High Point, NC
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High Point is a city in the
Piedmont Triad The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, and ...
region of the
U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
state of
North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
. Most of the city is in
Guilford County Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 541,299, making it the third-most populous county in North Carolina. The county seat and largest community is Greensboro. Since ...
, with parts extending into
Randolph Randolph may refer to: Places In the United States * Randolph, Alabama, an unincorporated community * Randolph, Arizona, a populated place * Randolph, California, a village merged into the city of Brea * Randolph, Illinois, an unincorporated com ...
, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that extends into four counties. The "town" of Stokesdale extends over four counties. As of the 2020 census the city had a total population of 114,059. High Point is the ninth-most populous in North Carolina, the third-largest municipality in the
Piedmont Triad The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, and ...
, and the 259th-most populous city in the U.S. Major industries in High Point include furniture,
textiles Textile is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term that includes various Fiber, fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber, filaments, Thread (yarn), threads, and different types of #Fabric, fabric. ...
, and bus manufacturing. The city's official slogan is "North Carolina's International City" due to the semi-annual
High Point Furniture Market The High Point Market (formerly the International Home Furnishings Market and the Southern Furniture Market), held in High Point, North Carolina, High Point, North Carolina, is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with o ...
that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. It is home to
High Point University High Point University (HPU) is a private university in High Point, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as High Point College in 1924, and it became High Point University in ...
, a private Methodist-affiliated institution founded in 1924. The current mayor of High Point is Cyril Jefferson.


History

High Point was at the highest point of the 1856
North Carolina Railroad The North Carolina Railroad is a state-owned rail corridor extending from Morehead City, North Carolina, to Charlotte. The railroad carries over 70 freight trains operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway and eight passenger trains (Amtrak's ...
between Charlotte and Goldsboro, where it intersected the 1852 Great Western Plank Road. Its central location and transportation allowed for the delivery of raw materials like cotton and lumber as well as import and export of processed goods, contributing to its early growth. High Point was settled by Europeans, including English
Quakers Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestantism, Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally ...
and
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
immigrants, before 1750, but was not incorporated until 1859. Before it became a major manufacturing center, the most important industries were tobacco, woodworking and textiles. The High Point furniture factory opened in 1889.
High Point College High Point University (HPU) is a private university in High Point, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as High Point College in 1924, and it became High Point University in ...
was founded in 1924 as a private Methodist-affiliated institution. The college later became a liberal arts university, now with approximately 4,400 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states.


Historic places

Sites on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...


Geography

High Point is the only city in North Carolina that exists within four counties: Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford and
Randolph Randolph may refer to: Places In the United States * Randolph, Alabama, an unincorporated community * Randolph, Arizona, a populated place * Randolph, California, a village merged into the city of Brea * Randolph, Illinois, an unincorporated com ...
. It also stands within two major watersheds: the Yadkin
Pee Dee The Pee Dee is a region in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It lies along the lower watershed of the Pee Dee River, which was named after the Pee Dee, an Indigenous tribe historically inhabiting the region. History The ...
to the west and the Cape Fear to the east. Parts of the city rise above , making it among the highest cities in North Carolina's
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
. High Point is bordered by
Greensboro Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina, af ...
to the north, Jamestown to the northeast, and Archdale to the southeast. The city limits of
Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...
and Thomasville come within half a mile of High Point's city limits to the south and southwest, respectively. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (2.60%) is water.


