Kernersville Known as the “Heart of the Triad,” Kernersville is conveniently located between Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point in the geographic center of the Piedmont Triad. Along Interstate 40, Kernersville is in the eastern section of Forsyth County and is the second-largest municipality in the county. In 1771, Irishman William Dobson purchased property at the corner of the present-day Mountain and Main streets, which included an inn and store. The inn attracted a number of visitors, including President George Washington in 1791. In 1817, the inn and the 1,000 acres surrounding it were sold to Joseph Kerner, whom the town was named after. During the Civil War, Kernersville’s leading industry was a tannery that made leather for the Confederacy, and in the late 1800s, the city’s economy flourished with the growing tobacco industry. Today, Kernersville’s diverse economy includes the industries of textiles, furniture, metals and trucking. According to Business North Carolina Magazine, Kernersville ranks eighth in the state for doing business, and according to Entrepreneur Magazine is seventh in the nation for small businesses. Just seven miles away from Piedmont Triad International Airport, Kernersville will benefit from the new FedEx Mid-Atlantic Hub, which will open within the next few years and will bring more than 1,500 jobs to the area. Kernersville is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the state with more than 20,000 residents. That number is expected to double within the next 10 years. Its attraction lies in part to its close proximity to all three urban areas of the Triad. Low crime, excellent schools and a range of employment opportunities also characterize Kernersville. Popular with commuters who are never far from the three major Triad cities, Kernersville also has its own economic base that draws “reverse commuters” from neighboring cities. The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce has developed a long-range plan for this rapidly growing town called Kernersville 2020. The plan addresses issues such as road improvements, making downtown Kernersville an active center, economic development and maintaining green space. Real estate ranges from rural and wooded landscapes to highly manicured, suburban lawns. The area offers a variety of housing options and is more affordable than larger cities in the Triad. Kernersville’s most famous attraction is Körner’s Folly, an architectural novelty built in 1880 for wealthy interior designer Jules Körner, the grandson of Joseph Kerner. Composed of 22 rooms with varying ceiling heights, the house also includes handcrafted woodworking and murals. Noticing the house’s eccentric design, a neighboring farmer said, “That will surely be Jules Körner’s folly,” and the name stuck. Inside you’ll also find Cupid’s Park, the first private theater in America. Attracting spectators from across the state to see its narrow passageways and strange designs, Körner’s Folly is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2005. On the first Friday and Saturday in May, Kernersville celebrates Spring Folly, a festival featuring musical groups, entertainers, a carnival, car show, crafts and masses of food. Other festivals in Kernersville include a Fourth of July celebration, Honey Bee Festival, Halloween party downtown and a Christmas parade. Kernersville families are active in the town’s park and recreation sporting leagues and events. On the eastern edge of Kernersville, Triad Park features new playground equipment and rubberized surfacing, ball fields, picnic shelters, a volleyball complex and trails for walking or bicycling. The 16-acre Fourth of July Park blends the old and the new with a restored historic one-room schoolhouse and a brand-new skate park. Civitan Park includes seven acres with a walking trail and picnic shelters. Harmon Park is the site of the annual Christmas tree lighting. The planned Piedmont Greenway will run from Salem Lake in Winston-Salem through downtown Kernersville into Guilford County. When completed, the greenway will extend 19 miles. Kernersville is also home to an exceptional YMCA that includes a 65,000-square-foot swimming facility that houses two swimming pools and features a 6,000-square-foot water park. Kernersville YMCA also has two indoor gymnasiums and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Supported in part by the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, Kernersville Little Theatre stages dramatic performances all year long. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KERNERSVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE