoldsdied in 1918, his company owned 121 buildings in Winston-Salem.^[17]

In 1920, with a population of 48,395, Winston-Salem was the largest city inNorth Carolina.^[18][19][20]

In 1929, theReynolds Buildingwas completed in Winston-Salem. Designed byWilliam F. Lambfrom the architectural firmShreve, Lamb and Harmon, the Reynolds Building is a 314-foot (96 m) skyscraper that has 21 floors.^[21][22]When completed as the headquarters of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, it was the tallest building in the United States south ofBaltimore, Maryland, and it was named the best building of the year by theAmerican Institute of Architects.^[23]The building is well known for being the predecessor and prototype for the much largerEmpire State Building, which was built in 1931 in New York City.^[24]

In 1892,Simon Green Atkinsfounded Slater Industrial Academy, which later becameWinston-Salem State University, a publicHBCU.^[25]In 1956, Wake Forest College, now known asWake Forest University, moved to Winston-Salem from its original location inWake Forest, North Carolina.^[26]

Winston-Salem was officially dubbed the "City of Arts and Innovation" in 2014.^[27]

• In 1799, theC. Winkler Bakery, noted for itsMoravian cookies, was commissioned, and in 1807, the congregation brought inChristian Winklerof Pennsylvania to operate the bakery; his family owned and operated the business until 1929. It continues to operate today as part ofOld Salem.
• In 1875, R. J. Reynolds foundedR. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, later famous for branded products such as Prince Albert pipe tobacco (1907) andCamelcigarettes (1913). Other brands that 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.
• In 1901,J. Wesley Hanes'Shamrock Hosiery Millsin Winston-Salem began making men's socks. Shortly afterward, his brother Pleasant Henderson Hanes founded theP.H. Hanes Knitting Company, which manufactured men's underwear. The two firms eventually merged to become the Hanes Corporation, now known asHanesbrands, manufacturingtextiles.
• 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 Trustwas formed by the merger of Wachovia National Bank (founded in 1879 by James Alexander Gray and William Lemly) and Wachovia Loan and Trust (founded 1893). The company was purchased byFirst Unionin 2001, which changed its name to Wachovia. Wachovia was purchased byWells Fargoin 2009, and the Wachovia name was retired in 2011.^[28]
• In 1928, Miller's Clothing Store was opened by Mrs. Henry Miller. Miller's Variety Store operated at the same location at 622 North Trade Street until closing at the end of 2016.^[29]Miller's was the first store in Winston-Salem to offerbell-bottomsin the area in the 1960s. Miller's was listed byPlayboymagazine in 1968 as a popular place to shop.^[30]
• In 1929, the local T.W. Garner Foods introducedTexas Pete, a popular hot sauce.^[31]
• In 1929, Quality Oil Company was organized in December 1929, initially to launch a distributorship for the then-little-knownShell Oil Company.
• In 1934,Malcolm Purcell McLeanformed 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.^[32]
• In 1937,Krispy Kremeopened its first doughnut shop on South Main Street.^[33]
• In 1945, Piedmont Bible College opened (nowCarolina University).^[34]
• In 1948,Piedmont Airlineswas formed out of the old Camel City Flying Service. The airline was based atSmith Reynolds Airportin Winston-Salem but marked its first commercial flight out ofWilmington, North Carolina, on February 20, 1948. Piedmont grew to become one of the top airlines in the country before its purchase by USAir (laterUS Airways, merged withAmerican Airlinesin 2015) in 1987. American Airlines maintains a reservation center in the old Piedmont reservations office.

Winston-Salem is in the northwestPiedmontarea of North Carolina, situated 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the geographic center of the state. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 134.74 square miles (349.0 km²), of which 133.53 square miles (345.8 km²) is land and 1.21 square miles (3.1 km²) (0.90%) is water.^[3]The city lies within theYadkin–Pee Dee River Basin, draining mainly via Salem Creek, Peters Creek, Silas Creek, and Muddy Creek.

Less than 30 miles (50 km) north of Winston-Salem are the remains of the ancientSauratown Mountains, named for the Saura people who once lived in much of the Piedmont area, including what is now Winston-Salem.^[35]

Winston-Salem is located 16 miles northwest ofHigh Point,^[36]25 miles west ofGreensboro,^[37]and 69 miles northeast ofCharlotte.^[38]

The city of Winston-Salem consists of 66 constituent neighborhoods, covering 25ZIP codesand a total area of 135 square miles. Winston-Salem is the72nd-largest city by area in the United Statesand the fifth-largest city in North Carolina by population.

Downtown, thecentral business districtof Winston-Salem, is the largest in thePiedmont Triadregion. With a population of approximately 14,000 and aworkforceof over 27,000, downtown Winston-Salem is a hotspot for growth. Fourth Street, the "main drag", consists ofbars,restaurants,retail,hotels, and luxuryresidentialunits. The area is surrounded by Northwest Boulevard to the north and west,Salem Parkwayto the south, andU.S. Route 52to the east. Downtown features attractions such asInnovation Quarter,Truist Stadium,Old Salem, and the Benton Convention Center.^{[39][40][41][42]}

One of the most notable neighborhoods in the city, West End features theWest End Historic District, which covers an area of 229 acres and is predominantly residential. Most of the buildings in West End were built between 1887 and 1930. Majorthoroughfaresin West End are West End Boulevard, Northwest Boulevard, and West First Street, which leads into downtown Winston-Salem. The neighborhood offers anurbanlifestyle, withshops,parks,restaurants, andservicesall located within the neighborhood.

Ardmore, the largest neighborhood in Winston-Salem, features theArdmore Historic District, which contains over 2,000 buildings and two sites. Ardmore is nearWake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the second-largest hospital in North Carolina. Wake Forest Baptist Health is the largest employer inForsyth County, with over 13,000 employees, and servesNorth Carolina,Virginia,Tennessee, andSouth Carolina. Major thoroughfares in Ardmore are South Hawthorne Road, Miller Street, Cloverdale Avenue, and Queen Street.^[43]

Sitting northwest of downtown, Buena Vista is close to a wide range of activities and services, such as theReynolda HouseandReynolda Gardens. It is known around Winston-Salem for its quiet tree-lined streets, which give it an "exclusive" feel; most homes in Buena Vista cost between $600,000 and several million dollars. The neighborhood is about ten minutes from downtown and five minutes from one of the city's upscale shopping centers, Thruway. Thruway Center features national chains such asTrader Joe's, Athleta, andJ.Crew.^[44]

Located seven miles southwest of downtown is the busiest shopping district in Winston-Salem andForsyth County. The corridor offers a variety of national "big box" retailers, includingTarget,Costco, andEthan Allen. Two major companies,Novant HealthandTruliant Federal Credit Union, call the boulevard home. The intersection ofHanes MallBoulevard and Stratford Road is the second-busiest intersection in Winston-Salem, with an average daily traffic count of 54,000.^[45]

North Winston is located three miles northeast of downtown, with Patterson Avenue running north to south and 25th Street serving as the east–west thoroughfare. The area is bound by University Parkway to the west andU.S. Route 52to the east, stretching from 13th Street to 30th Street.

Theuniversityarea is situated in the north-central and northwestern sections of the city, and contains some of Winston-Salem's busiest thoroughfares.University Parkway, the 4- to 8-lane boulevard named afterWake Forest University, serves as the downtown–north connector. Neighborhoods within the area include Alspaugh and Mount Tabor. The area is bound by North Point Boulevard to the north, Coliseum Drive to the south, University Parkway to the east, andSilas Creek Parkwayand Reynolda Road to the west. Other thoroughfares within the area are Polo Road, Reynolds Boulevard, and Deacon Boulevard. Attractions in the area include theWinston-Salem Entertainment-Sports Complex, which includesLJVM Coliseum; theWinston-Salem Fairgrounds;Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex;Truist Field;Truist Stadium; andDavid F. Couch Ballpark. TheWinston-Salem Fairgroundsalso hosts theCarolina Classic Fair, formerly the Dixie Classic Fair. The fair is one of the most-visited fairs in North America and the second-most-visited in North Carolina, next to theNorth Carolina State Fair.^[46]

Community renovations are planned for the corner ofPeters Creek Parkwayand Academy Street. On September 11, 2018, TheWinston-Salem Journalreported that The City of Winston-Salem Committee had approved the Peters Creek Community Initiative project, which is a collaboration of The Shalom Project, the North Carolina Housing Foundation, and The National Development Council. The group plans to purchase the former Budget Inn property and build 60 apartment units with a 4,000-square-foot community space.^[47]PCCI plans to build a four-story building that will house The Shalom Project in the bottom floor, along with other businesses.^[48]

