The Piedmont Triad is a region of North Carolina (locally known simply as “The Triad”) that consists of the area surrounding the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. The area is connected by Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 and is served by the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Long known as one of the primary manufacturing and transportation hubs of the southeastern U.S., the Triad is also an important educational and cultural region and occupies a prominent place in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Winston-Salem
In 1753, the first settlers arrived at what would later become the town of Bethabara. Salem, meaning “peace,” was given its name in 1766 by the early Moravian settlers.

In 1849 the town of Winston was founded, named after a local hero of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Winston, who was well-known in the town of Salem. Shortly thereafter both Winston and Salem were incorporated into the newly formed Forsyth County. It thrived as an industrial town, producing tobacco products, furniture and textiles. In 1851 Winston was designated the county seat, and, with plans to connect the cities of Winston and Salem, the county courthouse square was placed just one mile north of Salem’s square.

In 1889, the United States Postal Service combined the mail offices for the two towns, and the towns were officially joined as “Winston-Salem” in 1913. In 2004, Winston-Salem was added to a prestigious list of the most livable communities in the United States by Partners for Livable Cities.

In 2005 Dell computers began construction in Winston-Salem for its third U.S. manufacturing facility. Winston-Salem, best known as a cigarette-making center, won out, said Dell, because it best met the company’s criteria, which included development readiness, topography, and highway access.

Business opportunities are not the only thing Winston-Salem has going for it. There is a major downtown re-development process going on to bring more activity to the downtown area.

Winston-Salem is also home to N.C. School of the Arts. A popular tourist attraction is old town, which is staffed by costumed interpreters who relate life as it was in the state centuries ago. Also, NASCAR lovers can check out the Winston Cup Museum.

Greensboro
Saura and Keyauwee Indians were the earliest inhabitants of Piedmont North Carolina. The first settlers in the Greensboro area were mostly Germans, Quakers of Welsh and English descent and Scotch-Irish who came to the Piedmont from Northern colonies. These pioneers worked the land and shaped the future for generations to come. Permanent settlement began around 1740.

Today the PGA Tour’s best players compete annually in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious events. Additionally Greensboro is home to more than 20 public golf courses.

The region’s thriving theater scene includes High Point’s highly regarded N.C. Shakespeare Festival, coming up on its 29th season, Triad Stage in Greensboro and a host of community theater venues. Triad Stage opened in 2002 and was named one of “America’s 50 Best Regional Theatres” just more than a year later.

High Point
High Point got its name by being the highest point on the NC Railroad. North High Point is one of the fastest growing areas of Guilford County, the Davidson County section of High Point saw a 23 percent population increase between 1990 and 2000, from 6,594 people to 8,082. North High Point is also home to the Piedmont Centre, a large business park near the edge of Greensboro where 10,000 people work.

While High Point continues to draw new businesses and residents, the city is still loyal to its furniture roots. As the Home Furnishings Capital of the World, the city is host to the International Home Furnishings Market, which happens every April and October. Furniture companies show off their new product lines to furniture retailers, who decide what to purchase for their stores.