Land Use Plan – 2002 - Stanly County, North Carolina

Final Report—Draft Recommendations 

STANLY COUNTY LAND USE PLAN 

Adopted June 24, 2002 

___________________________________________________________ 

Kenny R. Furr, Chairman 

Mike Coble 

Prepared For: 

Stanly County Board of Commissioners: 

Gerald W. Efird 

Pattie Huneycutt 

Nancy M. Litaker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners 

Michael M. Sandy, AICP/CZO, Director 

Keith Wolf, AICP, Planner 

Windell Talley, Chairman 

Charles Allen 

Kathy M. Anderson 

C. J. Barbee 

Jim Bivens 

Terry Blalock 

C. Spurgeon Brooks 

Jerry Myers, County Manager 

and 

Stanly County Planning and Zoning Department 

Gene McIntyre 

Linda Evans, Planner 

Jeannie Sladko, Administrative Assistant 

___________________________________________________________ 

Prepared by the Land Use Plan Steering Committee: 

Roger Dick 

Ron Dry 

Lindsey Dunevant 

Mitchell Edwards 

Tony M. Furr 

Sam Hawfield 

Rodney Huneycutt 

and 

Ronald Huneycutt 

Pattie Huneycutt 

Rick Huggins 

Bill Lilly 

Jann Lowder 

Thomas A. Maudin 

Patsy McNeill 

Woolpert LLP, Charlotte, North Carolina 

Barbara F. Morton 

Benton Payne 

John S. Pickler II 

Michael M. Sandy 

Titus Waddell 

Gary Stewart, Partner 

Tim Jones, AICP, Project Planner 

Dan Boron, AICP, Project Manager 

Laura Kaminski, AICP, Project Planner 

___________________________________________________________

STANLY COUNTY 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section 1: An Introduction to the Stanly County Land Use Plan .................................................. 1-1 

Introduction to the Final Report....................................................................................... 1-1 

Regional Location of Stanly County ................................................................................ 1-1 

Land Use Study Area ...................................................................................................... 1-3 

History............................................................................................................................. 1-3 

The Planning Process..................................................................................................... 1-5 

Public Participation.......................................................................................................... 1-5 

Section 2: Growth and Development Trends ............................................................................... 2-1 

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 

Socio-Economic Analysis................................................................................................ 2-1 

County Development Trend Analysis.............................................................................. 2-10 

Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 2-12 

Section 3: The Lay of the Land .................................................................................................... 3-1 

Natural Resources Analysis............................................................................................ 3-1 

Geology of the Region .................................................................................................... 3-1 

Soils ................................................................................................................................ 3-1 

Prime Farmland Areas.................................................................................................... 3-3 

Surface Waters and Drainage Systems, Flood Hazard Areas, and Wetlands ............... 3-6 

Land Suitability/Summary of Natural Resources ............................................................ 3-11 

Existing Land Use ........................................................................................................... 3-12 

Section 4: Infrastructure Systems Serving the County................................................................. 4-1 

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 

Transportation Analysis................................................................................................... 4-1 

Utilities Analysis .............................................................................................................. 4-11 

Community Facilities Analysis......................................................................................... 4-15 

Section 5: Issues and Opportunities ............................................................................................ 5-1 

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5-1 

Citizen Participation Process .......................................................................................... 5-1 

Issue Identification .......................................................................................................... 5-1 

Section 6: Land Use Plan Recommendations ............................................................................. 6-1 

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6-1 

Principles of the County Land Use Plan.......................................................................... 6-1 

Land Use Categories ...................................................................................................... 6-10 

Growth Management and Implementation Strategies and Tools.................................... 6-15 

Page 

Land Use Plan i 6/02

STANLY COUNTY 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 

Section 7: Plan Implementation ................................................................................................... 7-1 

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 7-1 

Appendix A: County Timeline 

Appendix B: Build-Out Scenario Population Calculations ............................................................ B-1 

Bibliography 

Page 

Land Use Plan ii 6/02

STANLY COUNTY 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table Page 

2-1 Population of Stanly County, North Carolina, 1900-2000................................................ 2-1 

2-2 Population Trends, Selected North Carolina Counties and Stanly County 

Communities, 1980-2020.............................................................................................. 2-2 

2-3 Percentage Growth, Selected North Carolina Counties and Stanly County 

Communities, 1980-2020.............................................................................................. 2-2 

2-4 Population Growth, Unincorporated and Incorporated Areas of Stanly County, 

1990-2000..................................................................................................................... 2-3 

2-5 Population Growth by Census Tract, Stanly County, 1990-2000.................................... 2-4 

2-6 Median Age of the Population, Stanly County, State of North Carolina, and the 

United States, 1981-2020 ............................................................................................. 2-4 

2-7 Age Distribution, Stanly County, 1990-2000 ................................................................... 2-6 

2-8 Population Density (Persons Per Square Mile), Selected North Carolina Counties, 

State of North Carolina, and the United States, 1990-2000.......................................... 2-6 

2-9 Households, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000 ............................. 2-7 

2-10 Mean Persons Per Household, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000 2-7 

2-11 Median Income, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000 ....................... 2-8 

2-12 Unemployment Rate (Not Seasonally Adjusted), Stanly County and State of 

North Carolina, 1992-2001............................................................................................ 2-8 

2-13 Employment by Industrial Sector (Population 16+ Years), Stanly County and 

State of North Carolina, 1990-2000 .............................................................................. 2-9 

2-14 Mean Commuting Time, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1990-2000 .......... 2-10 

2-15 Educational Attainment, Stanly County, 1990 and 2000................................................. 2-10 

2-16 Zoning Permits Issued, Stanly County, 1990-2001......................................................... 2-11 

2-17 Building Permits Issued, Stanly County, 1997-2001 ....................................................... 2-12 

3-1 General Soil Units of Stanly County................................................................................ 3-3 

3-2 Prime Farmland Soil Phases of Stanly County ............................................................... 3-4 

3-3 Existing Land Use Summary........................................................................................... 3-16 

4-1 Roadway Functional Classifications................................................................................ 4-3 

4-2 Countywide Bikeway System .......................................................................................... 4-9 

4-3 Stanly County School District Enrollment, 1999.............................................................. 4-15 

6-1 Stanly County Land Use Plan Principles......................................................................... 6-3 

6-2 Summary of Generalized Land Use Categories ............................................................. 6-11 

B-1 Agricultural and Wooded Areas in Stanly County, 2000 ................................................. B-1 

B-2 Provisions for Non-Residential Development ................................................................. B-1 

B-3 Build-Out Population Based on Existing Zoning ............................................................. B-2 

Land Use Plan iii 6/02

STANLY COUNTY 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure Page 

1-1 Vicinity Map..................................................................................................................... 1-2 

1-2 Study Area ...................................................................................................................... 1-4 

1-3 Planning Process ............................................................................................................ 1-6 

2-1 Census Tracts................................................................................................................. 2-5 

3-1 Soils ................................................................................................................................ 3-2 

3-2 Prime Farmland .............................................................................................................. 3-5 

3-3 Wetlands, Floodplains, Surface Waters, and Drainage.................................................. 3-7 

3-4 Slope Analysis................................................................................................................. 3-9 

3-5 Scenic Byways ................................................................................................................ 3-10 

3-6 Existing Land Use ........................................................................................................... 3-14 

4-1 Functional Classification System .................................................................................... 4-2 

4-2 Roadway Improvements ................................................................................................. 4-6 

4-3 Bike Routes..................................................................................................................... 4-8 

4-4 Railroads......................................................................................................................... 4-10 

4-5 Existing Water Service Area ........................................................................................... 4-12 

4-6 Existing Sanitary Sewer Service Areas........................................................................... 4-14 

4-7 Community Facilities....................................................................................................... 4-16 

5-1 Composite Issues ........................................................................................................... 5-2 

6-1 Land Use Plan Recommendations ................................................................................. 6-2 

6-2 Parks and Recreation ..................................................................................................... 6-8 

6-3 Flexible/Development Densities, Conservation Area...................................................... 6-14 

6-4 Conservation Development/Existing Site........................................................................ 6-19 

6-5 Conservation Development/Conventional Development ................................................ 6-20 

6-6 Conservation Development............................................................................................. 6-21 

6-7 Comparison Conventional Development/TND................................................................ 6-26 

6-8 TND Neighborhood ......................................................................................................... 6-26 

Land Use Plan iv 6/02

STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE 

STANLY COUNTY LAND USE PLAN 

Introduction to the Final Report 

The Land Use Plan for Stanly County updates the 1977 Land Use Analysis and Development 

Plan that was prepared for the Board of Commissioners by the County Planning Board and 

County Planning Department. While the 1977 plan provided an adequate planning and 

infrastructure decision-making tool for county officials and the public, changes in county 

development patterns necessitate an update. 

Stanly County and the rest of the Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes region have a reputation as a place of 

wonderful natural beauty, from the lakes and rivers of eastern Stanly County, to the “rolling 

Kansas” district of Millingport, to the Uwharrie Mountains near Morrow Mountain State Park. The 

steady rise in population over the years verifies Stanly County’s livability and reputation as an 

excellent place to live, work, and play. The county remains one of the leading agricultural 

counties in North Carolina. The agricultural economy has for decades been augmented by a 

strong industrial sector based on the textile and aluminum industries, among others. In addition, 

tourism has emerged as an important industry for the county. 

Today Stanly County lies at the edge of the growing Charlotte metropolitan region, a region that 

now extends into Cabarrus and Union Counties, both of which share Stanly County’s western 

border. While indications are already apparent that parts of western Stanly County are 

experiencing increased development activity, it is expected that major infrastructure projects— 

among them the completion of the eastern leg of the Interstate 485 Charlotte by-pass, and the 

widening of NC 24/27 to four lanes from the county line to Albemarle—will speed the rate of 

development and growth in the county. 

As the citizens of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and Union Counties will attest, growth has not come 

without problems. Additional homes bring more traffic. More people and businesses can strain 

public infrastructure systems. Schools are required to accommodate an increased school-age 

population. In the process, some of the qualities that point to the county’s livability have 

increasingly been subject to change. Stanly County’s leaders have recognized the importance of 

a proactive stance to county development in order to maintain a high quality of life and to 

promote appropriate development. 

The central purpose of the Land Use Plan is to provide an update to the 1977 Land Use Analysis 

and Development Plan and to identify and guide desired growth through a well-reasoned set of 

land use and county development plans and implementation policies. The plan will provide a 

framework for making planning and zoning decisions, promoting orderly land use, implementing 

public improvements, and generating private investment. Further, the Land Use Plan outlines a 

vision of where the residents of Stanly County want to be in the future and provides a detailed 

implementation strategy to achieve that vision. With this plan, decision-makers will be able to 

make day-to-day planning decisions that promote orderly long-term development and represent 

the views of the citizens of the county. 

Regional Location of Stanly County 

Stanly County is located in central North Carolina east of the Charlotte metropolitan region. 

Albemarle, the county seat of Stanly County, is located 40 miles east of Charlotte. Figure 1-1 

illustrates the relative location of Stanly County within the state of North Carolina. Stanly County 

lies within North Carolina’s Piedmont region, an area of flat to rolling terrain situated between the 

Blue Ridge Mountains to the north and west and the Coastal Plains to the east. Stanly County is 

one of seven counties within the Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Region, a geographical area extending 

from Salisbury to Rockingham that is focused on the chain-of-manmade lakes of the Yadkin and 

Pee Dee River. Four of these lakes—Tuckertown Reservoir, Narrows Reservoir, Falls Reservoir, 

and Tillery Reservoir—define the eastern border of the county. 

Land Use Plan 1-1 6/02

Asheville 

Charlotte 

Stanly 

County 

North Carolina 

Winston-Salem Greensboro 

Cabarrus County 

Stanfield 

Fayetteville 

Locust 

NC 200 

Union 


RALEIGH 

NC 1134 

Red 

Cross 

NC 205 

Wilmington 

Oakboro 

NC 742 

NC 73 

NC 24/27 

NC 138 

Rowan County Davidson County 

Richfield 

NC 52 

New 

London 

NC 49 

NC 52 

ALBEMARLE 

NC 138 

NC 1922 

NC 740 

Anson 


Tuckertown Reservoir 

Yadkin River 

NC 52 

NC 1549 

Badin 

NC 740 

Norwood 

NC 1740 

NC 24/27/73 

Narrows Reservoir 

Morrow Mnt. 

State Park 

NC 731 

Pee Dee River 

Reservoir 

Tillery 

Richmond 


Montgomery 


Falls Reservoir 

Montgomery 


Figure 1-1 

Vicinity Map 

Land Use Plan 

Stanly County, North Carolina

STANLY COUNTY 

Stanly County is 399 square miles in area, ranking it as the 64th-largest of North Carolina’s 100 

counties. While most of Stanly County’s land area is used for either farming or is undeveloped 

forest land, the counties is also home to a number of communities including Albemarle, Badin, 

Locust, New London, Norwood, Oakboro, Red Cross, Richfield, and Stanfield (see Figure 1-1). 

