Greensboro Blending an urban landscape with small-town charm, Greensboro offers residents distinctive living amid an area rich in history. As the third-largest city in North Carolina, Greensboro is also the largest in the Piedmont Triad with a population of about 232,000. Founded in 1808 as the county seat of Guilford County, Greensboro was named after Gen. Nathaniel Greene who fought the British in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War. Today, 28 monuments commemorate the battle at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. In 1828, Henry Humphreys established the first steam-powered cotton mill in North Carolina. Within five years, 75 looms were in operation and, like many other cities in the Piedmont, Greensboro flourished with the textile industry. Because of its status as a popular train destination in the 1800s, Greensboro was nicknamed the “Gate City.” Staying true to its roots, the former Southern Railway passenger train station has recently been renovated and renamed the J. Douglas Galyon Depot. It is the largest train station in the state. Greensboro also has historical connections to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. On February 1, 1960, four black college students refused to leave F.W. Woolworth’s “whites only” lunch counter until they were served. The former site of Woolworth’s in downtown Greensboro is currently being developed into the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which will feature permanent and changing exhibits that cover the historical sit-in along with other landmark events of the 1960s. Greensboro maintains its “Gate City” title with its prime location on interstates 40 and 85 as well as the new interstates 74 and 73. A little over an hour from Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area, Greensboro is also centrally located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast. Greensboro is also the site of the future FedEx Mid-Atlantic Hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport, which will bring 1,500 jobs to the area and pump $300 million into the economy over a 10-year period. The hub is slated to open by 2009. Due to its low cost of living and mild climate, Greensboro attracts thousands of new residents every year. The average cost of a single-family home in Greensboro is $194,494. Older, established neighborhoods close to downtown have seen a renewal in recent years due to the renovation of older homes and increased amenities in living close to downtown. On the south side of downtown, the aptly named Southside neighborhood has been transformed into an urban village with renovated 19th-century homes and newer multi-family construction, including live-work units. Near Greensboro College, College Hill is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with turn-of-the century homes. Named after the park at the neighborhood’s center, Fisher Park includes homes built between 1915 and 1930. Westerwood, located northwest of downtown, is known for its tree-lined streets, cozy bungalows and front porches. North of downtown, Old Irving Park is a neighborhood characterized by huge, stately mansions. The neighborhood is complemented by New Irving Park, a newer expansion with large, two-story homes and spacious lots. The Noles at Irving Park is a new development named after John Nolan, the original landscape architect of Old Irving Park. Composed of 86 homesites and 59 condominiums, The Noles at Irving Park borders New Irving Park. Custom homes are priced from the $600s and condominiums are priced from the high $200s. In recent years, Greensboro has seen significant growth as new communities emerge in more suburban locales. In southwest Greensboro, Adams Farm offers newer, family neighborhoods with good schools and affordably priced houses. The elegant 1,500-acre development of Grandover features homes, townhomes, condominiums and estates, and boasts of resort living along its prestigious golf courses. North of Greensboro, the Lake Jeanette area is more highly priced with lakefront properties on cul-de-sacs and minimal traffic. Other more expensive suburban neighborhoods include Sedgefield and Jefferson Wood. Also, the emergence of new bars, shops and restaurants downtown are drawing young professionals back to urban living. Governor’s Court on Church Street and Friendly Avenue is a 36-unit condominium development that merges contemporary living with an old “main street” design. Another urban development, Smothers Place Lofts on South Elm Street, includes 60 condominiums. Bellemeade Village is a residential development with retail on the street level. Similar projects continue to modernize residential developments in downtown Greensboro. The Wendover/I-40 corridor has been the site of a number of commercial real estate ventures, and East Market Street in downtown Greensboro has seen significant revitalization including the expansion of North Carolina A&T as well as the Dudley-Lee Shopping Center. Greensboro is home to a variety of shopping centers that draw visitors from across the region. Friendly Center, a 75-acre open village shopping center in northwest Greensboro, is home to more than 95 stores, including three department stores. Four Seasons Town Centre off I-40 offers over 200 stores including anchors Belk, Dillard’s and JCPenney. Known for their antiques, the shops on Elm Street offer alternatives to mall shopping in downtown Greensboro. Looking for fresh produce? The Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market downtown is one of the oldest farmers markets in the country. In addition to shopping, residents can enjoy local sporting events and musical performances at the Greensboro Coliseum, including the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament in March. Part of a thriving arts community, the city is also home to the Carolina Theatre, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Greensboro Opera Company. The Eastern Music Festival, an internationally known classical music event, is held every summer on the campus of Guilford College. The Greensboro Sportsplex is operated by Greensboro Park and Recreation. The 106,000-square-foot facility houses hockey, basketball, volleyball and soccer leagues and also hosts national and regional sporting events. Remaining “green” in spite of the new developments, Greensboro offers 170 parks that cover 3,500 acres and more than 65 miles of hiking, biking and jogging trails. Bicentennial Greenway offers two miles of trails in Greensboro. Once an eight-mile segment is completed, it will connect to another trail in High Point and the entire trail will eventually cover 20 miles. In 2003, Greensboro opened Bark Park at Country Park, an off-leash park for dogs and their owners. Country Park is adjacent to Guilford Courthouse National Park, which marks the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, a significant Revolutionary War battle. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY