Meet The Mayors | Mitchell's Mayors

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200.) Kernersville, NC!

Mayor Dawn Morgan met with us on the day of their INCREDIBLE car show! She is a Virginia native but later came to NC for law school at Wake Forest. Dawn decided to make her home here and found a calling to become a leader in the community. First was the planning board and later town council where she eventually was appointed to fill the mayor role.

Thanks to her leadership, Kernersville has seen a massive influx of growth including new families, home developments, a hospital, recreational center, public services building, fire station headquarters and repaving of roads!

What has she found most unique about the mayor role? Well, the town recently got to open a 1971 Kernersville time capsule. Mayor Morgan got to read a letter addressed to “her” from the mayor of 1971. He shared his hopes and visions for a 2021 Kernersville, and I would say Dawn has absolutely helped make them happen!

#kernersville #nc #forsythcounty #northcarolina

200.) Kernersville, NC!

Mayor Dawn Morgan met with us on the day of their INCREDIBLE car show! She is a Virginia native but later came to NC for law school at Wake Forest. Dawn decided to make her home here and found a calling to become a leader in the community. First was the planning board and later town council where she eventually was appointed to fill the mayor role.

Thanks to her leadership, Kernersville has seen a massive influx of growth including new families, home developments, a hospital, recreational center, public services building, fire station headquarters and repaving of roads!

What has she found most unique about the mayor role? Well, the town recently got to open a 1971 Kernersville time capsule. Mayor Morgan got to read a letter addressed to “her” from the mayor of 1971. He shared his hopes and visions for a 2021 Kernersville, and I would say Dawn has absolutely helped make them happen!

#kernersville #nc #forsythcounty #northcarolina

199.) Southern Shores, NC!

Started in 1979, this beach community is famous for its historic flat top homes/cottages; a style unique to this area. Very few remain; however, the town actually owns one for future generations to see and learn about! A flat roof is quite interesting; we checked it out for ourselves!

Mayor Elizabeth Morey was born in Dallas, TX with her family later moving to Atlanta, GA. She went to Clemson for undergrad and NC State for her masters. With a large interest in the natural world, Elizabeth began working with the department of natural resources. Later on, she bought a lot in Southern Shores to build a forever home and started a career in the department of health/waste water and permits in the community. Mayor Morey loves the outdoors especially doing white water rafting in strong waters. She got to do a category 5 with her husband in the Grand Canyon!

Thanks to Mayor Morey’s leadership, Southern Shores has seen lots of new shopping spots and restaurants including a pizza place we met her at! Real estate is booming and occupancy/septic capacities have been placed on homes to help manage growth. Things are looking nothing but up for Southern Shores! Excited to return soon.

#southernshores #nc #northcarolina #travel #darecountync #darecounty

199.) Southern Shores, NC!

Started in 1979, this beach community is famous for its historic flat top homes/cottages; a style unique to this area. Very few remain; however, the town actually owns one for future generations to see and learn about! A flat roof is quite interesting; we checked it out for ourselves!

Mayor Elizabeth Morey was born in Dallas, TX with her family later moving to Atlanta, GA. She went to Clemson for undergrad and NC State for her masters. With a large interest in the natural world, Elizabeth began working with the department of natural resources. Later on, she bought a lot in Southern Shores to build a forever home and started a career in the department of health/waste water and permits in the community. Mayor Morey loves the outdoors especially doing white water rafting in strong waters. She got to do a category 5 with her husband in the Grand Canyon!

Thanks to Mayor Morey’s leadership, Southern Shores has seen lots of new shopping spots and restaurants including a pizza place we met her at! Real estate is booming and occupancy/septic capacities have been placed on homes to help manage growth. Things are looking nothing but up for Southern Shores! Excited to return soon.

#southernshores #nc #northcarolina #travel #darecountync #darecounty

198.) Duck, NC!

Now personally, I feel like Duck is straight out of a Hallmark movie, ha! It is so peaceful, quiet, and beautiful all at the same time. Originally, this area was used for bomb testing back in WWII and you would have to wait for an all clear before crossing certain road ways! Duck is also known for being one of NC’s most recently incorporated towns (est. 2002).

Mayor Donald Kingston is a very involved and passionate leader! Born and educated in the state of New York, Donald eventually got a job with Xerox which lasted 22 years. He lived in Massachusetts, Ohio, and later DC while working there. After Xerox, he started his very own staffing company later selling it and joining a tech staffing company. The beauty of Duck would one day catch his attention, and Donald moved in full time in 2007.

Thanks to Mayor Kingston’s leadership, Duck has built a new amphitheater with a band stand, completed beach renourishment, maintained their very long board walk, and obtained great economic success! Donald shared some of their upcoming projects include building a living shoreline to help fight flooding, construction of a new public safety building, and potential improvements to traffic issues. One of the most famous events in town is the Duck Jazz Festival bringing in hundreds and hundreds of attendees! Keep it up sir!

#duck #darecounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

198.) Duck, NC!

Now personally, I feel like Duck is straight out of a Hallmark movie, ha! It is so peaceful, quiet, and beautiful all at the same time. Originally, this area was used for bomb testing back in WWII and you would have to wait for an all clear before crossing certain road ways! Duck is also known for being one of NC’s most recently incorporated towns (est. 2002).

Mayor Donald Kingston is a very involved and passionate leader! Born and educated in the state of New York, Donald eventually got a job with Xerox which lasted 22 years. He lived in Massachusetts, Ohio, and later DC while working there. After Xerox, he started his very own staffing company later selling it and joining a tech staffing company. The beauty of Duck would one day catch his attention, and Donald moved in full time in 2007.

Thanks to Mayor Kingston’s leadership, Duck has built a new amphitheater with a band stand, completed beach renourishment, maintained their very long board walk, and obtained great economic success! Donald shared some of their upcoming projects include building a living shoreline to help fight flooding, construction of a new public safety building, and potential improvements to traffic issues. One of the most famous events in town is the Duck Jazz Festival bringing in hundreds and hundreds of attendees! Keep it up sir!

#duck #darecounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

196.) Grandfather Village, NC!

You may know Grandfather Mountain… But did you know there is a town nestled at the base of it??? Welcome to this tiny village/country club community! My father and I were very surprised at the immense environmental beauty and sights. The golf course opened in 1968 and in 1984, the town formed so they could sell alcohol. Nowadays, it is a relaxing and quiet “town” with the nicest of people! The golf course itself is known to be one of the most unique but toughest in the state, ha!

Mayor Richard Norman was born in Charlotte and attended UNC for undergrad, later attending Minnesota for their H.R. grad school program. He moved from Charlotte, to South Carolina, and eventually Texas next door to NASA where he and his wife were neighbors with astronauts. Richard later moved back to Charlotte for an international H.R. career at Coats and Clarke Thread Company (a 250+ year old corporation). He covered Canada, US, Mexico, South America and part of Europe! In fact, he had a flat in England on top of his Charlotte home. Come 2013, he retired moving up to Grandfather Village!

Thanks to Mayor Norman’s leadership, Grandfather Village has given 66,000 acres of forests to the NC Conservancy Agency to preserve the beautiful landscape, have their own waste treatment plant, continue to maintain the beautiful homes and golf course, and other things. A few projects he is working on include potential updates/reconstruction of the town dam and upgrades to their sewer system. Great work mayor!

Fun fact: Mayor Norman’s step dad was in the CIA! He went undercover in Cuba during the Cold War and involved with the Bay of Pigs Invasion!

#grandfathermountain #grandfathervillage #averycounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

196.) Grandfather Village, NC!

You may know Grandfather Mountain… But did you know there is a town nestled at the base of it??? Welcome to this tiny village/country club community! My father and I were very surprised at the immense environmental beauty and sights. The golf course opened in 1968 and in 1984, the town formed so they could sell alcohol. Nowadays, it is a relaxing and quiet “town” with the nicest of people! The golf course itself is known to be one of the most unique but toughest in the state, ha!

Mayor Richard Norman was born in Charlotte and attended UNC for undergrad, later attending Minnesota for their H.R. grad school program. He moved from Charlotte, to South Carolina, and eventually Texas next door to NASA where he and his wife were neighbors with astronauts. Richard later moved back to Charlotte for an international H.R. career at Coats and Clarke Thread Company (a 250+ year old corporation). He covered Canada, US, Mexico, South America and part of Europe! In fact, he had a flat in England on top of his Charlotte home. Come 2013, he retired moving up to Grandfather Village!

Thanks to Mayor Norman’s leadership, Grandfather Village has given 66,000 acres of forests to the NC Conservancy Agency to preserve the beautiful landscape, have their own waste treatment plant, continue to maintain the beautiful homes and golf course, and other things. A few projects he is working on include potential updates/reconstruction of the town dam and upgrades to their sewer system. Great work mayor!

Fun fact: Mayor Norman’s step dad was in the CIA! He went undercover in Cuba during the Cold War and involved with the Bay of Pigs Invasion!

#grandfathermountain #grandfathervillage #averycounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

195.) Casar, NC!

Town names vary far and wide across NC. Casar is a great example! Originally, this community was known as “Racepath” with a change later on to “Caesar.” Life here was well liked by many leading to a renewing of the charter. Well… The gentleman who went in to get it done left off the “E” and Casar has stuck ever since! Today, life is simple but full of smiles. The town has an AMAZING fire department with state of the art equipment.