The city of Winston-Salem has ahumid subtropical climate, characterized by cool winters and warm, humid summers. Throughout the year, temperatures typically stay between 32 °F (0 °C) and 88 °F (31 °C), rarely dropping below 19 °F (−7 °C) or exceeding 94 °F (34 °C). TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate isCfa.^[49]The average high temperatures range from around 49 °F (9 °C) in the winter to 89 °F (32 °C) in the summer. The average low temperatures range from around 28 °F (−2 °C) in the winter to 69 °F (21 °C) in the summer.^[50]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2023 (est.)	252,975	[7]	1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[53] 2020[7]

Winston-Salem city, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[54]	Pop 2010[55]	Pop 2020[56]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
Whitealone (NH)	97,420	108,222	109,714	52.44%	47.13%	43.97%
Black or African Americanalone (NH)	67,648	78,065	79,788	36.41%	34.00%	31.97%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH)	453	567	607	0.24%	0.25%	0.24%
Asianalone (NH)	2,082	4,536	6,275	1.12%	1.98%	2.51%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH)	44	138	191	0.02%	0.06%	0.08%
Some Other Racealone (NH)	267	535	1,140	0.14%	0.23%	0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial(NH)	1,819	3,801	8,989	0.98%	1.66%	3.60%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)	16,043	33,753	42,841	8.64%	14.70%	17.17%
Total	185,776	229,617	249,545	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the2020 census, there were 249,545 people, 94,884 households, and 53,708 families residing in the city.

Winston-Salem's population grew by 8.7% from 2010 to 2020,^[57]making it the fifth largest city in North Carolina.

At the 2017census estimate,^[58]the population was 244,605, with 94,105 households and apopulation densityof 1,846 people per square mile.

Winston-Salem was 53.0% female, and 27.8% of its firms were owned by women. Themedianage was 35 years. 23.9% of the population was under 18 years old, and 13.7% of the population was 65 years or older.^[59]

The racial composition of the city in 2017 was 56.1%White, 34.7%BlackorAfrican 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% wasHispanicorLatino, of any race.Non-Hispanic Whiteswere 45.8% of the population in 2017.^[60]

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.^[61]

The median household income was $41,228, and the median family income was $53,222. Themeanhousehold income was $60,637, and the mean family income was $74,938. Males had a median income of $41,064, versus $33,683 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $24,728. 20.6% of the population and 15.7% of all families were below thepoverty 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.^[61]

About 54.14% of the population identifies as being religiously affiliated. Christianity is the largest religion, withBaptists(15.77%) making up the largest religious denomination, followed byMethodists(12.79%) andCatholics(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 theMoraviansand theUnited Church of Christ.Islam(0.43%) is the second-largest religion, after Christianity, followed byJudaism(0.20%).Eastern religions(0.02%) make up the religious minority.^[62]

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 ofWake Forest Baptist Medical Centerduring the Advent and Christmas seasons.^[63]Another star sits underWake Forest University's Wait Chapel during the Advent and Christmas seasons as well. Moravian star images also decorate the lobby of the city's landmark Reynolds Building.

Winston-Salem is the location of the corporate headquarters ofHanesBrands, Inc.,Lowes FoodsStores,^[64]Quality Oil Company,Reynolds American(parent ofR. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company), Reynolda Manufacturing Solutions,K&W Cafeterias(until 2022),^[65][66]andTW Garner Food Company(makers ofTexas Pete).^[67]Blue Rhino, the nation's largest propane exchange company and a division ofFerrellgas, is also headquartered in Winston-Salem.WachoviaCorporation was based in Winston-Salem until it merged withFirst UnionCorporation in September 2001; the corporate headquarters of the combined company was located in Charlotte, until the company was purchased by Wells Fargo in December 2008.PepsiCohas its customer service center located in Winston-Salem.BB&Twas also based in Winston-Salem until it was merged withSunTrust Banksin 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 thenanotech, high-tech and biotech fields.^[68]Medical research is a fast-growing local industry, andWake Forest Baptist Medical Centeris the largest employer in Winston-Salem. In December 2004, the city entered into a deal withDell, 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.^[69]In January 2015, Herbalife opened a manufacturing facility in the space left vacant by Dell.^[70]

Public and private investment of $713 million has created theWake Forest Innovation Quarter, aninnovation districtin 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.^[71]

According to the Winston-Salem Business Inc.'s 2012–2013 data report on major employers,^[72]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

