Winston-Salem lies in the heart of the South Atlantic region. The North Carolina community is located halfway between Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. From this bustling metropolitan area, it's just a two-hour drive to the mountains and a four-hour trip to the ocean.

Salem, one of the earliest planned communities in the American colonies, was founded in 1766. Skilled craftsmen opened sawmills, breweries, and tanneries, and Salem quickly grew into a backcountry trading center and congregation town. Winston, located just north of Salem, was founded in 1849. The city established itself as a major producer of textiles, furniture, and tobacco products. In 1899, the United States Postal Service merged the Winston and Salem post offices - over the objections of Salem - and created the postmark Winston-Salem. In 1913, Salem and Winston were officially joined, and the "Twin City" of Winston-Salem emerged.

In 1875, Richard Joshua Reynolds moved to the area to start what would eventually become the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. This singular event sparked everything from economic growth to the fight for equal rights. As the economic contribution of tobacco declined, the once prominent industry was replaced by banking, technology, medicine, medical research, and biotechnology. Today Winston-Salem is the 11th largest financial center in the country, the home of two major medical centers, and a strong point-of-presence for many international corporations including Pepsi-Cola Customer Service Center, Sara Lee Corporation, Tyco International, and is home to Krispy Kreme's corporate headquarters.

Winston-Salem has long been known as North Carolina's "city of the arts." In fact, the metro area of just over 185,000 people ranks first nationally in per capita contributions to the arts. Home to the nation's first Arts Council, the world-renowned North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), and the National Black Theatre Festival, Winston-Salem boasts a wealth of cultural offerings. Local galleries and museums offer the region's most impressive exhibits and stimulating programming. Visitors can experience the best in contemporary, historical, African-American, and scientific exhibitions. Historic Old Salem preserves the past in a "living" museum. And SciWorks thrills children of all ages with interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a 15-acre environmental park.

Today Winston-Salem is in the midst of an exciting downtown revitalization. More than a dozen new construction projects have been started in the last year alone, including the Piedmont Triad Research Park. Entertainment has flourished downtown as well, highlighted by live outdoor music, a growing arts district, and a just-started retail and entertainment complex.

Higher education abounds in Winston-Salem. This community is home to small private colleges like Wake Forest University, Salem Academy and College, and Piedmont Baptist College to public institutions, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina School of the Arts, both constituents of the University of North Carolina System. Forsyth Technical Community College, one of the area's leading community college, also call the Twin City home.

With its friendly residents, strong business environment, rich neighborhoods, and countless entertainment options, Winston-Salem is undoubtedly one of the country's most livable communities.