Mayor Eddie Walker was born and raised in Cleveland County. He joined the fire department in 1981 and has made his living here! Thanks to his leadership, Casar has several new fire trucks through the years (they are NOT cheap), an upcoming playground/park, renovation of downtown buildings, repainting of the old tennis courts, and a sense of true community like no other. Be sure to stop in here for a quick visit!

Fun fact: Mayor Walker drove a school bus from 10th to 12th grade, has been a part of traveling racing teams, and has a plethora of local stories to share. Moonshiners used to scare the people of Casar by saying a Bigfoot named “Knobby” would get them if they searched the woods. Now, the local school’s mascot is a Bigfoot! Ha!

#casar #clevelandcounty #nc #northcarolina #travel

195.) Casar, NC!

Town names vary far and wide across NC. Casar is a great example! Originally, this community was known as “Racepath” with a change later on to “Caesar.” Life here was well liked by many leading to a renewing of the charter. Well… The gentleman who went in to get it done left off the “E” and Casar has stuck ever since! Today, life is simple but full of smiles. The town has an AMAZING fire department with state of the art equipment.

Mayor Eddie Walker was born and raised in Cleveland County. He joined the fire department in 1981 and has made his living here! Thanks to his leadership, Casar has several new fire trucks through the years (they are NOT cheap), an upcoming playground/park, renovation of downtown buildings, repainting of the old tennis courts, and a sense of true community like no other. Be sure to stop in here for a quick visit!

Fun fact: Mayor Walker drove a school bus from 10th to 12th grade, has been a part of traveling racing teams, and has a plethora of local stories to share. Moonshiners used to scare the people of Casar by saying a Bigfoot named “Knobby” would get them if they searched the woods. Now, the local school’s mascot is a Bigfoot! Ha!

#casar #clevelandcounty #nc #northcarolina #travel

193.) Fayetteville, NC!

This town’s motto is “America’s Can Do City!” and that is certainly true! Fayetteville is not only historic, but it is home to the largest military base in the entire world. Fort Liberty (formally Bragg) covers 250 square miles and is home to the 82nd airborne, special forces groups, artillery/missile commands, tank divisions, and much more. It provides residency to over 52,000 soldiers, but it also for many of those men and women’s families. Fayetteville is named after famous Revolutionary War hero and General Marquis de Lafayette of France. While many communities across the U.S. named themselves after him too, OUR Fayetteville was the very first!

Mayor Mitch Colvin was born and raised here in this unique city. His dad was a self made man having been a contractor and delivery driver. This push to learn and work hard really inspired Mitch! At 21 years old, he took over his family’s funeral home aiding people in this town through very rough times. One day, Mitch decided to give back to this city that gave him so much; he ran for mayor!

Thanks to Mayor Colvin’s leadership, Fayetteville has truly done a 180 towards the path of positive progress! Their downtown has been reimagined/heavily renovated with tons of new restaurants and businesses. Fayetteville is now home to a new beautiful baseball stadium, freshly paved local roads, water/sewer system improvements, and a heavy admiration for our nation’s veterans. Thank you Mayor Colvin for making your home town a charming place to call home for citizens and veterans alike!

#fayetteville #cumberlandcounty #travel #nc #northcarolina #army #airborne #military #fortliberty #fortbragg

193.) Fayetteville, NC!

This town’s motto is “America’s Can Do City!” and that is certainly true! Fayetteville is not only historic, but it is home to the largest military base in the entire world. Fort Liberty (formally Bragg) covers 250 square miles and is home to the 82nd airborne, special forces groups, artillery/missile commands, tank divisions, and much more. It provides residency to over 52,000 soldiers, but it also for many of those men and women’s families. Fayetteville is named after famous Revolutionary War hero and General Marquis de Lafayette of France. While many communities across the U.S. named themselves after him too, OUR Fayetteville was the very first!

Mayor Mitch Colvin was born and raised here in this unique city. His dad was a self made man having been a contractor and delivery driver. This push to learn and work hard really inspired Mitch! At 21 years old, he took over his family’s funeral home aiding people in this town through very rough times. One day, Mitch decided to give back to this city that gave him so much; he ran for mayor!

Thanks to Mayor Colvin’s leadership, Fayetteville has truly done a 180 towards the path of positive progress! Their downtown has been reimagined/heavily renovated with tons of new restaurants and businesses. Fayetteville is now home to a new beautiful baseball stadium, freshly paved local roads, water/sewer system improvements, and a heavy admiration for our nation’s veterans. Thank you Mayor Colvin for making your home town a charming place to call home for citizens and veterans alike!

#fayetteville #cumberlandcounty #travel #nc #northcarolina #army #airborne #military #fortliberty #fortbragg

192.) Rural Hall, NC!

Rural Hall is a little bit of a misleading name because it’s not far from the big city of Winston-Salem. While small, it has been around since the 1740s and is home to a well known gun shop owned by Senator Ted Budd! The Nazareth Church in town was originally founded in 1778 by German settlers and was rebuilt in 1878.

Mayor John McDermon was born in nearby Walkertown and raised in King. He went to NC State taking classes focused on agriculture but later decided to jump into real estate. After getting married in 2012, John bought his first home in Rural Hall and in 2017 ran for town council. 2019 he became mayor, leading the community to great success ever since!

Thanks to Mayor McDermon’s leadership, Rural Hall made it positively out of a town wide resignation. He rebuilt the town staff and board from scratch! Growth has been slow but more will come thanks to Winston-Salem wrapping up surrounding highway work. Rural Hall is quiet, safe, and full of genuine people. Certainly a place to check out!

#ruralhall #forsythcounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

192.) Rural Hall, NC!

Rural Hall is a little bit of a misleading name because it’s not far from the big city of Winston-Salem. While small, it has been around since the 1740s and is home to a well known gun shop owned by Senator Ted Budd! The Nazareth Church in town was originally founded in 1778 by German settlers and was rebuilt in 1878.

Mayor John McDermon was born in nearby Walkertown and raised in King. He went to NC State taking classes focused on agriculture but later decided to jump into real estate. After getting married in 2012, John bought his first home in Rural Hall and in 2017 ran for town council. 2019 he became mayor, leading the community to great success ever since!

Thanks to Mayor McDermon’s leadership, Rural Hall made it positively out of a town wide resignation. He rebuilt the town staff and board from scratch! Growth has been slow but more will come thanks to Winston-Salem wrapping up surrounding highway work. Rural Hall is quiet, safe, and full of genuine people. Certainly a place to check out!

#ruralhall #forsythcounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

191.) Archdale, NC!

While focused on the stories of our municipal leaders, “Mitchell’s Mayors” is also a way to give back across the state! My father and I got to do this by aiding the city’s highway litter cleanup the day of our visit. We walked side by side with the mayor helping make Archdale a continuously beautiful place to live! This community has seen an immense increase in popularity along with growth. Being right off of I-85, people from all over stop in for food, lodging, etc.

Mayor Lewis Dorsett was born and raised in Asheboro and Randolph County. After HS, he attended Guilford Tech for 2 years learning the skill of welding/metal working! In 1978, he built a house in Archdale making it his permanent home. He later got a job at Thomas Built Buses while also doing night school at Greensboro A&T University. Building became a second nature to him leading to Mayor Dorsett creating his own custom home building company.

Thanks to Mayor Dorsett’s leadership, Archdale has no debt, is working to establish a new regional sewer treatment plant, has upcoming major road interchange work, built an INSPIRING Creekside Park with playgrounds, ball courts, soccer, fields and more, and crafted a new fire station along with plans for a police sub station and additional rec center! Additionally, Archdale has an enormous amount of new homes and apartments being built. Keep it up mayor! Archdale is the place to be!

Fun fact: Mayor Dorsett’s dad was stationed at Pearl Harbor during WWII!

#archdale #guilfordcounty #randolphcounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

191.) Archdale, NC!

While focused on the stories of our municipal leaders, “Mitchell’s Mayors” is also a way to give back across the state! My father and I got to do this by aiding the city’s highway litter cleanup the day of our visit. We walked side by side with the mayor helping make Archdale a continuously beautiful place to live! This community has seen an immense increase in popularity along with growth. Being right off of I-85, people from all over stop in for food, lodging, etc.

Mayor Lewis Dorsett was born and raised in Asheboro and Randolph County. After HS, he attended Guilford Tech for 2 years learning the skill of welding/metal working! In 1978, he built a house in Archdale making it his permanent home. He later got a job at Thomas Built Buses while also doing night school at Greensboro A&T University. Building became a second nature to him leading to Mayor Dorsett creating his own custom home building company.

Thanks to Mayor Dorsett’s leadership, Archdale has no debt, is working to establish a new regional sewer treatment plant, has upcoming major road interchange work, built an INSPIRING Creekside Park with playgrounds, ball courts, soccer, fields and more, and crafted a new fire station along with plans for a police sub station and additional rec center! Additionally, Archdale has an enormous amount of new homes and apartments being built. Keep it up mayor! Archdale is the place to be!

Fun fact: Mayor Dorsett’s dad was stationed at Pearl Harbor during WWII!

#archdale #guilfordcounty #randolphcounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

190.) Grifton, NC!