Climate

High Point experiences a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
. Summers are hot and humid, and the dew points will often climb to near or even above by late June through much of August. Nights usually remain warm above 70 degrees. Most summers the hottest day will record a maximum between . About once every 5 to 10 years the city will climb to or above . Winters are cool to cold. Nights average near , with the coldest averages in the upper 20s from late December through early February. Most winters the coldest temperature will dip to between . About once every 10 years the minimum will dip below and to near or below approximately once every 20 years. Daytime highs average near in the winter, with the coldest stretch between late December through early February with highs averaging in the upper 40s. Most winters there will be 2 to 4 days that remain below freezing. The hottest temperature on record for the area was on August 18, 1988 (in nearby Greensboro the high reached in 1914), and the coldest was on January 21, 1985. Rainfall patterns are generally spread evenly throughout the year, with between seven and eleven wet days per month. The city averages around of rain per year. Snowfall varies from year to year, with most years totaling less than . However, there are some years that exceed , and this brings the overall average to more than per year. In the winter of 1959/60 the city had just over of snowfall, which stands as the most dating back to the start of snowfall record-keeping in 1928. In addition to snowfall, some years the city can be impacted by significant ice storms. Cold air wedging up on the east side of the mountains can lock this part of the state into cold air while warmer moist air moves in aloft. This proximity to the mountains creates what is known as the Appalachian Wedge and can produce crippling ice storms. High Point was one of several communities affected by a 2010 tornado outbreak. The twister reached its most powerful EF3 classification as it crossed the northern suburbs of the city. In 1989, High Point sustained minor wind damage from
Hurricane Hugo Hurricane Hugo was a powerful tropical cyclone that inflicted widespread destruction across the northeastern Caribbean and the Southeastern United States in September 1989. The eleventh tropical cyclone, eighth Tropical cyclone naming, named st ...
as it raced through the western Piedmont region of North Carolina after making landfall 5 hours away in
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 114,059 people, 40,877 households, and 25,792 families residing in the city.


2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 104,371 people, and 40,988 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,939.9 people per square mile. There were 46,677 housing units in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 53.6% white (50.4%
Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...
), 33.0% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 6.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were 8.5% of the population.


2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 85,839 people, 33,519 households, and 22,523 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 35,952 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 54.56%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 34.77%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.46% Native American, 4.45% Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 2.27% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 6.89% of the population. 12.7% were of
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...
, 8.7%
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
, 8.3%
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
and 5.9% Irish ancestry. There were 33,519 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. Of all households, 27.2% were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,137, and the median income for a family was $48,057. Males had a median income of $33,411 versus $25,293 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $21,303. About 10.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.


Economy


Diversification

Though historically focused on production of furniture, hosiery, and
Hatteras Yachts Hatteras may refer to: * ''The Adventures of Captain Hatteras'', the novel by Jules Verne * Hatteras Networks, a North Carolina–based telecommunications equipment provider * Hatteras Indians, the Roanoke-Hatteras Indian tribe Places: * Hat ...
, High Point diversified its economy by becoming a center for distribution and logistics, customer service, banking, manufacturing, photography and pharmaceuticals. The High Point Market remains important to High Point's economy and the city's furniture industry. Its bi-annual trade show is the largest furniture and furnishings industry event in the world. It is held in April and October of each year. Approximately of showroom space is used by 2,300 exhibitors, in 188 separate buildings. Over 100 countries are represented through both vendors and visitors.


Evolution of furniture industry

High Point was an early center for the development of the furniture industry in the South.Carolina Publications Inc.
"North Carolina Furniture Guide: History of North Carolina Furniture"
. Retrieved 3/6/2013
Functional furniture had been produced on a small scale since the 17th century by artisans of English ancestry who had settled in North Carolina."North Carolina in the Global Economy"
retrieved 3/6/2013
As the farming landscape of the South began to change with the end of the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
and slavery, cheap labor became available during the
Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction era was a period in History of the United States, US history that followed the American Civil War (1861-65) and was dominated by the legal, social, and political challenges of the Abolitionism in the United States, abol ...
. The North Carolina furniture industry gained momentum in the late 19th century, and developers were attracted to High Point for its location, transportation, and cheap labor. The city was in the center of the
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
region with access to vast hardwood forests in the central and western parts of the state. High Point, at the junction of the railroad and a main state road, provided a centralized shipping point for the southern market. An agricultural depression of the 1890s drove farm workers to developing towns like High Point looking for industrial jobs.Patricia Phillips Marshall
"Furniture Industry – Part III: Furniture Production in the Industrial Age"
(2006). Retrieved 3/6/2013
Factories were needed to produce affordable wooden household furniture for the southern market. The first furniture company, the High Point Furniture Manufacturing Company, was formed in 1889. Subsequently, from 1890 to 1900, 38 new furniture factories opened in the state, with 13 of those in High Point. The Southern Railway line was formed in 1894, and High Point was shipping eight fully loaded freight cars of furniture each day by 1898. By the turn of the century, High Point had become the leading furniture center in the South, with over 40 furniture companies in the city and the surrounding area.Richard B. McCaslin
"High Point"
(2006). Retrieved 3/6/2013
Meanwhile, other manufacturers set up local factories to provide related products like veneers, plate glass, mirrors, paint, and locks to furniture companies. Profits in the North Carolina furniture industry declined with the increasing number of factories. In addition to the increased competition for market shares, by 1910 the salary for competent experienced workers and rising shipping costs had cut further into the profit.
Bankruptcies Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...
resulted from inexperienced managers who tried to sell products below the cost of production and companies that tried to expand too quickly. An innovative High Point company, Tomlinson Chair Co., devised incentives to give its workforce an opportunity to receive part of the profits. The company was one of the first to manufacture period reproduction dining and living room furniture on a large scale. Employees who exceeded monthly quotas received a percentage bonus. All workers received a
life insurance Life insurance (or life assurance, especially in the Commonwealth of Nations) is a contract A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typical ...
policy as well. Marketing became important to growth of the furniture industry in North Carolina in the twentieth century.Patricia Phillips Marshall
"Furniture Industry-Part IV: Birth and Development of the Modern Furniture Industry"
(2006). Retrieved 3/22/2013
Store owners had to visit the factory to select their orders due to the large size and weight of the furniture. This situation improved at the turn of the century with the mass marketing and sales of North Carolina furniture from the catalogues of
Sears Roebuck and Co. Sears, Roebuck and Co., commonly known as Sears ( ), is an American chain of department stores and online retailer founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwal ...
At the same time, competitors in large cities like
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
and
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
held a national exposition twice a year to display the manufacturers' products and to take orders from furniture dealers and buyers. Recognizing the need for a more convenient southern location, High Point furniture manufacturers began planning for an exposition to display and sell their product to the public. The first North Carolina furniture exposition was held in High Point in 1905. In 1921, a brand new Southern Furniture Exhibition Building was built with ten stories and at a cost of $2 million. The event that became known as the
High Point Furniture Market The High Point Market (formerly the International Home Furnishings Market and the Southern Furniture Market), held in High Point, North Carolina, High Point, North Carolina, is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with o ...
was attended by 700 buyers and generated $2.25 million in sales. High Point overtook Chicago as the site of the nation's most important semi-annual furniture show. Gradually the High Point Furniture Market, held in April and October, grew into an internationally renowned furniture trade fair for home furnishings. High Point continues to be the prime U.S. location to purchase brand-name furniture at a substantial discount. The furniture industry and developing textile manufacturing set the pace for two 20th century growth booms in High Point. Over the decade of the 1920s, the population grew from 14,302 to 36,745 as $20 million of building permits were issued and $26 million was spent on city improvements. The
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
did not seem to affect the southern furniture market, which focused on trendy and affordable furniture, while those in the North focused on traditional, luxurious products. By 1935, North Carolina was second only to New York in US furniture production. Meanwhile, the High Point Market continued to set furniture trends and to be a national economic indicator; the $5 billion in sales in 1947 after
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
forecast a postwar boom. The 1950s' growth of the furniture market mirrored that of High Point's second population boom from 39,973 in 1950 to 62,063 in 1960. By 1959, North Carolina had surpassed New York to become the state employing the most people in the furniture industry. In 1961, ''The State'' magazine declared, "High Point, in Guilford County, is the world's leading manufacturing center of wood furniture. It is also the location of one of the nation's principal furniture markets." Four international furniture shows were being hosted by High Point at that time, including the
High Point Market The High Point Market (formerly the International Home Furnishings Market and the Southern Furniture Market), held in High Point, North Carolina, is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with over 11 million square feet ...
(still known then as the Southern Furniture Exposition), which ''The State'' reported was drawing crowds of five to six thousand buyers. Throughout the end of the 20th century, North Carolina continued to lead the nation in the production of both upholstered and wooden household furniture. The furniture was slightly styled and inexpensive, but lost its regional characteristics. Some local artisans still maintained a unique and high quality wooden product. High Point became known as the "Furniture Capital of the World" in the 1980s during the golden era of North Carolina furniture manufacturing. The
globalization Globalization is the process of increasing interdependence and integration among the economies, markets, societies, and cultures of different countries worldwide. This is made possible by the reduction of barriers to international trade, th ...
of the 1990s opened free trade and competition from foreign furniture manufacturers. US companies, unable to compete, began outsourcing to
Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
and
Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
. China became the leading manufacturer by producing furniture of equal quality at a lower price. The majority of furniture companies in North Carolina have continued to close since the 1990s. The furniture makers who have maintained a high quality product made from solid wood continue to maintain a unique niche and are sold in both the United States and Asia. The High Point Museum showcases an exhibit, "High Point's Furniture Heritage", which examines the historical relationship between the furniture industry and the people of High Point.Steven Case
"High Point: Government and Heritage Library"
(2010). Retrieved 3/6/2013
The Bienenstock Furniture Library located in downtown High Point is the largest furniture specialty library in the world and contains over 4,000 furniture and design-specific volumes. Owing to so much of its dedication to usage as showroom space by the High Point Market, much of downtown High Point lacks the traditional retail and restaurant businesses which characterize other large North Carolina cities, though that sector grew in the city in the 2010s and 2020s, in part due to a customer base present with people involved with High Point University.