With a 2000 population of 58,100, Stanly County ranks as the 42nd–largest county in North 

Carolina according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

The county is served by a number of major state and federal roadways that link the county to the 

adjoining region. Among these is NC 24/27, a major east-west roadway that links Albemarle, 

Locust, and Stanfield with Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties as well as the rest of the 

Charlotte metropolitan region. Another important roadway is U.S. 52, a north-south thoroughfare 

that links the central part of Stanly County with Salisbury and Interstate 85 to the north and U.S. 

74 in Wadeboro in Anson County. 

Land Use Plan Study Area 

History 

The Land Use Plan study area is indicated in Figure 1-2. The study area includes 

unincorporated areas of Stanly County outside of municipal extra-territorial jurisdictions, or ETJs. 

New London, Norwood, Locust, Oakboro, Richfield, and Stanfield have exercised ETJs. All 

totaled, the study area includes 174,360 acres of Stanly County’s 216,960 acres of land area, or 

80.3 percent of the county. 

Planning issues, however, do not stop at corporate boundaries. The Land Use Plan examines 

the planning and development goals of the municipalities of the county to ensure that long-range 

planning is coordinated and consistent. 

Stanly County has a rich and colorful natural and cultural history. Stanly County lies at the 

southwestern end of the Uwharrie Mountains, which at 500-million years of age are considered 

to be the oldest mountain range in North America. Evidence suggests human settlement dating 

back 10,000 years ago when small tribes of hunter-gatherers roamed the Piedmont region. 

Though the North Carolina Colony was established by the British crown in 1663, the Stanly 

County region was generally uncolonized until the 1780s and 1790s, owing to its isolation 

provided by the Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers. An area south of Norwood was the site of an 

American Revolutionary War confrontation, the Battle of Colson’s Ordinary, in July 1780. 

Stanly County was formed from the western portion of Montgomery County by the state 

legislature on January 11, 1841. The county is named for John Stanly, a colorful 19th-century 

theorist, orator, and statesman who served in the House of Commons, state legislature, and 7th 

and 11th U.S. Congresses. Albemarle, the county seat and largest city in Stanly County, was 

incorporated in 1857. 

As part of the process used to develop the Land Use Plan, a timeline of events shaping the 

history of Stanly County has been developed during the course of the public meeting process. 

The timeline is included in Appendix A to this report. 


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The Planning Process 

STANLY COUNTY 

The process being used to develop the Stanly County Land Use Plan is “community driven.” 

This means that the plan is intended to be a reflection of the values, goals, and vision of the 

people of Stanly County. The process used for the Land Use Plan is illustrated in Figure 1-3. 

The first step in the planning process is to define the existing trends, opportunities, and 

constraints within the county. The information for this analysis was obtained from interviews with 

public officials, community leaders, and through an inventory of existing conditions in the county. 

Overall, the planning process developed to complete the Stanly County Land Use Plan is 

designed to achieve the following goals: 

To ensure representative public involvement of the citizens of Stanly County. As discussed 

below, an extensive program of public involvement has been designed to involve the public 

To establish a sustainable vision, the kind of place Stanly County wants to be. Stanly County 

is an attractive and livable place to live, work, and play. The Land Use Plan is intended to 

identify a vision for the county that protects its resources—both natural and man-made— 

while managing long-range growth and development. 

To coordinate with Stanly County’s municipalities on long-range land use, growth, and 

development issues. Planning issues rarely stop at jurisdictional borders. The Land Use 

Plan will consider the long-range needs of Stanly County’s municipalities to ensure 

coordinated development in urban and rural areas. 

To emphasize the relationship between land use and infrastructure decision-making. Growth 

in any community is highly influenced by the availability of infrastructure ranging from water 

and sewer lines to roads and electrical power. The planning process will emphasize the 

nexus between infrastructure and land use planning. 

Explore new, long-range growth patterns for the county. Stanly County lies near the edge of 

the growing Charlotte metropolitan area. The Land Use Plan will explore new, long-range 

growth patterns to balance growth pressures and the needs of the county. 