Traveling North Carolina year round means opportunities to check out local traditions. Grifton was having their annual “Shad Festival” where my father and I picked up shirts! It is the one of the longest running festivals in North Carolina celebrating the history of shad fishing in the area. The event’s motto is “Eat Mo Shad!” Grifton dates back to the late 1700s, and it contains an immensely rich history. The mayor is no stranger to local history either; his family got a 1767 land grant from King George, has a great^8 grandfather who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, great^7 grandfather who was a general in the War of 1812, and more!

Mayor Billy Ray Jackson was born, raised, and has spent his whole life investing in Grifton. He has served as the Secretary of his local Masonic lodge, the chairman of his local church board for 5 years, and chairman of the Pitt County mayor’s association for 5 years. Farming is one of his specialties too; this was emphasized by him coming to meet us on his tractor! Billy Ray’s love for Grifton is never ending. He fights for this community tooth and nail to make sure it gets everything it needs.

Thanks to Mayor Jackson’s leadership, Grifton’s canals/drainage pipes have been totally cleaned and cleared to prevent community flooding, every street in town has been re-paved, and there now stands an endurance for the town’s history to stay alive. He has helped keep the Grifton history museum up and running very successfully! We loved this unique down east down and look forward to returning. Great job mayor!

#grifton #shadfestival #pittcounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

190.) Grifton, NC!

Traveling North Carolina year round means opportunities to check out local traditions. Grifton was having their annual “Shad Festival” where my father and I picked up shirts! It is the one of the longest running festivals in North Carolina celebrating the history of shad fishing in the area. The event’s motto is “Eat Mo Shad!” Grifton dates back to the late 1700s, and it contains an immensely rich history. The mayor is no stranger to local history either; his family got a 1767 land grant from King George, has a great^8 grandfather who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, great^7 grandfather who was a general in the War of 1812, and more!

Mayor Billy Ray Jackson was born, raised, and has spent his whole life investing in Grifton. He has served as the Secretary of his local Masonic lodge, the chairman of his local church board for 5 years, and chairman of the Pitt County mayor’s association for 5 years. Farming is one of his specialties too; this was emphasized by him coming to meet us on his tractor! Billy Ray’s love for Grifton is never ending. He fights for this community tooth and nail to make sure it gets everything it needs.

Thanks to Mayor Jackson’s leadership, Grifton’s canals/drainage pipes have been totally cleaned and cleared to prevent community flooding, every street in town has been re-paved, and there now stands an endurance for the town’s history to stay alive. He has helped keep the Grifton history museum up and running very successfully! We loved this unique down east down and look forward to returning. Great job mayor!

#grifton #shadfestival #pittcounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

189.) Mebane, NC!

I cannot tell you how many times I have driven past Mebane over the last 7 years; probably in the hundreds! My dad and I finally got to stop in and learn all about it. Being a community right off I-40, Mebane has seen immense growth and economic success including soon to be gas station wonderland: Bucees! The town is named for Brigadier General Alexander Mebane who served in the state militia and our nation’s Congress during the late 1700s. Mebane has seen a wide array of industry throughout the decades including the famous White Furniture Company.

Mayor Ed Hooks was born and raised on a farm in Fremont, NC down in Wayne County. Growing up on a lot of agriculture sizing in 1500-1600 acres was quite an amazing experience for him. But Hooks knew farming was not in his career path; instead, he attended NC State and got hired at Gregory Poole. In 1979, he got to work sales in Burlington and found a beautiful home in Mebane he moved into. Hooks later got a job at CAT Equipment, working there for 44 years. His involvement with the town government dates back to 1989, wow!

Thanks to Mayor Hooks leadership, Mebane has garnered new industrial parks with MASSIVE distribution centers for places like Amazon, Walmart, UPS, Chick-fil-A, and more! Additionally, the town has seen a huge rise in home developments, improvement of road infrastructure, new recreation center, new library, new police station, renovation of old historic buildings, and much more. Upcoming is a Duke Medical Clinic 4 stories tall as well as a 4 story hospital. Mebane has never looked better so make sure you stop in to enjoy such a great place!

#mebane #nc #northcarolina #travel #bucees

189.) Mebane, NC!

I cannot tell you how many times I have driven past Mebane over the last 7 years; probably in the hundreds! My dad and I finally got to stop in and learn all about it. Being a community right off I-40, Mebane has seen immense growth and economic success including soon to be gas station wonderland: Bucees! The town is named for Brigadier General Alexander Mebane who served in the state militia and our nation’s Congress during the late 1700s. Mebane has seen a wide array of industry throughout the decades including the famous White Furniture Company.

Mayor Ed Hooks was born and raised on a farm in Fremont, NC down in Wayne County. Growing up on a lot of agriculture sizing in 1500-1600 acres was quite an amazing experience for him. But Hooks knew farming was not in his career path; instead, he attended NC State and got hired at Gregory Poole. In 1979, he got to work sales in Burlington and found a beautiful home in Mebane he moved into. Hooks later got a job at CAT Equipment, working there for 44 years. His involvement with the town government dates back to 1989, wow!

Thanks to Mayor Hooks leadership, Mebane has garnered new industrial parks with MASSIVE distribution centers for places like Amazon, Walmart, UPS, Chick-fil-A, and more! Additionally, the town has seen a huge rise in home developments, improvement of road infrastructure, new recreation center, new library, new police station, renovation of old historic buildings, and much more. Upcoming is a Duke Medical Clinic 4 stories tall as well as a 4 story hospital. Mebane has never looked better so make sure you stop in to enjoy such a great place!

#mebane #nc #northcarolina #travel #bucees

188.) Oakboro, NC!

My dad and I have actually visited this awesome town TWICE during our travels. Once to talk business, twice to enjoy the 64th annual Oakboro 4th of July celebration! This community, like many others around NC began as an agricultural and business hub for farmers and families miles around. In 1913, the railroad came through bringing even more prosperity and growth! At one point, Oakboro was home to cotton gins, textile plants, and so much more. Today, their incredible historic downtown remains including their super unique history museum.

Mayor Christopher Huneycutt was born and raised here. His family has a long lineage in the area: his great grandparents turned the owned town school into their home, his great grandfather worked on the local railroad in 1915, and he later became town clerk then a state house member. You can see where Christopher got his municipal inspiration! Mayor Huneycutt attended Stanly Community College and Pfeiffer University. He came back to his home town excited to keep it a thriving community!

Thanks to Mayor Huneycutt’s leadership, Oakboro has seen a large up tick in population size; folks want to live in this cool small town! Additionally, Charlotte Pipe is moving their facility to town bringing even more residents. The community also has an over 40 acre park for families all around to enjoy. But what seemed most important to the mayor was the fact that Oakboro’s history is shared so vividly all over town. From restoration of old murals to the renovation of front sides of businesses, you can feel the stories of old! Looking forward to seeing you again, sir!

#oakboro #stanlycounty #nc #northcarolina #travel

188.) Oakboro, NC!

My dad and I have actually visited this awesome town TWICE during our travels. Once to talk business, twice to enjoy the 64th annual Oakboro 4th of July celebration! This community, like many others around NC began as an agricultural and business hub for farmers and families miles around. In 1913, the railroad came through bringing even more prosperity and growth! At one point, Oakboro was home to cotton gins, textile plants, and so much more. Today, their incredible historic downtown remains including their super unique history museum.

Mayor Christopher Huneycutt was born and raised here. His family has a long lineage in the area: his great grandparents turned the owned town school into their home, his great grandfather worked on the local railroad in 1915, and he later became town clerk then a state house member. You can see where Christopher got his municipal inspiration! Mayor Huneycutt attended Stanly Community College and Pfeiffer University. He came back to his home town excited to keep it a thriving community!

Thanks to Mayor Huneycutt’s leadership, Oakboro has seen a large up tick in population size; folks want to live in this cool small town! Additionally, Charlotte Pipe is moving their facility to town bringing even more residents. The community also has an over 40 acre park for families all around to enjoy. But what seemed most important to the mayor was the fact that Oakboro’s history is shared so vividly all over town. From restoration of old murals to the renovation of front sides of businesses, you can feel the stories of old! Looking forward to seeing you again, sir!

#oakboro #stanlycounty #nc #northcarolina #travel

187.) Greenevers, NC!

While being one of the smallest communities I have taken a visit to, Greenevers is still very important! It has long been an area of dedicated, hard working, and generational farmers. In 1969, those people decided to incorporate into their own town! The hearts of those living here are solid gold and full of life. They welcomed me in like I was one of their very own.

Mayor Diane Brown was born in Greenevers but moved to NY at age 5 into Brooklyn. She loved growing up in the big apple and some of her fondest memories still reside there. Eventually, Diane decided to return to her roots at Greenevers, opening up a convenience store. One day, her car hit a pot hole in town and damaged her wheel. That was the moment she decided to run for town council and fix that pot hole!

Thanks to Mayor Brown’s leadership, Greenevers has received grants for new homes to be built as well as improvement of water/sewer infrastructure, a community center built out of the local Rosenwald School, and other funds to help make the community a better place. Diane is such an incredible leader; she regularly meets and calls everyone in town to check on them/hear what they need. She is a great example!

#greenevers #duplincounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

187.) Greenevers, NC!

While being one of the smallest communities I have taken a visit to, Greenevers is still very important! It has long been an area of dedicated, hard working, and generational farmers. In 1969, those people decided to incorporate into their own town! The hearts of those living here are solid gold and full of life. They welcomed me in like I was one of their very own.