The High Point Market

The High Point Market is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with over 11 million square feet (1 km2) and about 2,000 exhibitors throughout about 180 buildings. The market holds two major shows each year, and attracts between 70,000 and 80,000 attendees. A 2018
Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...
study showed that the market contributed $6.7 billion to the area's economy. In May 2011, the High Point Market and the Las Vegas
World Market Center World Market Center Las Vegas is a furniture showroom complex in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, serving domestic and international sellers and buyers. It contains across four buildings, part of a site. The project was proposed in 2001, and the fi ...
were combined into the new firm International Market Centers (IMC). In September 2017,
Blackstone Inc. Blackstone Inc. is an American alternative investment management company based in New York City. It was founded in 1985 as a mergers and acquisitions firm by Peter Peterson and Stephen Schwarzman, who had previously worked together at Lehman ...
and Fireside Investments purchased IMC, which at the time owned 14 buildings totaling 6.7 million square feet, over 50% of the downtown.


Top employers

According to High Point's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:


Transportation

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's ''Crescent'', ''Carolinian'' and ''Piedmont'' trains connect High Point with the cities of
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
,
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
,
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
,
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...
,
Raleigh Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...
, Charlotte,
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
,
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
and
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
. The recently refurbished historic High Point Amtrak station is at 100 West High Street.
Interstate 85 Interstate 85 (I-85) is a major Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus is an interchange with I-95 in Petersburg, Virginia, ...
runs through southern High Point, southeast of the original interstate roadway, which is now designated Business 85. The new
Interstate 74 Interstate 74 (I-74) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an interchange with I-80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an interchange with I-75 in ...
runs north and east of the city. This section is referred locally as the "East Belt" freeway project, and was completed southeast to I-73/US 220 near Randleman in 2013. To the northwest, it extends to
Interstate 40 Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west transcontinental Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States, southeastern and Southwestern United States, southwestern portions of the United States. At a leng ...
in
Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the fifth-most populous city in North Carolina and the 91st-most populous city in the Uni ...
. The
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) provides inter-city and regional public transportation for the Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, NC combined statistical area, known as the Piedmont Triad area. In , the system had a ...
(PART) operates in High Point. It is a service that shuttles people among most of the cities in the northwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. The main service for public transportation in High Point is
Hi tran Hi tran may refer to: * High Point Transit System in North Carolina, United States * HITRAN (High Resolution Transmission), a molecular spectroscopic database {{disambiguation ...
, the local bus service. Highways passing through High Point include: * * * * * * * *