According to the Winston-Salem Business Inc.'s 2012 data report on major industries,^[73]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%

The east end of downtown Winston-Salem is anchored by theInnovation Quarter, one of the fastest-growing urban-based districts in the United States. Governed by theWake Forest School of Medicine, the Innovation Quarter is home to 90 companies, over 3,600 workers, 1,800 students seeking a college degree, and more than 8,000 workforce trainees. The Innovation Quarter is a place for research, business, biomedical science, digital media, and clinical services. It consists of over 1,900,000 square feet (180,000 m²) feet of office, laboratory, and educational space covering more than 330 acres (130 hectares). There are more than 1,000 residential units within the Innovation Quarter. The goal is to drive even moreeconomic developmentand create programs for tenants and residents for new ideas. Because of its location in downtown Winston-Salem, the Innovation Quarter serves as a creative and welcoming urban place for scientists, innovators, and technology leaders.^[74]In 2019, the Innovation Quarter became one of the first nine steering committee members of the Global Institute on Innovation Districts, making it one of the leading districts of its kind in the world.^[75]

Winston-Salem is home toHanes Mall, one of the largestshopping mallsinNorth Carolina. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become one of the city's largest shopping districts.^[76]

Other notable shopping areas exist in the city, includingThruway Center(the city's first shopping center), Hanes Point Shopping Center, Hanes Commons, Stratford Commons, Stratford Village, Reynolda Village, Pavilions, Shoppes at Hanestowne Village, Burke Mill Village Shopping Center, Oak Summit Shopping Center, Stone's Throw Plaza, Cloverdale Plaza Shopping Center Silas Creek Crossing, and theMarketplace Mall.

Old Salemis a restoredMoraviansettlement founded in 1766. Seventy percent of the buildings are original, and the village is aliving historymuseum with skilled tinsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers, gunsmiths, bakers and carpenters practicing their trades while interacting with visitors.^[77]Along with the original 18th-century buildings, Old Salem is also home to theMuseum of Early Southern Decorative Arts(MESDA), a gallery of 18th- and early 19th-century furniture,ceramics, and textiles. In addition, Old Salem hosts the Cobblestone Farmers Market every Saturday during the spring season through early autumn.^[78]The market is dedicated to providing the public access to sustainably grown food and products.^[79]

Bethabara Historic Districtis 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.

TheReynolda House Museum of American Artfeatures collections from the colonial period to the present day. The museum was built in 1917 by Katherine Smith Reynolds and her husbandR.J. Reynolds. The facility became an art museum in 1967 and first started as a center for education and arts in 1965. Behind the house is a 16-acre lake called "Lake Katherine", which was reverted into wetlands and has a wide variety of wildlife. Many of buildings were changed into shops, boutiques, and restaurants that still operate today. This house still is a main attraction in Winston-Salem.^[80]

TheSoutheastern Center for Contemporary Artis a multimedia contemporary art gallery in Winston-Salem that was founded in 1956 and accredited by theAmerican Alliance of Museumsin 1979, one of 300 museums to receive this accreditation. There is no permanent collection of art exhibits but includes art by artists with regional, national, and international recognition. SECCA has three exhibit halls, with 9,000 square feet, and a 300-seat auditorium.^[81]

Kaleideumis an interactive children's museum which offers exhibits and programs designed to develop creative thinking, strengthen language skills, and encourage curiosity for children ages birth to eight. Kaleideum has two locations, Kaleideum Downtown (formerly the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem) and Kaleideum North (formerly SciWorks).^[82]Kaleideum Downtown features many permanent and rotating exhibits, including a recreatedKrispy Kremedoughnut assembly line and delivery truck.^[83][84]Kaleideum North features a planetarium, a collection of small live animals including aBlue-and-yellow macaw, and other health and natural history exhibits.^[85]

New Winston Museumis the community history museum for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. It focuses on time periods since 1850 and features exhibitions and public programs.^[86]

The Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology is an anthropological museum maintained byWake Forest Universitythat has many artifacts and other pieces of history.

One of seven originalShell Service Stationswas opened by Quality Oil Company in 1930.

The city created the firstarts councilin the United States (Arts Council of Winston-Salem Forsyth County), founded in 1949, because of the local art schools and attractions. These include theUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts, The Little Theatre of W-S, Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, Spirit Gum Theatre Co., the Piedmont Opera Theater, the Winston-Salem Symphony, theStevens Centerfor the Performing Arts, the Downtown Arts District, the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, the Hanesbrands Theater, Piedmont Craftsmen, and the Sawtooth School for Visual Arts.