Mayor Diane Brown was born in Greenevers but moved to NY at age 5 into Brooklyn. She loved growing up in the big apple and some of her fondest memories still reside there. Eventually, Diane decided to return to her roots at Greenevers, opening up a convenience store. One day, her car hit a pot hole in town and damaged her wheel. That was the moment she decided to run for town council and fix that pot hole!

Thanks to Mayor Brown’s leadership, Greenevers has received grants for new homes to be built as well as improvement of water/sewer infrastructure, a community center built out of the local Rosenwald School, and other funds to help make the community a better place. Diane is such an incredible leader; she regularly meets and calls everyone in town to check on them/hear what they need. She is a great example!

#greenevers #duplincounty #nc #travel #northcarolina

186.) Mooresville, NC!

North Carolina’s growth is happening in the blink of an eye, and Mooresville is an excellent visual representation of this. From 2000 to 2020, this city grew by 32,000 residents! Additionally, the entire downtown is filled to the brim with new businesses and true economic success. Mooresville outskirts are also thriving with dozens of new home developments and big box stores. The town also stands as the home headquarters of Lowe’s Home Improvement! But the community did not reach such success on its own; it had help from their awesome mayor!

Mayor Miles Atkins welcomed us into town on their 150th anniversary! It was a huge blowout with thousands of people and families enjoying the downtown. Mayor Atkins was actually born and raised in Tampa, FL and later attend Auburn University. Fun fact: he was there at the same time as Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson! He entered a career of printing sales in Tampa but eventually moved to Charlotte in 1989. In 1997, he discovered the hidden gem of Mooresville being here ever since! Miles’ final career has taken him to Novant Health which he enjoys so much.

Thanks to his dedicated leadership, Mooresville has seen extremely well managed growth. The town has 14 parks, a great library, road improvement projects coming, state of the art police force/emergency equipment, skatepark (apparently the largest in the entire South East), and a huge patriotic attitude amongst the people! When you come to visit, be sure to check out their downtown park, museum, and historic hardware store with 10 foot tall doors. Very glad to have met you Mayor Atkins!

#mooresville #travel #nc #northcarolina

186.) Mooresville, NC!

North Carolina’s growth is happening in the blink of an eye, and Mooresville is an excellent visual representation of this. From 2000 to 2020, this city grew by 32,000 residents! Additionally, the entire downtown is filled to the brim with new businesses and true economic success. Mooresville outskirts are also thriving with dozens of new home developments and big box stores. The town also stands as the home headquarters of Lowe’s Home Improvement! But the community did not reach such success on its own; it had help from their awesome mayor!

Mayor Miles Atkins welcomed us into town on their 150th anniversary! It was a huge blowout with thousands of people and families enjoying the downtown. Mayor Atkins was actually born and raised in Tampa, FL and later attend Auburn University. Fun fact: he was there at the same time as Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson! He entered a career of printing sales in Tampa but eventually moved to Charlotte in 1989. In 1997, he discovered the hidden gem of Mooresville being here ever since! Miles’ final career has taken him to Novant Health which he enjoys so much.

Thanks to his dedicated leadership, Mooresville has seen extremely well managed growth. The town has 14 parks, a great library, road improvement projects coming, state of the art police force/emergency equipment, skatepark (apparently the largest in the entire South East), and a huge patriotic attitude amongst the people! When you come to visit, be sure to check out their downtown park, museum, and historic hardware store with 10 foot tall doors. Very glad to have met you Mayor Atkins!

#mooresville #travel #nc #northcarolina

185.) Taylorsville, NC!

Communities across our state are many times named in honor of famous individuals! This town is no exception being named after esteemed American General (and future president) Zachary Taylor who in 1847, when Taylorsville was formed, was serving in the Mexico-American War. This place is nestled in beautiful rolling hill country side tucked away where many people don’t know about it!

Mayor George Holleman was born in Statesville but remembers his time growing up in Taylorsville very fondly. The coke machines in the local shops were only 5 cents and a pack of cigarettes was 18 cents! During the 1950s though, Taylorsville was hit by a polio epidemic causing everyone to quarantine in their homes. His first job was pumping gas at the still standing gas station across from the old hotel. Later, he worked at the Taylorsville laundry and dry cleaning. For schooling, he attended Lees McCree and App State and became an American hero as he volunteered to serve in 1966 in the army medical core. After the military, George continued working in laboratory sales for the rest of his career!

Thanks to Mayor Holleman, Taylorsville has not sat stagnant! This amazing change includes a HUGE beautiful downtown park for families, millions of dollars in grants and state money so no need to raise town taxes, potential apartments being crafted out of the unique old hotel, and hopefully the demolishing of the old Taylorsville hospital to build a shopping center! Mayor Holleman, you’re an awesome leader!

#taylorsville #nc #northcarolina #alexandercounty

185.) Taylorsville, NC!

Communities across our state are many times named in honor of famous individuals! This town is no exception being named after esteemed American General (and future president) Zachary Taylor who in 1847, when Taylorsville was formed, was serving in the Mexico-American War. This place is nestled in beautiful rolling hill country side tucked away where many people don’t know about it!

Mayor George Holleman was born in Statesville but remembers his time growing up in Taylorsville very fondly. The coke machines in the local shops were only 5 cents and a pack of cigarettes was 18 cents! During the 1950s though, Taylorsville was hit by a polio epidemic causing everyone to quarantine in their homes. His first job was pumping gas at the still standing gas station across from the old hotel. Later, he worked at the Taylorsville laundry and dry cleaning. For schooling, he attended Lees McCree and App State and became an American hero as he volunteered to serve in 1966 in the army medical core. After the military, George continued working in laboratory sales for the rest of his career!

Thanks to Mayor Holleman, Taylorsville has not sat stagnant! This amazing change includes a HUGE beautiful downtown park for families, millions of dollars in grants and state money so no need to raise town taxes, potential apartments being crafted out of the unique old hotel, and hopefully the demolishing of the old Taylorsville hospital to build a shopping center! Mayor Holleman, you’re an awesome leader!

#taylorsville #nc #northcarolina #alexandercounty

184.) Eastover, NC!

Mayor Charles McLaurin was born and raised here in town. After high school, he began working at the Railway Express Company but later bought land to build his own form framing shop/furniture store. From that day on, he has done nothing but craft and build AMAZING wood products! He is world renowned for specifically animal displays that look so life like even though they are made from solid wood. Charles has won a plethora of awards but remains such a humble family man. Check out some shots of his work!

Thanks to his leadership, Eastover is in excellent financial shape. Their town park is an amazing feat, drawing in families from all around! Additionally, the community paid off all debts owed allowing them to have immense financial freedom. While drainage is a big issue in Eastover, Mayor McLaurin is hard at work trying to achieve positive change and success! Keep it up mayor!

#eastover #nc #travel #northcarolina #cumberland #cumberlandcounty

184.) Eastover, NC!

Mayor Charles McLaurin was born and raised here in town. After high school, he began working at the Railway Express Company but later bought land to build his own form framing shop/furniture store. From that day on, he has done nothing but craft and build AMAZING wood products! He is world renowned for specifically animal displays that look so life like even though they are made from solid wood. Charles has won a plethora of awards but remains such a humble family man. Check out some shots of his work!

Thanks to his leadership, Eastover is in excellent financial shape. Their town park is an amazing feat, drawing in families from all around! Additionally, the community paid off all debts owed allowing them to have immense financial freedom. While drainage is a big issue in Eastover, Mayor McLaurin is hard at work trying to achieve positive change and success! Keep it up mayor!

#eastover #nc #travel #northcarolina #cumberland #cumberlandcounty

183.) Salemburg, NC!

Welcome to this unique farming hub also recognized for the long standing North Carolina Justice Academy. Formed in 1973, the academy has furthered the training of hundreds and hundreds of law enforcement officers across our great state. Salemburg is proud to have it inside the city limits! Additionally, while in town, my father and I got to learn how modern day tobacco farming works. My dad was raised cropping tobacco, so I was enthusiastic about seeing it in action first hand!

Mayor Joseph Warren was born and raised in Salemburg, remaining there his entire life. He grew up working with his dad at the main gas station in town alongside plenty of agricultural duties. Farming and hard local work was in his family’s DNA. Today, Mayor Warren owns and operates his dad’s gas station filling folks up with fuel, fixing tires, doing oil changes, and more. He also owns and operates “Little Man Farming,” a massive tobacco, broccoli, and sweet potato farm outside the city limits. Not only does he farm and help at the gas station though, he has also been a volunteer fireman for 50+ years!

Thanks to Mayor Warren’s leadership, Salemburg has seen a resurgence in families moving in leading to a new 70 home development with lots more on the way. Additionally, he has helped the community maintain their town museum, a truly awesome place to learn local history. Salemburg will also soon see a new well out into operation to prepare them for the continued growth to come! He explained the need for a true grocery store in town, so Mayor Warren will keep at this goal! You’re doing awesome, mayor!

#salemburg #littlemanfarming #tobacco #farm #farming #nc #northcarolina #travel

183.) Salemburg, NC!

Welcome to this unique farming hub also recognized for the long standing North Carolina Justice Academy. Formed in 1973, the academy has furthered the training of hundreds and hundreds of law enforcement officers across our great state. Salemburg is proud to have it inside the city limits! Additionally, while in town, my father and I got to learn how modern day tobacco farming works. My dad was raised cropping tobacco, so I was enthusiastic about seeing it in action first hand!