Education

Private schools for children were established in and around High Point as early as the early nineteenth century by
Quakers Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestantism, Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally ...
. The New York Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, a network of Quakers from that state, started a school in
Asheboro Asheboro is a city in and the county seat of Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 27,156 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Greensboro- High Point Metropolitan Area of the Piedmont Triad and is home of the state ...
in the 1880s for
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
students. The school relocated to High Point in 1891 on land east of town on Washington Street. The institution was named the High Point Normal and Industrial School (later William Penn High School), and was administered by the Quakers until 1897. In that year, black educator Alfred J. Griffin accepted the position of principal and led the establishment into a long period of growth. The school closed in 1968, but was renovated and reopened in 2003 as Penn-Griffin School for the Arts, a public arts magnet high school. It is one of three public high schools in the city. The High Point public school system was founded in 1897 with the approval of a $10,000 bond, in part to finance the purchase of J. Elwood Cox's family home on South Main Street for use as the first school building. Twelve school commissioners were appointed to administer the 350-student system of five grades. Growth of the city's institutions reflected improved primary educational facilities. A school building campaign coupled with additional grades and improved classes resulted in four additional schools for white students: Elm Street School (1905), Park Street School (1910), Fairview School (1910), and Grimes Street School (1911). Many other schools were born in the 1920s during a period of rapid growth. This building spree culminated in 1927 with the opening of High Point High School. Among the many high styled school complexes in the state, few surpass High Point's grand 1927 high school. The campus joined the talents of two designers,
Greensboro Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina, af ...
architect Harry Barton and Charlotte landscape architect Earl S. Draper. The building was matched in 1931 with the addition of Ferndale Middle School just to the east, designed to incorporate details from the high school so that it maintained a campus theme. Both shared athletic facilities on a large tract of land between downtown and Emerywood. In 1962, High Point High School's name was modified to
High Point Central High School High Point Central High School is a public high school located in High Point, North Carolina. The school has a population of approximately 1,237 (2020–2021) students in 9th–12th grades. The school's offerings include Advanced Placement classe ...
when an additional high school,
T. Wingate Andrews High School T. Wingate Andrews High School (known colloquially as T.W. Andrews or Andrews) is a public magnet high school in High Point, North Carolina, and part of the Western region of the Guilford County school district. Andrews has been designated to ...
, was established in the 1960s. Several private and independent schools are found in High Point, including
High Point Christian Academy High Point Christian Academy (HPCA) is a private, college preparatory, Christian school located in High Point, North Carolina, United States. HPCA serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth Grade. History Founded by the Green St ...
(
Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
), High Point Friends School (
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...
),
Immaculate Heart of Mary The Immaculate Heart of Mary () is a Catholic devotion which refers to the view of the interior life of Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for ...
(
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
),
Wesleyan Christian Academy Wesleyan Christian Academy is a K–12 private, college preparatory, Christian school located in High Point, North Carolina, United States. It is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International. History In 1971, Wes ...
(
Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...
), and Westchester Country Day School (nonsectarian), and Phoenix Academy, a
charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...
. In 1921, the
Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...
made the establishment of a college in High Point a high priority and initiated a High Point College campaign. The campaign solicited funds in order to attract the attention of the North Carolina Methodist Protestants, who had desired for decades to found a college. High Point succeeded in attracting the college over rivals Greensboro and Burlington with a gift of and $100,000 in pledges from leading citizens. High Point College opened in 1924 (changed to
High Point University High Point University (HPU) is a private university in High Point, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as High Point College in 1924, and it became High Point University in ...
in 1991) with three buildings at various stages of development. Many of the numerous civic organizations founded in the 1920s pledged funds, including the Rotary,
Kiwanis Kiwanis International ( ) is an international service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and is found in more than 80 nations and geographic areas. In 1987, the organization ...
, Civitan, and the American Business Club. The architectural design of the High Point College campus was in keeping with traditional and historical architectural initiatives found at many private colleges and universities across the state in the 1920s. The administration building (Roberts Hall), male and female dormitories (McCulloch Hall and Women's Hall, respectively), and a central heating plant were all erected between 1922 and 1924 according to designs by
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
architect R. E. Mitchell with assistance by High Point architect Herbert Hunter. Today, High Point University is a four-year, coeducational, liberal arts university related to the United Methodist Church. It offers 50 majors in a traditional day format. It also offers non-traditional evening programs, and the graduate studies program offers 10 master's degrees and one doctorate degree. High Point is one of the nine Shaw University "CAPE" (College of Adult and Professional Education) program centers. Guilford Technical Community College maintains a High Point campus. Providence Bible College & Seminary (
Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
) operates in High Point, offering degrees from Bible Diploma to Doctorate Degree. High Point was also the home of John Wesley University (formerly called Laurel University and John Wesley College), which merged into Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem in 2018.