The city's Arts District is centered around Sixth and Trade Streets, where there are many galleries, restaurants and workshops; nearby is also the ARTivity on the Green art park, established by Art for Art's Sake.^[87]Winston-Salem is also home to theSoutheastern Center for Contemporary Art(SECCA), and theReynolda House Museum of American Art(the restored 1917 mansion built by the founder of theR. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company^[88]and now affiliated withWake Forest University). Winston-Salem is also the home of theArt-o-matand houses nine of them throughout the city.^[89]

The city plays host to theNational Black Theatre Festival, theRiverRun International Film Festivaland the Reynolda Film Festival.^[90][91]

Drive-In Studio, a recording studio owned byMitch Easter, former guitarist forThe dB'sandLet's Active, was in operation between 1980 and 1994. With the recording equipment set up in his parents' garage, Easter's studio became an important part of the earlyindie rockscene of North Carolina.^[92]R.E.M.recorded its debutEP,Chronic Town, at the Drive-In in 1981, while other artists who recorded there includePylon("Beep"),^[93]Suzanne Vega("Gypsy"),Game Theory(The Big Shot Chronicles) andThe Connells(Boylan Heights).

Baity's Backstreet Music Garden, a popular live-music venue, once stood on Baity Street, at its former intersection with 30th Street. Owned by Tim Mabe, the venue was established in 1982. It burned down in 1993. Artists who played there include theRamones, R.E.M.,Guns N' RosesandBlue Öyster Cult.^[94]

The city is also home to Carolina Music Ways, a grassroots arts organization focusing on the area's diverse, interconnected music traditions, includingbluegrass, blues, jazz, gospel, old-time stringband, and Moravian music.^[95]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.

• The Bedroom Window(1987)
• Mr. Destiny(1990)
• Eddie(1996)
• The Lottery, made-for-television adaptation ofShirley 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)^[96]
• 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 (film)(2014)^[97]
• The Longest Ride(2014)^[98]

Reynolda Gardensis a 4-acre (16,000 m²) formal garden set within a larger woodland site, originally part of theR. J. Reynoldscountry estate.^[99]

Tanglewood Parkis a recreation center located on the Yadkin River betweenClemmonsandBermuda Runwith a pool, lazy river, tennis courts, paddle boats, golf, walking trails, and other recreation. Tanglewood Park also hosts the Festival of Lights every year, a drive-through light show that celebrates the holidays.

TheWinston-Salem Fairgrounds Annexis an event venue that hosts theCarolina Classic Fair(formerly Dixie Classic Fair) every year in autumn. The fair is located across from the Lawrence Joel Coliseum. In 2007 it had a record-breaking attendance, with over 371,000 visitors. The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds also holds hundreds of events and has a capacity of 7,000.^[100]

Salem Lake is located in southeastern Winston-Salem. Salem Lake features a seven-mile dirt trail, a lake, and wildlife. The walking trail offers an abundance of activities such as hiking, walking, fishing, biking, dog leashing, running, and more. Salem Lake is often referred to as the "hidden diamond in the city".^[101]

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	SAL	Truist Stadium
Carolina Thunderbirds	Ice Hockey	FPHL	Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena
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'sNCAA Division IIsports teams, which are members of theCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association(CIAA).^[102]

TheWinston-Salem Dashare a Class High-AMinor-League baseballteam currently affiliated with theChicago White Sox. After 52 years at historicErnie Shore Field, the Dash now play their home games at the newTruist Stadium, which opened in 2010.^[103]Previous names for the team include the Winston-Salem Cardinals, Twins, Red Sox, Spirits and, most recently, the Winston-Salem Warthogs.^[104]Players have includedVinegar 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, andAaron Rowand, all of whom have played extensively at the major league level.