Mayor Joseph Warren was born and raised in Salemburg, remaining there his entire life. He grew up working with his dad at the main gas station in town alongside plenty of agricultural duties. Farming and hard local work was in his family’s DNA. Today, Mayor Warren owns and operates his dad’s gas station filling folks up with fuel, fixing tires, doing oil changes, and more. He also owns and operates “Little Man Farming,” a massive tobacco, broccoli, and sweet potato farm outside the city limits. Not only does he farm and help at the gas station though, he has also been a volunteer fireman for 50+ years!

Thanks to Mayor Warren’s leadership, Salemburg has seen a resurgence in families moving in leading to a new 70 home development with lots more on the way. Additionally, he has helped the community maintain their town museum, a truly awesome place to learn local history. Salemburg will also soon see a new well out into operation to prepare them for the continued growth to come! He explained the need for a true grocery store in town, so Mayor Warren will keep at this goal! You’re doing awesome, mayor!

#salemburg #littlemanfarming #tobacco #farm #farming #nc #northcarolina #travel

182.) Clinton, NC!

Wow, what a historic and important city in North Carolina! Clinton was once home to some of the state’s largest tobacco sales and other agricultural products. Farmers from miles around brought their harvest to sell/transport to the bigger communities. Today, while agricultural is not as big, Clinton remains the pinnacle of Sampson County. Fun fact: William Rufus King, the 14th US Vice President, was born and raised here. William was actually sworn into office out of the country in Cuba; the only American executive leader to be sworn into office overseas!

Mayor Lew Starling is a local man fighting everyday for his amazing home town! Born and raised in Clinton, he went to Campbell University for business and then to Wake Forest University for law school. Lew returned home to Clinton where he and his uncle started a law firm together! Leadership for him meant more than just working in county justice; he wanted to push this great town towards future success leading to his run for mayor. Clinton has only had 3 mayors and 3 town clerks in the last 60 years; he had big shoes to fill!

Thanks to Mayor Starling’s leadership, Clinton has been able to revitalize and redevelop parts of downtown, maintain their incredible local hospital, keep the inspirational Sampson County museum, bring in new industry like the world’s largest elevator manufacturer, and much more! Thanks for being such an amazing hero for your hometown, mayor!

Fun fact: At the county museum, my dad and I walked up steps in an old home that General Lord Cornwallis used back in 1781. Very interesting!

#clinton #sampsoncounty #nc #northcarolina

182.) Clinton, NC!

Wow, what a historic and important city in North Carolina! Clinton was once home to some of the state’s largest tobacco sales and other agricultural products. Farmers from miles around brought their harvest to sell/transport to the bigger communities. Today, while agricultural is not as big, Clinton remains the pinnacle of Sampson County. Fun fact: William Rufus King, the 14th US Vice President, was born and raised here. William was actually sworn into office out of the country in Cuba; the only American executive leader to be sworn into office overseas!

Mayor Lew Starling is a local man fighting everyday for his amazing home town! Born and raised in Clinton, he went to Campbell University for business and then to Wake Forest University for law school. Lew returned home to Clinton where he and his uncle started a law firm together! Leadership for him meant more than just working in county justice; he wanted to push this great town towards future success leading to his run for mayor. Clinton has only had 3 mayors and 3 town clerks in the last 60 years; he had big shoes to fill!

Thanks to Mayor Starling’s leadership, Clinton has been able to revitalize and redevelop parts of downtown, maintain their incredible local hospital, keep the inspirational Sampson County museum, bring in new industry like the world’s largest elevator manufacturer, and much more! Thanks for being such an amazing hero for your hometown, mayor!

Fun fact: At the county museum, my dad and I walked up steps in an old home that General Lord Cornwallis used back in 1781. Very interesting!

#clinton #sampsoncounty #nc #northcarolina

181.) Stanfield, NC!

When you meet municipal leaders all around North Carolina, the reasons they run in the first place vary drastically! The mayor in Stanfield never expected to be involved with local politics; in fact, he was actually thrown into it. Being a resident of Stanfield, he loved the small town feeling and quiet neighborhoods. One day though, the county was looking to rezone/build a new industrial park in an area right next to the mayor’s home. He decided to take a stand along with other townsfolk because there already existed an un used business park ready for development. His wife secretly signed him up as a speaker at the town hall, and he thought on his feet giving an incredible speech inspiring the council to invite him aboard.

Mayor James Kluttz was born and raised in nearby Locust later attending Devry Institute of Technology but dropped out. He decided to attend Central Piedmont Community College where he focused on computer and I.T. Sciences. Mayor Kluttz has always been a genius and whiz when it comes to computers eventually becoming the Chief Technology Officer for Novant Health where he retired after 36 years. Wish I could be that tech savvy! He has always strived to build up those around him, especially his coworkers and community. Being nice is his specialty!

Thanks to Mayor Kluttz, Stanfield has kept its small town charm and quiet appeal. However, with the future comes questions of what will we look like in the future? James is always listening to the townsfolk to hear what they think! They are working to build a new park, revitalize the downtown historical buildings, bring in several new manufacturing plants and more. Mayor, you are such a staple of the community and county!

#stanfield #nc #travel #northcarolina #stanlycounty

181.) Stanfield, NC!

When you meet municipal leaders all around North Carolina, the reasons they run in the first place vary drastically! The mayor in Stanfield never expected to be involved with local politics; in fact, he was actually thrown into it. Being a resident of Stanfield, he loved the small town feeling and quiet neighborhoods. One day though, the county was looking to rezone/build a new industrial park in an area right next to the mayor’s home. He decided to take a stand along with other townsfolk because there already existed an un used business park ready for development. His wife secretly signed him up as a speaker at the town hall, and he thought on his feet giving an incredible speech inspiring the council to invite him aboard.

Mayor James Kluttz was born and raised in nearby Locust later attending Devry Institute of Technology but dropped out. He decided to attend Central Piedmont Community College where he focused on computer and I.T. Sciences. Mayor Kluttz has always been a genius and whiz when it comes to computers eventually becoming the Chief Technology Officer for Novant Health where he retired after 36 years. Wish I could be that tech savvy! He has always strived to build up those around him, especially his coworkers and community. Being nice is his specialty!

Thanks to Mayor Kluttz, Stanfield has kept its small town charm and quiet appeal. However, with the future comes questions of what will we look like in the future? James is always listening to the townsfolk to hear what they think! They are working to build a new park, revitalize the downtown historical buildings, bring in several new manufacturing plants and more. Mayor, you are such a staple of the community and county!

#stanfield #nc #travel #northcarolina #stanlycounty

180.) Whispering Pines, NC!

Shhhh! I can understand this town’s descriptive name; it’s such a peaceful and quiet place to call home. With 8 lakes, boat put ins, walking trails, and greenways, the town provides outdoor entertainment like no other. Whispering Pines has the ability to boast being North Carolina’s FIRST incorporated “village.” Additionally, they see themselves as one of, if not the, safest community in the entire state. The local PD and FD have saved dozens of lives with immediate response times/very strong funding.

Mayor Glenn Bernhard was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ later moving to Kipsy, NY where he stayed until the age of 56. He tried starting his working career in a factory but decided joining our nation’s navy was his greatest desire! After years of service, he took a job with the railroad that lasted over 30 years. Once retirement arrived, he found the little town of Whispering Pines and decided to move in. It has become his favorite place on earth; a little slice of heaven in his opinion!

Thanks to Mayor Bernhard’s leadership, Whispering Pines has an extremely well funded first responders team, strong maintenance of the 8 lakes/dams, a new park being constructed, and $6 million in the town bank account! Other special town offers include police picking up your packages for you if you’re out of town, optional 9 PM check up by officers if you live alone, and much more. This certainly sounds like a place that offers an incredible package. Keep up the amazing work, mayor!

#whisperingpines #pinehurst #moorecounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

180.) Whispering Pines, NC!

Shhhh! I can understand this town’s descriptive name; it’s such a peaceful and quiet place to call home. With 8 lakes, boat put ins, walking trails, and greenways, the town provides outdoor entertainment like no other. Whispering Pines has the ability to boast being North Carolina’s FIRST incorporated “village.” Additionally, they see themselves as one of, if not the, safest community in the entire state. The local PD and FD have saved dozens of lives with immediate response times/very strong funding.

Mayor Glenn Bernhard was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ later moving to Kipsy, NY where he stayed until the age of 56. He tried starting his working career in a factory but decided joining our nation’s navy was his greatest desire! After years of service, he took a job with the railroad that lasted over 30 years. Once retirement arrived, he found the little town of Whispering Pines and decided to move in. It has become his favorite place on earth; a little slice of heaven in his opinion!

Thanks to Mayor Bernhard’s leadership, Whispering Pines has an extremely well funded first responders team, strong maintenance of the 8 lakes/dams, a new park being constructed, and $6 million in the town bank account! Other special town offers include police picking up your packages for you if you’re out of town, optional 9 PM check up by officers if you live alone, and much more. This certainly sounds like a place that offers an incredible package. Keep up the amazing work, mayor!

#whisperingpines #pinehurst #moorecounty #travel #nc #northcarolina

179.) Pinebluff, NC!

There are many towns in NC, specifically Moore County, with the word “pine” in their name; however, only one of them has a highly decorated military man as mayor! Originally, Pinebluff was set to be the hot spot of the county, but all the money ended up focusing in Pinehurst. It certainly does not leave this small town as an unwanted place; lots of people can find affordable Sandhills living here.