Media


Newspapers

The ''High Point Enterprise'', established in 1885, is the only daily newspaper published in High Point. ''HP Magazine'' is a full-color glossy lifestyle magazine that offers stories on food, history, events, the furniture industry, and more. The monthly magazine is the city's largest locally owned publication. Greensboro's ''News & Record'' is available in High Point. ''Triad City Beat'', ''Yes! Weekly'' and Qué Pasa (newspaper), Qué Pasa are free weekly papers covering High Point and the rest of the Triad area.


Television stations

High Point makes up part of the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television designated market area. These stations are listed by call letters, channel number, network and city of license. * WFMY-TV, 2, CBS, Greensboro * WGHP, 8, Fox Television Network, FOX, High Point * WXII-TV, 12, NBC, Winston-Salem * WGPX, 16, ION Television, ION, Burlington * WCWG, 20, The CW Television Network, CW, Lexington * WUNL-TV, 26, Public Broadcasting Service, PBS/UNCTV, Winston-Salem * WLXI-TV, 43, Tri-State Christian Television, TCT, Greensboro * WXLV-TV, 45, American Broadcasting Company, ABC, Winston-Salem * WMYV-TV, 48, MyNetworkTV, Greensboro


Attractions

* Dr. C. S. Grayson House, Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library: World's largest collection of books on the history of furniture and interior design. Home of the Pat Plaxico Sculpture Gardens. * Castle McCulloch Gold Mill: McCulloch Gold Mill was built in 1832 and operated primarily as a gold processing center serving local gold mining operations. Now open as a special events center. * High Point City Lake Park: Recreation and amusement park located on the shores of lake with boating, fishing, paddle boats, picnic areas with shelters, fishing boat and canoe rentals, historic carousel, train, waterslide, largest outdoor swimming pool in the state, miniature golf, gymnasium, playground and excursion boat. Site of annual "Day in the Park" festival each September. * High Point Community Theatre: Founded in 1976, High Point Community Theatre (HPCT) presents American musicals, dramas and comedies performed by local actors. HPCT also has an education program, featuring classes, workshops and camps for adults, youth and children. * High Point Museum and Historical Park: Museum commemorating the history of High Point, coupled with interpretative exhibit of log Blacksmith Shop and 1786 Haley House. * High Point Public Library: A massive full-service public library contains nearly 400,000 books, music recordings, videotapes, audiobooks, periodicals, newspapers, and a comprehensive collection of books related to history and genealogy equipped with many attractions for Youth and Young Adults. * Millis Regional Health Education Center: Interactive health education center with features depicting facets of human anatomy and health. * Museum of Old Domestic Life: Quaker museum established around 1926 in 1858 Springfield Meeting House, containing a broad selection of artifacts from typical colonial Quaker homesteads. * Piedmont Environmental Center: Features of hiking trails adjacent to High Point City Lake, nature preserve, small animal exhibits, the North Carolina Mapscape, and access to an eight-mile (13 km) Greenway Trail. * Rosetta C. Baldwin Museum: The museum was created in November 2000 to honor the legacy of Miss Rosetta C. Baldwin, her family and many African-Americans. The site depicts a typical home of a southern African American family during the mid-twentieth century. * Sechrest Gallery: Located on the campus of High Point University in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center, the Sechrest Gallery houses permanent collections of 18th and 19th century British Art coupled with rotating exhibitions. * Theatre Art Galleries: Housed in the High Point Theatre since 1975, the Theatre Art Galleries (TAG) hosts exhibitions of contemporary visual art. TAG has been the sole independent nonprofit provider of the visual arts in High Point and includes one of the finest stage and gallery spaces in the Southeast. * Truist Point: a multi-use stadium, home of the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the Carolina Core FC in the MLS Next Pro. * World's Largest Chest of Drawers: Built in 1926, the World's Largest Bureau is an example of automobile-oriented pop architecture and has been featured on numerous broadcasts such as MTV and The Travel Channel. * Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum: Opening in 2022 this museum offers many kid-friendly exhibits including a double decker carousel, a steam lab, a hall of mysteries and an outdoor playground.