TheCarolina Thunderbirdsminor-league hockey team began play in 2017 at theWinston-Salem Fairgrounds Arenain Winston-Salem.^[105]

Wake Forest Universityis an original member of theAtlantic Coast Conference(ACC).Wake Forest's football teamplays its games atTruist Field at Wake Forest(formerly BB&T Field, and Groves Stadium), which seats 32,500.Wake Forest's soccer programmade four consecutive final four appearances (2006–2009) and were NCAA champions in 2007.^[106]

TheLawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseumis home toWake Forestand someWinston-Salem Statebasketball games.^[107]

NASCARWhelen All-American Seriesracing takes place from March until August atBowman Gray Stadium. TheK&N Pro Series Eastalso 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 anATP tennis tournamentevery year, theWinston-Salem Open. The matches are played at the Wake Forest tennis center.^[108]

The governing body for the City of Winston-Salem is an eight-memberCity Council(called the Board of Aldermen until December 2002^[109]). Voters go to the polls every four years in November to elect the mayor and council. The mayor is electedat large; council members are elected by citizens in each of the eightwardswithin the city. The City Council is responsible for adopting and providing for all ordinances, rules and regulations as necessary for the general welfare of the city. It approves the city budget and sets property taxes and user fees. The Council appoints thecity managerandcity attorney, and approves appointments to city boards and commissions.^[110]

As of September 2020^[update], the mayor of Winston-Salem wasAllen Joines(D), who was first elected in 2001 and is the longest-serving mayor in the history of the city.^[111]The members of the City Council were Mayor Pro Tempore Denise "D.D." Adams (D–North Ward), Barbara Hanes Burke (D–Northeast Ward), Annette Scippio (D–East Ward), James Taylor Jr. (D–Southeast Ward), John Larson (D–South Ward), Kevin Mundy (D–Southwest Ward), Robert Clark (R–West Ward), and Jeff MacIntosh (D–Northwest Ward).

City officials appointed by the City Council include the city attorney – Angela Carmon – and the city manager.^[112]Longtime city manager Lee Garrity retired on June 23, 2023, after serving for 17 years.^[113]He was replaced by William Patrick "Pat" Pate on November 6th, 2023.^[114]

The city of Winston-Salem is patrolled by theWinston-Salem Police Departmentand theForsyth CountySheriff's Department. The chief of police is William H. Penn,^[115]and the sheriff is Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr.^[116]Fire protectionis provided by theWinston-Salem Fire Department, and the chief of the department is William "Trey" Mayo.^[117]

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schoolshas 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 isWest Forsyth High School, with over 2,400 students as of the 2017–2018 school year. The district is the most diverse school system inNorth Carolina. Winston-Salem/Forsyth CountySchool System is the fourth-largest school system inNorth Carolina, with about 59,000 students and over 90 schools operating in the district.^[118]

Private and parochial schools also make up a significant portion of Winston-Salem's educational establishment. Catholic elementary schools include St. Leo The Great andOur Lady of Mercy. Protestant Christian schools include Winston-Salem Christian School,^[119]Calvary Day School (Baptist),^[120]Gospel Light Christian School, Salem Baptist Christian School,^[121]Redeemer School (Presbyterian), St. John's Lutheran, Cedar Forest Christian School, Winston-Salem Street School,^[122]Salem Montessori School,^[123]Berean Baptist Christian School and Woodland Baptist Christian School.^[124]Until 2001, Winston-Salem was home toBishop McGuinness Catholic High School.^[125]

Forsyth Country Day School(in nearbyLewisville, North Carolina) andSummit Schoolare secular private schools that serve the area.Salem Academy, located in Old Salem, has been providing education to young women since 1772.^[126]

Winston-Salem has a number of colleges and universities. Public institutions includeForsyth Technical Community College;Winston-Salem State University, ahistorically black universityfounded in 1892;^[127]andUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts, the first public arts conservatory in the U.S.^[128][129]

Amongst private institutions isWake Forest University, a four-year private research university which was founded in 1834 and moved to Winston-Salem in 1956.^[130]Other private colleges includeCarolina Christian College,Carolina University, Living Arts Institute, andSalem College, the oldest continuously operating educational institution for women in America, which was founded in 1772.^{[131][132][133][134]}

TheWinston-Salem Journalis the main daily newspaper in Winston-Salem.Yes! Weeklyis a free paper covering news, opinion, arts, entertainment, music, movies and food.Triad City Beatis a free weekly paper in the Triad area that covers Winston-Salem.^[135]TheWinston-Salem Chronicleis a weekly newspaper that focuses on theAfrican Americancommunity.^[136]

Theseradio stationsare located in Winston-Salem, and are listed by call letters, station number, and name. Many more radio stations can be picked up in Winston-Salem that are not located in town.