Mayor Ronald McDonald is a humble and exceptionally smart man. Born and raised in Lakeview, his dad worked for the Pinehurst Horse Race Track. This meant his whole family moved around with all the races happening across the state and even nationwide. Eventually though, his father built a home in Lakeview so mom and kids could stay in one place. Ronald’s brother served in the military and convinced him to do the same. He enlisted into the U.S. Army, staying 30+ years until his last deployment in Iraq in 2004. Thank you for being an American hero, mayor!

Thanks to Mayor McDonald’s leadership, there are several new housing developments coming in, a new town hall was built, 2 more police officers have been added to the force, and sewer line replacement has begun! He wants to see Pinebluff grow and become THE PLACE to be in Moore County. Keep up the awesome work, sir!

P.S. - Mayor McDonald was awarded the Bronze Star for his amazing work bringing home all 365 soldiers under his command in the Iraq 2004 deployment.

#moorecounty #pinebluff #travel #mayors #northcarolina #nc

179.) Pinebluff, NC!

There are many towns in NC, specifically Moore County, with the word “pine” in their name; however, only one of them has a highly decorated military man as mayor! Originally, Pinebluff was set to be the hot spot of the county, but all the money ended up focusing in Pinehurst. It certainly does not leave this small town as an unwanted place; lots of people can find affordable Sandhills living here.

Mayor Ronald McDonald is a humble and exceptionally smart man. Born and raised in Lakeview, his dad worked for the Pinehurst Horse Race Track. This meant his whole family moved around with all the races happening across the state and even nationwide. Eventually though, his father built a home in Lakeview so mom and kids could stay in one place. Ronald’s brother served in the military and convinced him to do the same. He enlisted into the U.S. Army, staying 30+ years until his last deployment in Iraq in 2004. Thank you for being an American hero, mayor!

Thanks to Mayor McDonald’s leadership, there are several new housing developments coming in, a new town hall was built, 2 more police officers have been added to the force, and sewer line replacement has begun! He wants to see Pinebluff grow and become THE PLACE to be in Moore County. Keep up the awesome work, sir!

P.S. - Mayor McDonald was awarded the Bronze Star for his amazing work bringing home all 365 soldiers under his command in the Iraq 2004 deployment.

#moorecounty #pinebluff #travel #mayors #northcarolina #nc

178.) Faith, NC!

One of the goal’s of Mitchell Mayor’s is to instill “faith” once again into the hearts of every North Carolinian that their community matters! The actual town of Faith already knows their value ten fold. Locals pride themselves on their history, culture, but mostly importantly, their reverence for veterans. Since 1902, Faith has hosted a massive 4th of July parade formally sponsored by big names like Food Lion! Soldiers from every single war are remembered and appreciated on top of the celebration of American independence.

Mayor Randall Barger was a very welcoming host to his small town. He has deep roots here as his grandfather and uncle both served as mayors. After graduating from high school in 1974, Randall spent his life working hands on in the screen printing world eventually allowing him to be a manger of a company and now owning his very own! In 1994, he was able to buy the old Faith soda shop and renovate into a killer restaurant. On top of all this, the mayor manages the Rowan County Fairgrounds, helping to put on a ton of events.

Thanks to Mayor Barger, Faith has constructed a new charter school, provides some of the cleanest drinking water in the entire state, holds the lowest tax rate in Rowan County, and can keep an assurance that the 4th of July celebrations will never stop! One project Randall is working hard to achieve is more housing for Faith as more people want to live here, and I understand why!

P.S. - George H.W. Bush once came to visit Faith. Mayor Barger got to drive the president’s press secretary and doctor to the town elementary school!

#faith #nc #northcarolinatravel #northcarolina #rowancounty

178.) Faith, NC!

One of the goal’s of Mitchell Mayor’s is to instill “faith” once again into the hearts of every North Carolinian that their community matters! The actual town of Faith already knows their value ten fold. Locals pride themselves on their history, culture, but mostly importantly, their reverence for veterans. Since 1902, Faith has hosted a massive 4th of July parade formally sponsored by big names like Food Lion! Soldiers from every single war are remembered and appreciated on top of the celebration of American independence.

Mayor Randall Barger was a very welcoming host to his small town. He has deep roots here as his grandfather and uncle both served as mayors. After graduating from high school in 1974, Randall spent his life working hands on in the screen printing world eventually allowing him to be a manger of a company and now owning his very own! In 1994, he was able to buy the old Faith soda shop and renovate into a killer restaurant. On top of all this, the mayor manages the Rowan County Fairgrounds, helping to put on a ton of events.

Thanks to Mayor Barger, Faith has constructed a new charter school, provides some of the cleanest drinking water in the entire state, holds the lowest tax rate in Rowan County, and can keep an assurance that the 4th of July celebrations will never stop! One project Randall is working hard to achieve is more housing for Faith as more people want to live here, and I understand why!

P.S. - George H.W. Bush once came to visit Faith. Mayor Barger got to drive the president’s press secretary and doctor to the town elementary school!

#faith #nc #northcarolinatravel #northcarolina #rowancounty

177.) Badin, NC!

The past is an immense part of Badin’s present and even its future! 10,000 B.C. had a pre-native American tribe of humans that crafted a special type of weapon: Hardaway arrow heads! In 1912, the French government was looking for a way to fund local businesses in the area and recognized Badin as a great spot for a dam. Construction began and continued until around 1914 when WWI broke out forcing France to sell out to ALCOA -> Aluminum Company of America. ALCOA finished the dam and built an aluminum facility that ran for decades and decades! While the manufacturing is gone today, its local importance remains in the AWESOME Badin museum!

Mayor Gary Lowder was born and raised in nearby Albemarle where his parents worked in a cotton plant. He attended Rowan Technical Institute and was drafted in 1970 working for military communications. Gary loved his time in the service as it taught him so much for being a positive leader. After his return to America, he moved to the New London area with a later move to Badin. His love for Badin is immense, and he was so excited to teach my father and I about its history. Two of the most unique stories being: Badin is the only town in the U.S. built by a foreign nation (France) and maintains the same identity, AND a B-25 bomber crashed in Badin lake in the 1940s!

Thanks to Mayor Lowder, the stories and vintage infrastructure of Badin remains to this day! When the metal facilities closed in town, the locals were forced to reinvent themselves. I would say they did it quite successfully! Badin lake is one of the best fishing/boating destinations in NC, and a 14 acre park is currently being constructed. Mayor Lowder hopes to see more local business come in to the downtown area as well as a potential bridge connecting Badin directly with the Uwharrie Forest! Keep it up mayor!

#badinlake #badin #stanly #stanlycounty #travel #nc #northcarolina #history #alcoa #france

177.) Badin, NC!

The past is an immense part of Badin’s present and even its future! 10,000 B.C. had a pre-native American tribe of humans that crafted a special type of weapon: Hardaway arrow heads! In 1912, the French government was looking for a way to fund local businesses in the area and recognized Badin as a great spot for a dam. Construction began and continued until around 1914 when WWI broke out forcing France to sell out to ALCOA -> Aluminum Company of America. ALCOA finished the dam and built an aluminum facility that ran for decades and decades! While the manufacturing is gone today, its local importance remains in the AWESOME Badin museum!

Mayor Gary Lowder was born and raised in nearby Albemarle where his parents worked in a cotton plant. He attended Rowan Technical Institute and was drafted in 1970 working for military communications. Gary loved his time in the service as it taught him so much for being a positive leader. After his return to America, he moved to the New London area with a later move to Badin. His love for Badin is immense, and he was so excited to teach my father and I about its history. Two of the most unique stories being: Badin is the only town in the U.S. built by a foreign nation (France) and maintains the same identity, AND a B-25 bomber crashed in Badin lake in the 1940s!

Thanks to Mayor Lowder, the stories and vintage infrastructure of Badin remains to this day! When the metal facilities closed in town, the locals were forced to reinvent themselves. I would say they did it quite successfully! Badin lake is one of the best fishing/boating destinations in NC, and a 14 acre park is currently being constructed. Mayor Lowder hopes to see more local business come in to the downtown area as well as a potential bridge connecting Badin directly with the Uwharrie Forest! Keep it up mayor!

#badinlake #badin #stanly #stanlycounty #travel #nc #northcarolina #history #alcoa #france

176.) Walkertown, NC!

If Mitchell’s Mayors has taught me anything, it’s the fact that NC is a lot smaller of a place than one may think! We have met a mayor we may be related to, one that actually went to HS with my dad, and more! The mayor in Walkertown demonstrated this to my father and I during the telling of his life story. He worked in a hardware store with my grandfather’s uncle in Greensboro, MD Stout, back in the early 1970s! How unique is that? But the incredible story of the Walkertown mayor does not end there!

Mayor Kenneth “Doc” Davis was born and raised here in town. Most of his upbringing was spent on farmland pulling tobacco and other crops. Another way to make money on the side, Kenneth would bike around the community selling b-day and holiday cards at 10 years old. In high school, he got a job at the local hardware store: Webster’s Hardware. Next was Odell Hardware Wholesaler in Greensboro, then engineering job at General Accident Insurance Company, then a machinist in the Winston-Salem RJ Reynolds machine shop, then special agent for Johnson and Johnson (he worked directly with the original Mr. Johnson!), and finally became a retail insurance agent in Greensboro. Whew, what a story!

