Sanford (North Carolina)

Sanford is a city of about 30,000 people (2018) in the North Carolina countryside, in between the Piedmont Triad, Research Triangle, and Fayetteville. Sanford is known for its large brick production as well as local pottery, and offers outdoor activities and historic districts. Sanford also produces textiles, and has since seen the influx of the biotech industry with the Wyeth Vaccines, aka Pfizer, facility becoming the area's largest employer in 2006.

History
Sanford was named for C.O. Sanford, a railroad civil engineer instrumental in the building of the rail lines through the area that formed the foundation of what became the city of Sanford.

The Sanford area played key roles in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, specifically regarding sites like the House in the Horseshoe and Endor Iron Furnace. Over the following decades, the Sanford area became an important source of coal, brownstone, and brick. In particular brownstone and subsequent brick production made Sanford a key provider of these building materials for areas throughout the United States. Because Sanford sits where white beach sand from the coast meets the Piedmont clay, the city has the right ingredients to be a large producer of clay bricks. In 1959, Sanford produced 10% of the bricks in the United States and was named "Brick Capital of the USA".

On April 16, 2011 a large tornado ripped through Sanford, demolishing a Lowe's hardware store, and a warehouse, and destroying multiple homes and buildings before moving into Wake County.

The Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Cemeteries, Downtown Sanford Historic District, East Sanford Historic District, Euphronia Presbyterian Church, Farish-Lambeth House, Hawkins Avenue Historic District, Lee Avenue Historic District, Lee County Courthouse, Lee County Training School, John D. McIver Farm, Railroad House, Rosemount-McIver Park Historic District, Sanford High School, Former, Seaboard Milling Company, and Temple Theatre are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitor information

 * City of Sanford
 * Visit Sanford

By car
Driving is the only feasible way to get to Sanford, which is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 1, 421, and 15-501. It's about a one-hour drive from Fayetteville and a similar distance from Raleigh.

By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where you can rent a car to drive to Sanford.

If you're taking a chartered flight, you can fly into Raleigh Executive Jetport (FAA: TTA) approximately 7 miles northeast of Sanford via U.S. 1.

By bike
The Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1 passes through downtown Sanford and Lee County.

By bus
The County of Lee Transit System (COLTS) is a coordinated transit system that provides transportation services in Sanford and Lee County.

Do

 * There is a half-mile greenway trail in the Kiwanis Family Park with additional mileage under development.
 * There is a half-mile greenway trail in the Kiwanis Family Park with additional mileage under development.