Notable people

* Alma Adams, politician * Stefon Adams, former NFL cornerback * Bam Adebayo, NBA player for the Miami Heat * Luke Appling, baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964 * Tony Baker (running back, born 1964), Tony Baker, former NFL running back * Brandon Banks (defensive lineman), Brandon Banks, NFL defensive lineman * Fantasia Barrino, Grammy Award-winning singer and season 3 winner of ''American Idol'' * Ricco Barrino, singer and brother of Fantasia Barrino, American Idol, Grammy Award-winning singer * Nimfasha Berchimas, soccer player * Heather Bergsma, Olympic speed skating, speed skater and bronze medalist at 2018 Winter Olympics * Dave Blaney, NASCAR driver * Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver * Cliff Bolton, MLB catcher * Brandt Bronico, soccer player * J. T. Brown (ice hockey), J. T. Brown, ice hockey player; son of Ted Brown * Ted Brown (American football), Ted Brown, former Minnesota Vikings running back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee * Dorothy R. Burnley, businesswoman and politician * James H. Burnley IV, lawyer * James P. Cain, United States Ambassador to Denmark * Benny Carter (painter), Benny Carter, painter and sculptor * Lawrence Chandler, composer, music producer, founder of Bowery Electric * Ryeong Choi, soccer player * John Coltrane, jazz saxophonist, was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, Hamlet and moved to High Point shortly after birth, remained through high school * Dick Culler, former MLB player * Bill Davis (NASCAR), Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing of NASCAR * James Dickey, National Book Award-winning poet, author of ''Deliverance'' * Johnny Evans (American football), Johnny Evans, former NFL player for the Cleveland Browns * Gary Fortune, former MLB player for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox * Cindy Garner, actress and model * Marcus Gilchrist, NFL safety (gridiron football position), safety * Bryson Gray, rapper and music producer * Anthony Dean Griffey, opera singer * William Hayes (American football), William Hayes, NFL defensive end * J. D. Hayworth, former United States House of Representatives, U.S. congressman representing Arizona * Ray Hayworth, former MLB catcher * Red Hayworth, former MLB player for the St. Louis Browns * Elizabeth Horton, winner of the 2006 Miss North Carolina pageant * Greg Jeffries, former NFL player for the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins * Sammy Johnson (American football), Sammy Johnson, former NFL running back * Cathy Johnston-Forbes, former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour * Gene Jones (golfer), Gene Jones, professional golfer * Adam Lazzara, lead singer of Taking Back Sunday * Jimmie Lewallen, NASCAR driver * Jenn Lyon, actress * Bob Margolin, blues guitarist * Quincy Miller, NBA player * Nadia Moffett, Miss North Carolina USA 2010 * Wil Myers, MLB player * DJ Luke Nasty, rapper * Jim Paschal, NASCAR driver * Theo Pinson, NBA player * Eddie Pope, soccer player * Nido R. Qubein, president of
High Point University High Point University (HPU) is a private university in High Point, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as High Point College in 1924, and it became High Point University in ...
, businessman and motivational speaker * Harrison Rhodes, NASCAR driver * Junior Robinson (gridiron football), Junior Robinson, former NFL cornerback * Clyde Simms, soccer player * Emily Spivey, television writer, producer and creator of the series ''Up All Night (TV series), Up All Night'' and ''Bless the Harts'', the latter is based on her life growing up in Greensboro and High Point * Perley A. Thomas, founder of Thomas Built Buses * Maxwell Thurman, United States Army, U.S. Army General (United States), general who helped develop the longtime "Be All You Can Be" Army recruitment campaign * Tony Washington (wide receiver), Tony Washington, former NFL wide receiver * Drew Weaver, professional golfer * Brian Williams (cornerback), Brian Williams, former NFL cornerback * Harry Williamson (athlete), Harry Williamson, Olympic Middle-distance running, middle-distance runner * Adrian Wilson (American football), Adrian Wilson, former NFL Safety (American and Canadian football position), safety * Kevin Witt, former MLB player for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, and Tampa Bay Rays * John William Wofford, Olympic Equestrianism, equestrian riderJohn Wofford – First Olympian
''clemsontigers.com''. Retrieved November 11, 2020.


See also

* List of municipalities in North Carolina *
Piedmont Triad The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, and ...
*


References


Works cited

*


External links

* *
High Point Chamber of Commerce

Visit High Point
{{Authority control High Point, North Carolina,