Thanks to Mayor Davis, Walkertown is seeing exponential growth but is being well managed. It has always been a bedroom community, and locals want to keep it that way. However, Kenneth is making sure his town can still be successful and thrive in other ways. In 1984, Walkertown had 1,274 people. In 2023, it was 6,700! Awesome job being a local leader, mayor!

P.S. - One of his favorite life memories was going to the Charleston Yacht Club with Mr. Johnson! It was full white suits and all the amazing fancy seafood you could eat.

#walkertown #forsyth #forsythcounty #nc #travel #history #northcarolina #winstonsalem

176.) Walkertown, NC!

If Mitchell’s Mayors has taught me anything, it’s the fact that NC is a lot smaller of a place than one may think! We have met a mayor we may be related to, one that actually went to HS with my dad, and more! The mayor in Walkertown demonstrated this to my father and I during the telling of his life story. He worked in a hardware store with my grandfather’s uncle in Greensboro, MD Stout, back in the early 1970s! How unique is that? But the incredible story of the Walkertown mayor does not end there!

Mayor Kenneth “Doc” Davis was born and raised here in town. Most of his upbringing was spent on farmland pulling tobacco and other crops. Another way to make money on the side, Kenneth would bike around the community selling b-day and holiday cards at 10 years old. In high school, he got a job at the local hardware store: Webster’s Hardware. Next was Odell Hardware Wholesaler in Greensboro, then engineering job at General Accident Insurance Company, then a machinist in the Winston-Salem RJ Reynolds machine shop, then special agent for Johnson and Johnson (he worked directly with the original Mr. Johnson!), and finally became a retail insurance agent in Greensboro. Whew, what a story!

Thanks to Mayor Davis, Walkertown is seeing exponential growth but is being well managed. It has always been a bedroom community, and locals want to keep it that way. However, Kenneth is making sure his town can still be successful and thrive in other ways. In 1984, Walkertown had 1,274 people. In 2023, it was 6,700! Awesome job being a local leader, mayor!

P.S. - One of his favorite life memories was going to the Charleston Yacht Club with Mr. Johnson! It was full white suits and all the amazing fancy seafood you could eat.

#walkertown #forsyth #forsythcounty #nc #travel #history #northcarolina #winstonsalem

175.) Walnut Cove, NC!

Traveling the state, you find many towns named after the nearby scenic qualities. Peachland for all the peach trees grown in the past, Hot Springs for the natural water sources pumping under the earth, and even Walnut Cove for the original walnut trees covering the nearby cove hosting Town Fork Creek. I am not sure of how many walnut trees remain today, BUT this community stands tall and strong just like them thanks to their awesome mayor!

Mayor Nellie Brown is a Stokes County native and grew up in the Belews Creek area. Duke Energy eventually came in offering to relocate people due to their desire to build a massive lakeside power plant. Her family moved to Walnut Cove and began a new life. For almost her entire working life, Nellie has been employed with the famous Greensboro based company, Mother Murphy’s Flavors. This group develops flavors, powders and extracts for foods and has been doing so since 1946. Mayor Brown worked her way up in the company being a member of the business’ leadership. Due to some zoning and building issues happening in Walnut Cove, she decided to stand up and run for office winning the mayor’s seat!

Thanks to her leadership, Walnut Cove has a newly renovated theater, 27+ new homes being built, a total reimagined downtown totally filled with small businesses, a new state roundabout being constructed on the edge of town to help fix traffic, a brewery coming in, a new $3 million town hall to be built, Farm Bureau office being added, and much more. Nellie is an incredible example of chasing a town dream until it becomes a reality! Awesome job, mayor!

P.S. - Walnut Cove was home to a Rosenwald School, state of the art schools for African Americans built in the south in the early 20th century! Additionally, James Brown came to town in the 1960s and played in the local school’s gym! Lastly, my dad and I got to tour a private local collection of classic cars!

#nc #walnutcove #history #northcarolina #stokescounty

175.) Walnut Cove, NC!

Traveling the state, you find many towns named after the nearby scenic qualities. Peachland for all the peach trees grown in the past, Hot Springs for the natural water sources pumping under the earth, and even Walnut Cove for the original walnut trees covering the nearby cove hosting Town Fork Creek. I am not sure of how many walnut trees remain today, BUT this community stands tall and strong just like them thanks to their awesome mayor!

Mayor Nellie Brown is a Stokes County native and grew up in the Belews Creek area. Duke Energy eventually came in offering to relocate people due to their desire to build a massive lakeside power plant. Her family moved to Walnut Cove and began a new life. For almost her entire working life, Nellie has been employed with the famous Greensboro based company, Mother Murphy’s Flavors. This group develops flavors, powders and extracts for foods and has been doing so since 1946. Mayor Brown worked her way up in the company being a member of the business’ leadership. Due to some zoning and building issues happening in Walnut Cove, she decided to stand up and run for office winning the mayor’s seat!

Thanks to her leadership, Walnut Cove has a newly renovated theater, 27+ new homes being built, a total reimagined downtown totally filled with small businesses, a new state roundabout being constructed on the edge of town to help fix traffic, a brewery coming in, a new $3 million town hall to be built, Farm Bureau office being added, and much more. Nellie is an incredible example of chasing a town dream until it becomes a reality! Awesome job, mayor!

P.S. - Walnut Cove was home to a Rosenwald School, state of the art schools for African Americans built in the south in the early 20th century! Additionally, James Brown came to town in the 1960s and played in the local school’s gym! Lastly, my dad and I got to tour a private local collection of classic cars!

#nc #walnutcove #history #northcarolina #stokescounty

174.) Haw River, NC!

Yeehaw! Welcome to Haw River, one of the most historic communities in the Piedmont Triad. The famous riverside mill facility was first built in 1844 producing cotton materials eventually being sold in 1927 to Proximity Manufacturing Company which later became Cone Mills Corporation. By 1931, the community of Haw River really took off with tons of people moving in making it a wonderful place to work and call home! In the 1970s, the mill was the world’s largest producer of corduroy! However, by 2004, the location officially shut down… The story does not end there though as today, it houses luxury apartments and beautiful living spaces since its private purchase and renovations.

Mayor Kelly Allen has become a personal friend and shining star for local change/positive growth! She has a family history in town since the 1800s but was born in Gastonia. After attending the Alamance Community College nursing program, Kelly actually married a man whom she helped stitch up one day at a hospital! They moved to Haw River where her husband began working for the town public works which started her interest in local politics. Kelly started attending council meetings and was later asked to run for mayor, winning as a write in candidate!

Thanks to Mayor Allen’s leadership, Haw River has gotten an amazing facelift! With the closing of the mill in the mid 2000s, there was a lot of lost hope for the town’s future. The historic downtown became empty, but she did not give up. She led the way for a redevelopment of the mill into its amazing current condition and advertising for public usage of the Haw River! People come from miles around now to kayak, fish, and more. Additionally, with I-40 right next door, the city is gathering new attention for further economic development. Mayor Allen also invited me to come present to the Haw River Historical Society which was such an incredible experience! Thank you for being a great example, mayor!

P.S. - My dad and I had our Fox 8 News segment filmed here!

#hawriver #mill #cotton #history #historic #river #travel #nc #northcarolina #alamance #alamancecounty

174.) Haw River, NC!

Yeehaw! Welcome to Haw River, one of the most historic communities in the Piedmont Triad. The famous riverside mill facility was first built in 1844 producing cotton materials eventually being sold in 1927 to Proximity Manufacturing Company which later became Cone Mills Corporation. By 1931, the community of Haw River really took off with tons of people moving in making it a wonderful place to work and call home! In the 1970s, the mill was the world’s largest producer of corduroy! However, by 2004, the location officially shut down… The story does not end there though as today, it houses luxury apartments and beautiful living spaces since its private purchase and renovations.

Mayor Kelly Allen has become a personal friend and shining star for local change/positive growth! She has a family history in town since the 1800s but was born in Gastonia. After attending the Alamance Community College nursing program, Kelly actually married a man whom she helped stitch up one day at a hospital! They moved to Haw River where her husband began working for the town public works which started her interest in local politics. Kelly started attending council meetings and was later asked to run for mayor, winning as a write in candidate!

Thanks to Mayor Allen’s leadership, Haw River has gotten an amazing facelift! With the closing of the mill in the mid 2000s, there was a lot of lost hope for the town’s future. The historic downtown became empty, but she did not give up. She led the way for a redevelopment of the mill into its amazing current condition and advertising for public usage of the Haw River! People come from miles around now to kayak, fish, and more. Additionally, with I-40 right next door, the city is gathering new attention for further economic development. Mayor Allen also invited me to come present to the Haw River Historical Society which was such an incredible experience! Thank you for being a great example, mayor!

P.S. - My dad and I had our Fox 8 News segment filmed here!

#hawriver #mill #cotton #history #historic #river #travel #nc #northcarolina #alamance #alamancecounty

173.) Thomasville, NC!

Welcome to the “Chair City,” Thomasville! If you’re not from NC, you may be wondering why the heck there exists a MASSIVE chair in this small town… Well, it dates back to Thomasville’s prime being one of the largest producers of furniture in the state. Several massive plants existed here but only the skeletons of the buildings remain. This has not stopped the town from finding new ways to remain a wonderful place! Fun fact: Lyndon B. Johnson actually stopped at the Big Chair during his 1960 Whistle Stop Tour while running for President. His train stopped in downtown Thomasville right beside the chair where he shook potential voters hands!

