National Register Listings in
Forsyth County, North Carolina

Ardmore Historic District Arista Cotton Mill Complex Atkins High School (former) Atkins, S. G., House Bahnson, Agnew Hunter, House Bethabara Historic District Bethabara Moravian Church Bethania Historic District Bethania Historic District (Boundary Increase) Black, George, House and Brickyard Blair, William Allen, House Bland, Joseph Franklin, House Brickenstein-Leinbach House Brown, W.C., Apartment Building Centerville Historic District Chatham Manufacturing Company-Western Electric Company Chatham, Thurmond and Lucy, House Clayton Family Farm Conrad-Starbuck House Craver Apartment Building Crews, Thomas A., House Downtown North Historic District Dyer, James B. and Diana M., HOuse Evergreen Farm First Baptist Church Flynt House Forsyth County Courthouse Gilmer Building Goler Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church Graylyn Hanes Hosiery Mill-Ivy Avenue Plant Hanes, P.H., Knitting Company Hanes, Robert M., House Hill, J. S., House Hoehns (Hanes), Philip and Johanna, House Holly Avenue Historic District Hoots Milling Company Roller Mill Hylehurst Indera Mills Jones, Dr. Beverly, House Kapp, John Henry, Farm Kernersville Depot Korner's Folly Lloyd Presbyterian Church Lowe, Cicero Francis, House Ludlow, Col. Jacob Lott, House Mars Hill Baptist Church McKaughan, Isaac Harrison, House Memorial Industrial School Middleton House Nissen Building Nissen Building (Boundary Increase) Nissen, S.J., Building North Cherry Street Historic District North Cherry Street Historic District North Cherry Street Historic District (Boundary Decrease and Additional Documentation) O'Hanlon Building Oak Crest Historic District Oak Grove School Old German Baptist Brethern Church Old Richmond Schoolhouse and Gymnasium Old Salem Historic District Paisley J. W., House Pepper Building Poindexter, H. D., Houses Reynolda Historic District Reynolds Building Reynolds, R.J., Tobacco Company Buildings 2-1 and 2-2 Reynolds, Richard J., High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium Reynoldstown Historic District Roberts-Justice House Robinson, A., Building Rogers, James Mitchell, House Rural Hall Depot Salem Tavern Salem Town Hall Schaub, John Jacob, House Shamrock Mills Shell Service Station Shultz, Christian Thomas, House Single Brothers' House Smith, W. F., and Sons Leaf House and Brown Brothers Company Building Snyder, John Wesley, House Sosnik-Morris-Early Commercial Block South Main Street Historic District South Trade Street Houses Speas, William Henry and Sarah Hauser, House Spruce Street YMCA St. Paul’s Episcopal Church St. Philip's Moravian Church Stauber, Samuel B., Farm Stuart Motor Company Sunnyside-Central Terrace Historic District Union Station Wachovia Building Waller House Washington Park Historc District Washovia Bank and Trust Company Building Waughtown-Belview Historic District West End Historic District West Salem Historic District Winston-Salem City Hall Winston-Salem Southbound Railway Freight Warehouse and Office Winston-Salem Tobacco Historic District Womble, Bunyan S. and Edith W., House Zevely House
The first English child born in the New World, Virginia Dare, was born in what is now Roanoke Island, North Carolina, in 1587.
North Carolina random facts
Forsyth County, located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Before European settlement, the area was home to Native American tribes such as the Cheraw and Saura. However, in the 18th century, European settlers began to arrive, primarily of German, Scotch-Irish, and English descent.

The county was officially established in 1849 and named after Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, a War of 1812 hero. During the 19th century, Forsyth County played a significant role in the tobacco industry. The area's fertile soil and favorable climate made it ideal for growing tobacco, and numerous tobacco factories were established in Winston-Salem, the county's largest city.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Forsyth County was marred by racial tensions and violence. African Americans faced systematic discrimination and were victims of several instances of racial violence, including the notorious 1898 race riot in nearby Wilmington. This violent history had lasting effects on the county's racial dynamics for many years.

From the mid-20th century onwards, Forsyth County experienced significant growth and development. Winston-Salem became an important center for industry, particularly in the fields of tobacco, textiles, and furniture manufacturing. The city also gained recognition for its arts and culture, becoming home to prestigious institutions such as the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Today, Forsyth County continues to thrive as a vibrant community with a diverse population and a strong economy. While the county has faced its share of challenges, it has also demonstrated resilience and progress in embracing its rich cultural heritage and shaping a bright future for its residents.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Forsyth County, North Carolina.

  • 1849 - Forsyth County was established on January 15th.
  • 1851 - The first courthouse was built in the county seat of Winston.
  • 1877 - Salem Female Academy, which later became Salem College, was established as the first institution of higher education for women in the state.
  • 1913 - City of Winston merged with Salem to form Winston-Salem.
  • 1917 - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company introduced the iconic Camel cigarette.
  • 1950s - The city experienced significant growth and industrial development.
  • 1980 - Winston-Salem surpassed Greensboro as the largest city in North Carolina.
  • 1989 - The city celebrated its bicentennial.
  • 2000 - The population of Forsyth County exceeded 300,000.
  • 2013 - Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center became the largest employer in the county.