Alamance County, North Carolina

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  Stefanie Rumple (guest)

  This county has become a bedroom community for the surrounding cities, which include the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle area, with Research Triangle Park just 45 minutes away. In the other direction the vast Triad cities spread out into each other, encompassing Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem. The I-40/I85 corridor through this sleepy county makes it ideal for commuters who want to escape the noise and chaos of the cities they work in for the small-town life of local vegetable and meat markets, weekly concerts at the court square in the county seat of Graham, baseball games and fireworks displays at the Burlington Indians stadium, the Stone Soul Picnic at North Park, and the old-fashioned county fair complete with ferris wheels and funnel cakes. Property taxes and other cost of living expenditures are significantly lower than in any of the surrounding counties, except those with little infrastructure and diminished access to major highways. Come see the Gallery Players perform Cabaret this season at the historic Paramount Theater near the train station downtown, or visit another historic theater in court square in Graham, the Graham Cinema, see the latest hit movies for three dollars, and get free refills on your popcorn and soda. Alamance County boasts the Alamance Community College as well as Elon University, and River Mill Charter School for K-12. The tiny towns of Liberty, Swepsonville, and Alamance lie along the Haw River, and many creeks and other tributaries crisscross the area on their way to the river, providing fishing spots galore. Mackintosh Lake lies partly in Alamance County, and provides our drinking water. It is a gorgeous lake with plenty of fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and boating, as well as a beautiful park with picnic tables. Alamance Crossing, off the University Drive exit near Elon, will purportedly be the biggest outdoor mall in North Carolina when they are done building it, and it is huge already. Mimi's Cafe is among the higher end chain restaurants you will find there, as well as Red Robin, Olive Garden, and a couple of steakhouses. There are housing developments springing up all around this area, which is also near Mackintosh Lake and very picturesque. The Comfort Suites in Graham directly off the highway is much to be preferred to any other local accommodations; remember, Alamance County is an undiscovered treasure. This underrated county is the next bedroom community hotspot; however, nobody knows it yet so prices are still low. Come and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed. -Stefanie Rumple

  15 years ago | reply | hide comment