Mayor Raleigh York was born here and is a product of the town’s school system. After high school, he went straight into the army from 1967-1970 where he served in the Vietnam War. He is an American hero, and I thank him for his service! After returning from Vietnam, Raleigh got a job at the local fire department through the 1970s but eventually had an early retirement due to a back injury. When he reached around 30 years old, he attended Davidson CC to study accounting allowing him to later open his own accounting and tax work firm! Come 1999/2000, Thomasville was doing a lot of involuntary annexation, and Raleigh felt like standing up for his neighborhood and community eventually leading him to join the town government.

Thanks to Mayor York’s leadership, Thomasville has updated a lot of water and sewer infrastructure, incentivized new economic development downtown, built and improved pump stations, acquired more home developments, created a new police station, and currently have a new recreation center/pool being crafted. The city is very lucky to have such a positive change maker like Raleigh. Keep up the great work sir!

P.S. - As a kid, Mayor York never took vacations, so his first time ever seeing the ocean was the South China Sea during the Vietnam War!

#thomasville #furniture #bigchair #travel #nc #northcarolina #support #journey #fatherandson #mayor

173.) Thomasville, NC!

Welcome to the “Chair City,” Thomasville! If you’re not from NC, you may be wondering why the heck there exists a MASSIVE chair in this small town… Well, it dates back to Thomasville’s prime being one of the largest producers of furniture in the state. Several massive plants existed here but only the skeletons of the buildings remain. This has not stopped the town from finding new ways to remain a wonderful place! Fun fact: Lyndon B. Johnson actually stopped at the Big Chair during his 1960 Whistle Stop Tour while running for President. His train stopped in downtown Thomasville right beside the chair where he shook potential voters hands!

Mayor Raleigh York was born here and is a product of the town’s school system. After high school, he went straight into the army from 1967-1970 where he served in the Vietnam War. He is an American hero, and I thank him for his service! After returning from Vietnam, Raleigh got a job at the local fire department through the 1970s but eventually had an early retirement due to a back injury. When he reached around 30 years old, he attended Davidson CC to study accounting allowing him to later open his own accounting and tax work firm! Come 1999/2000, Thomasville was doing a lot of involuntary annexation, and Raleigh felt like standing up for his neighborhood and community eventually leading him to join the town government.

Thanks to Mayor York’s leadership, Thomasville has updated a lot of water and sewer infrastructure, incentivized new economic development downtown, built and improved pump stations, acquired more home developments, created a new police station, and currently have a new recreation center/pool being crafted. The city is very lucky to have such a positive change maker like Raleigh. Keep up the great work sir!

P.S. - As a kid, Mayor York never took vacations, so his first time ever seeing the ocean was the South China Sea during the Vietnam War!

#thomasville #furniture #bigchair #travel #nc #northcarolina #support #journey #fatherandson #mayor

172.) Goldston, NC!

This community is a very small one but has a wealth of history. It is home to the esteemed “Rufus Burger” at Rufus’ Restaurant, and of course I went in to try it out! The mayor actually works as the cook since his grandfather started and operated it for so long. Additionally, Goldston is the birth place of famous singer and musician Charlie Daniels! How cool is that? You learn some amazing facts when you take the time to sit down across every community. Additionally, when you visit every city in NC, you meet some really amazing and awesome characters; the Goldston mayor is no exception!

Mayor Jonathan Hensley is a true American hero having served in law enforcement for 15 years, specifically the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office as a detective and SWAT team member. He has lived in the Goldston area his entire life giving him a true desire to make it a wonderful place to live. Additionally, he has served on the town fire department since being 16 years old, wow! After our interview, we toured the town including a visit to the fire station. While there, a man stopped by needing help pumping air into a tire. The mayor and I worked together to help him out, and I was named an honorary Goldston firefighter, ha!

Thanks to Mayor Hensley, the city has maintained a positive outlook towards its future, especially with things like a subdivision of 90 homes about to be built and upcoming completion of new sewer lines being run to the lower part of town limits. Mayor Hensley is working day in and day out to maybe get a small coffee shop/bakery, a large chain gas station, and other businesses to call Goldston their home! It is certainly a unique place and a killer mayor to top it off. Great work sir!

P.S. - Mayor Hensley has some super cool cars and an awesome garage where he works on them! Additionally, his uncle owns the infamous “Devil’s Tramping Grounds” located in Siler City, NC!

#nc #northcarolina #travel #goldston #chatham #charliedaniels #music

172.) Goldston, NC!

This community is a very small one but has a wealth of history. It is home to the esteemed “Rufus Burger” at Rufus’ Restaurant, and of course I went in to try it out! The mayor actually works as the cook since his grandfather started and operated it for so long. Additionally, Goldston is the birth place of famous singer and musician Charlie Daniels! How cool is that? You learn some amazing facts when you take the time to sit down across every community. Additionally, when you visit every city in NC, you meet some really amazing and awesome characters; the Goldston mayor is no exception!

Mayor Jonathan Hensley is a true American hero having served in law enforcement for 15 years, specifically the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office as a detective and SWAT team member. He has lived in the Goldston area his entire life giving him a true desire to make it a wonderful place to live. Additionally, he has served on the town fire department since being 16 years old, wow! After our interview, we toured the town including a visit to the fire station. While there, a man stopped by needing help pumping air into a tire. The mayor and I worked together to help him out, and I was named an honorary Goldston firefighter, ha!

Thanks to Mayor Hensley, the city has maintained a positive outlook towards its future, especially with things like a subdivision of 90 homes about to be built and upcoming completion of new sewer lines being run to the lower part of town limits. Mayor Hensley is working day in and day out to maybe get a small coffee shop/bakery, a large chain gas station, and other businesses to call Goldston their home! It is certainly a unique place and a killer mayor to top it off. Great work sir!

P.S. - Mayor Hensley has some super cool cars and an awesome garage where he works on them! Additionally, his uncle owns the infamous “Devil’s Tramping Grounds” located in Siler City, NC!

#nc #northcarolina #travel #goldston #chatham #charliedaniels #music

171.) Pittsboro, NC!

I would say Pittsboro really is a hidden gem! Not many folks know about this growing small town that is a very short distant to our state’s capital. With a founding in 1787, it has been an integral part of Chatham County. I met with their mayor inside her beautiful old home, and we walked the streets stopping into the local barber shop, coffee cafe, and other places, speaking to locals along the way. Sharing about my journey to give every North Carolinian a voice is what I love to do!

Mayor Cindy Perry is such a kind and caring person. Born in NY but raised in California, her family was a part of the Quaker religion/culture. They wanted her to attend a Quaker school leading her to Guilford College (not far from my parent’s home!) where she met a man from Pittsboro who became her husband. They decided to move back to his home town, and she began a career working for politicians including a former NC Speaker of the House. Even with 3 small kids and a husband at home, Mayor Perry was able to attend Campbell Law School and got her degree! She then opened her own Pittsboro practice and operated for 25 years until retirement… WOW! P.S. Her dad was a part of the Manhattan Project during WWII helping to develop the atomic bomb!

Thanks to her leadership, Pittsboro was able to save/restore their courthouse that burned down on the inside, have massive economic development occur downtown with new businesses, build new bike paths and green ways, obtain $3.2 million into a new better filter system for the drinking water they pull out of the Haw River and more!

But their biggest and proudest accomplishment is definitely the “Chatham Park” massive housing development coming. This will be SO BIG, a trolley service will be provided from the homes to downtown Pittsboro. Additionally, another amazing development coming is “Asteria” by Disney; a story living Disney themed home community and the first of its type! How amazing??? Great job, Mayor Perry!

#disney #asteria #pittsboro #chatham #housing #travel #nc #northcarolina

171.) Pittsboro, NC!

I would say Pittsboro really is a hidden gem! Not many folks know about this growing small town that is a very short distant to our state’s capital. With a founding in 1787, it has been an integral part of Chatham County. I met with their mayor inside her beautiful old home, and we walked the streets stopping into the local barber shop, coffee cafe, and other places, speaking to locals along the way. Sharing about my journey to give every North Carolinian a voice is what I love to do!

Mayor Cindy Perry is such a kind and caring person. Born in NY but raised in California, her family was a part of the Quaker religion/culture. They wanted her to attend a Quaker school leading her to Guilford College (not far from my parent’s home!) where she met a man from Pittsboro who became her husband. They decided to move back to his home town, and she began a career working for politicians including a former NC Speaker of the House. Even with 3 small kids and a husband at home, Mayor Perry was able to attend Campbell Law School and got her degree! She then opened her own Pittsboro practice and operated for 25 years until retirement… WOW! P.S. Her dad was a part of the Manhattan Project during WWII helping to develop the atomic bomb!

Thanks to her leadership, Pittsboro was able to save/restore their courthouse that burned down on the inside, have massive economic development occur downtown with new businesses, build new bike paths and green ways, obtain $3.2 million into a new better filter system for the drinking water they pull out of the Haw River and more!

But their biggest and proudest accomplishment is definitely the “Chatham Park” massive housing development coming. This will be SO BIG, a trolley service will be provided from the homes to downtown Pittsboro. Additionally, another amazing development coming is “Asteria” by Disney; a story living Disney themed home community and the first of its type! How amazing??? Great job, Mayor Perry!

#disney #asteria #pittsboro #chatham #housing #travel #nc #northcarolina

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Meet The Mayors!

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