High Point Internationally known as the “Furniture Capital of the World,” High Point is an exciting place to be every April and October. That’s when the city welcomes 85,000 visitors for the International Home Furnishings Market, an event that doubles the population of High Point and fills every hotel room in the Triad. With a population of more than 95,000, High Point stretches across four counties: Guilford, Forsyth, Davidson and Randolph. Settled by Quakers as well as German, Welsh and Scotch-Irish immigrants, High Point incorporated in 1859. Its name comes from being the highest point on the North Carolina Railroad line. Because of the easy access to lumber and the prevalence of workers in the area, High Point quickly developed into an industrial hub for the manufacturing and retailing of furniture. In 1923, High Point annexed 6,000 new residents, making it the sixth-largest city in the state with more residents than Greensboro. Times have changed, but High Point still manages to double its population twice a year. During two weeks in April and October, the International Home Furnishings Market occupies showrooms throughout downtown High Point and fills 12 million square feet of space. Visitors from all 50 states and 110 countries across the world come to see the latest in furniture design and manufacturing. The market pumps more than $1 billion into the economy each year and is the greatest single economic event in the state. Throughout the year, High Point is home to more than 70 retail furniture outlets. Additionally, the Piedmont Centre Office Park is a nucleus for business in High Point. The center has welcomed a number of new businesses and has seen significant expansion in recent years. High Point offers affordable housing prices as well as a diverse selection of real estate, ranging from farmhouse to Victorian-style homes. The city also includes numerous condominiums and townhomes to choose from. With huge mansions on large lots, Emerywood is High Point’s old, established neighborhood. Many homes date back to the 1930s, but some areas of Emerywood are much newer. Other well-known neighborhoods include Heathgate, Cypress Pointe, Ashton Oaks and the more moderately priced Blairwood. In north High Point, Oak Hollow Estates combines lakefront living with Oak Hollow Lake’s natural surroundings. Nearby, Oak Hollow Mall includes more than 100 specialty stores as well as a movie theater and five department stores: Belk, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Sears and Goody’s. Barnes & Noble, Pier 1 and Target stand along the perimeter of the mall. Beyond its status as a furniture giant, High Point is also known for its cultural events. The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival is held each year at the High Point Theatre. The festival features two Shakespeare productions during September and October and “A Christmas Carol” each December. Serving to educate the community, the festival also conducts seminars with commentary on the plays by North Carolina scholars for patrons as well as for local schools. The festival seeks to make classical productions both accessible and entertaining for its audience. Recognizing the area’s rich history, the High Point Museum and Historical Park conducts costumed tours demonstrating colonial life in the Piedmont. The museum features permanent and changing exhibits that trace High Point’s history from its roots to today. Part of the area’s artistic past, jazz legend John Coltrane spent his childhood in High Point, where he learned to play a range of instruments before moving to Philadelphia. A commemorative marker located near his boyhood home sits on the corner of Centennial Street and Commerce Avenue. The Furniture Discovery Center in downtown is the only museum in the country dedicated to furniture design and manufacturing. Covering 8,000 square feet, the museum includes exhibits that teach visitors about furniture history, production, style and marketing. For the kids, the forest conservation area features Harvey Hardwood, a 500-pound talking red oak tree. If you’d rather spend your time outside, the Piedmont Environmental Center covers 376 acres and offers 11 miles of trails for hiking, biking and jogging. The center also serves to educate the public, conducting workshops and seminars for both adults and children. Additionally, Piedmont Environmental Center plans trips to a variety of natural landscapes including the Outer Banks, Belize and the Galapagos Islands. On the shores of 1,500-acre Oak Hollow Lake, Oak Hollow Festival Park features scenic views in addition to various musical and boating events. The lake also includes a campground with a modern bathhouse and a pool, a tennis center, golf course and marina. Residents can also enjoy City Lake, a 340-acre lake that offers boating, fishing and paddleboats. It also includes the largest outdoor swimming pool in the state. PHOTO COURTESY OF IHFM