• WFDD, 88.5 FM, Wake Forest University (NPRAffiliate)
• WBFJ, 89.3 FM, Your Family Station (Contemporary Christian music)
• WSNC, 90.5 FM, Winston-Salem State University (Jazz)
• WXRI, 91.3 FM, Southern Gospel
• WSJS, 600 AM, News-Talk Radio
• WTRU, 830 AM, The Truth (Religious)
• WPIP, 880 AM, Berean Christian School
• WTOB, 980 AM, Classic Hits
• WPOL, 1340 AM, The Light Gospel Music (simulcast on 103.5 FM)
• WWNT, 1380 AM, Top 40 Oldies
• WSMX, 1500 AM, Oldies, Carolina Beach
• WBFJ, 1550 AM, Christian Teaching & Talk Radio
• Wake Radio, Wake Forest University's online, student-run radio station^[137]

Winston-Salem makes up part of the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point televisiondesignated market area. These stations are listed by call letters, channel number, network and city of license.

• Spectrum News 1 North Carolina, cable only
• WFMY-TV, 2,CBS, Greensboro
• WGHP, 8,Fox, High Point
• WXII-TV, 12,NBC, Winston-Salem
• WGPX, 16,Ion, Burlington
• WCWG, 20,CW, Lexington
• WUNL-TV, 26,PBS/UNC-TV, Winston-Salem
• WLXI-TV, 43,TCT, Greensboro
• WXLV-TV, 45,ABC, Winston-Salem
• WMYV, 48,My, Greensboro

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.^[138]Operating out of the Clark Campbell Transportation Center at 100 West Fifth Street, WSTA operates 30 daytime bus routes, 24 of which also 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 toBoone,Mt. Airy, High Point and Greensboro, where other systems provide in-state routes to points east. PART also offers Route 5 (the Amtrak Connector), which provides daily service to and from theAmtrakstation in High Point multiple times during the day.^[139]

US 52(which runsconcurrentwithNC 8) is the predominant north–south freeway through Winston-Salem; it passes near the heart of downtown.US 421(Salem Parkway) is the main east–west freeway through downtown Winston-Salem; this was the original routing ofI-40, and was the main east–west route through the city until 1992, when a bypass loop of I-40 was completed. US 421 splits in the western part of the city onto its own freeway west (signed north) towardWilkesboroandBoone, North Carolina.I-74(which was once US 311) links Winston-Salem toHigh Point(southeast).Silas Creek Parkwayis a partial limited access corridor that traverses from the northwestern section of the city to the south central section. The corridor bypasses several neighborhoods surrounding downtown, and serves as a popular connector toWake Forest University,Hanes Mall,The LJVM Coliseum, andForsyth Tech.^[140]

TheWinston-Salem Northern Beltwayis a freeway that will loop around the city to the north, providing a route forI-74on the eastern section and the Auxiliary RouteI-274on the western section.^[141][142]

In November 2018, US 52 south of I-40 was signed Spur RouteI-285.

Major arterial thoroughfares in Winston-Salem include Reynolda Road (which also carriesNC 67for a portion of its length),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.

Winston-Salem is served byPiedmont Triad International AirportinGreensboro. The airport also serves much of the surroundingPiedmont Triadarea, includingHigh 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.^[143]

A smaller airport, known asSmith Reynolds Airport, is located within the city limits, just northeast of downtown.^[144]It is mainly used forgeneral aviationand charter flights. Every year, Smith Reynolds Airport hosts an air show for the general public. The Smith Reynolds Airport is home to the Winston-SalemCivil Air PatrolComposite Squadron, also known as NC-082. The Civil Air Patrol is a non-profit volunteer organization.

Winston-Salem is one of the larger cities in the South that are not directly served byAmtrak. However, anAmtrak Thruwayoperates three times daily in each direction between Winston-Salem and the Amtrak station in nearbyHigh 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 theCrescent,CarolinianorPiedmontline. These lines run directly to local North Carolina destinations as well as cities across the Southeast, as far west asNew Orleansand as far north as New York City.

Winston-Salem'ssister citiesare:^[145]

• Buchanan, Liberia
• Freeport, Bahamas
• Kumasi, Ghana
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Ungheni, Moldova
• Yangpu (Shanghai), China

• List of municipalities in North Carolina
• List of tallest buildings in Winston-Salem
• May 1989 tornado outbreak

• Geographic data related toWinston-Salem, North CarolinaatOpenStreetMap
• Official website
• Visit Winston-Salem
• Winston-Salem, North CarolinaatCurlie