The second step in the process is the development of recommendations for addressing the 

problems, issues, and opportunities identified at the outset of the process. Sections 6 and 7 

identify plan recommendations and implementation measures for the future of the county 

respectively. 

The final step is the formal adoption of the plan by both the Planning Commission and Board of 

County Commissioners. The Stanly County Planning Commission approved the Land Use Plan 

for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on May 13, 2002. The Board of 

Commissioners adopted the plan on June 24, 2002. 

Public Participation 

An extensive program has been developed to ensure public participation in the development of 

the Land Use Plan. This program includes the establishment of a 26-member Steering 

Committee, appointed by the Board of Commissioners, to guide the development of the Land 

Use Plan. The Steering Committee serves a multitude of roles in the planning process, including 

acting as a sounding board for ideas developed during the planning process. The Steering 

Committee met at strategic times during the planning process. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Figure 1-3 

Planning Process 


STANLY COUNTY 

In addition to the Land Use Plan Steering Committee, two rounds of Public Input Forums were 

held to gain public information regarding the Land Use Plan at important points in the planning 

process. The first round of Public Input Forums were held in August 2001 and included five 

meetings held throughout the county. The purposes of the first round Public Input Forums was 

to present findings obtained during the existing conditions analysis phase of the planning 

process, and to obtain citizen input regarding issues and concerns regarding the future of the 

county. 

The second round of Public Input Forums were held in March 2002 and were designed to 

provide citizens with an opportunity to comment on the preliminary draft recommendations of the 

Land Use Plan. 

The Land Use Plan Steering Committee recommended the plan’s adoption in April 2002. On 

May 13, 2002, a Public Hearing of the Stanly County Planning Commission was held to accept 

formal public comment regarding the plan’s findings, recommendations, and implementation 

measures. The Land Use Plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on June 24, 

2002. 


STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 2: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS 

Introduction 

Section 2 provides a summary of growth and development trends within Stanly County. The 

section consists of an analysis of socio-economic and countywide development trends. These 

analyses were completed to understand growth rates for the county, and to identify trends for 

use through the remainder of the Land Use Plan development process. 

Socio-Economic Analysis 

The first part of Section 2 analyzes socio-economic trends in Stanly County. The section 

includes analyses of general population, labor force, and educational attainment characteristics. 

The source for most of the information used to develop this part of Section 2 is the decennial 

census information provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, and projections developed by the State 

of North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. 

Population Characteristics 

This portion of Section 2 examines population trends in Stanly County as well as projections into 

the near future. Although most of the analysis included in this portion of Section 2 is focused on 

population growth in the recent past, at the outset of this analysis an assessment of historical 

population statistics is warranted. As indicated in Table 2-1, Stanly County’s population has 

grown at a very steady rate since 

1900. In 1900, Stanly County had a 

population of 15,220; in 2000, the 

U.S. Census Bureau reported a 

population of 58,100, a 281.7 

percent increase over the period, or 

a 2.8 percent annual average. 

Although the growth rate has 

moderated in percentage terms in 

recent decades—Stanly County has 

grown at an annual average of 1.1 

percent since 1950, and 1.0 percent 

since 1980—the amount of the 

population increase has accelerated. 

From 1900 to 2000, the population of 

the county grew by 428.8 persons 

annually. Since 1980, annually the 

population of Stanly County grew by 

764 persons. 

70,000 

60,000 

50,000 

40,000 

30,000 

20,000 

10,000 

0 

Table 2-1. Population of Stanly 

County, North Carolina, 1900-2000. 

1900 

1910 

1920 

1930 

1940 

Over the past 10 years Stanly County has seen almost twice as much growth as in the previous 

10-year period. As indicated in Tables 2-2 and 2-3, from 1980 to 1990 Stanly County’s 

population increased from 48,517 to 51,765, a 6.7 percent increase. From 1990 to 2000 the 

population increased to 58,100, a 12.2 percent rise. In relation to adjacent counties as well as 

the state of North Carolina, Stanly County is still growing at a much slower rate. Largely because 

of the eastward expansion of the Charlotte metropolitan region, adjacent Cabarrus and Union 

Counties grew respectively at a rate of 32.5 and 46.9 percent. To the east, Anson and 

Montgomery Counties are growing at a pace more similar to that of Stanly County. For the state 

of North Caroline the population grew from 1980 to 1990 by 12.8 percent, and from 1990 to 

2000 it increased by 21.4 percent. 

Land Use Plan 2-1 6/02 

1950 

Census Year 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2001. 

1960 

1970 

1980 

1990 

2000

STANLY COUNTY 

Table 2-2. Population Trends, Selected North Carolina 

Counties and Stanly County Communities, 1980-2020. 

Jurisdiction 

1980 1 

Census 

1990 1 

Census 

2000 1 

Census 

2010 2 

Projection 

2020 2 

Projected 

Stanly County 48,517 51,765 58,100 64,372 70,547 

Anson County 25,649 23,474 25,275 26,671 27,653 

Cabarrus County 85,895 98,935 131,063 165,488 200,092 

Davidson County 113,162 126,688 147,246 166,567 184,449 

Mecklenburg County 402,270 511,211 695,454 892,801 1,089,258 

Montgomery County 22,469 23,359 26,822 30,182 33,247 

Rowan County 99,186 110,605 130,340 151,062 171,889 

Union County 70,436 84,210 123,677 166,916 210,738 

Albemarle 15,110 14,940 15,680 

Badin 1,514 1,360 1,154 

Locust 1,590 1,940 2,416 

New London 454 414 326 

Norwood 1,818 1,617 2,216 

Oakboro 587 600 1,198 

Richfield 373 535 515 

Stanfield 463 517 1,113 

Note: The State of North 

Carolina does not project 

future populations for 

municipalities. 

State of North Carolina 5,880,095 6,632,448 8,049,313 8,668,421 7,756,517 

1 U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000. 

2 State of North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. 

Note: Town of Red Cross not included in U.S. Census information. Town incorporated 

in 2002. 

Table 2-3. Percentage Growth, Selected North Carolina 

Counties and Stanly County Communities, 1980-2020. 

Percent 

Change 

Jurisdiction 

1 

Percent 

Change 

1980-1990 

1 

Percent 

Change 

1990-2000 

2 

Percent 

Change 

2000-2010 

2 

2010-2020 

Stanly County 6.7 12.2 10.8 9.6 

Anson County -8.5 7.7 5.5 3.7 

Cabarrus County 15.2 32.5 26.3 20.9 

Davidson County 12.0 16.2 13.1 10.7 

Mecklenburg County 27.1 36.0 28.4 22.0 

Montgomery County 4.0 14.8 12.5 10.2 

Rowan County 11.5 17.8 15.9 13.8 

Union County 19.6 46.9 35.0 26.2 

Albemarle -1.1 5.0 

Badin -10.2 15.1 

Locust 

New London 

Norwood 

Oakboro 

22.0 

-8.8 

-11.1 

2.2 

24.5 

21.3 

37.0 

99.7 

Note: The State of North 

Carolina does not project future 

populations for municipalities. 

Richfield 43.4 -3.7 

Stanfield 11.7 115.3 

State of North Carolina 12.8 21.4 18.0 14.7 

1 

U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000. 

2 

State of North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Population trends for communities within Stanly County were also examined as indicated in 

Tables 2-2 and 2-3. From 1990 to 2000, Stanfield showed the greatest amount of growth with a 

115 percent increase in population. Oakboro showed the second-largest increase with a growth 

rate of 99.7 percent. These growth trends point to the close proximity of the two communities to 

growth in Union and Cabarrus Counties. Significant growth has also taken place in Norwood with 

an increase of 37 percent in population from, 1990 to 2000. This is likely due in part to its 

proximity to Tillery Reservoir. Locust grew over the same period by 24.5 percent. It is anticipated 

that growth will continue in the towns and unincorporated areas on the southwestern edge of the 

county and along NC 24/27 corridor. An acceleration of this growth rate is expected when the 

eastern portion of Interstate 485 is completed in 2003 along with the planned widening of NC 

24/27, NC 49, and U.S. 52 to four lanes. 

Population Projections 

Population projections for counties in North Carolina to the year 2020 have recently been 

released by the State of North Carolina Office of Budget and Management and are included in 

Tables 2-2 and 2-3. Generally these projections estimate that existing population growth trends 

in Stanly County and other central North Carolina counties. These projections predict that the 

population of Stanly County will continue to grow at a moderate pace over the next 20 years. 

The population is predicted to increase 10.8 percent between 2000 and 2010 to 64,372 people. 

The projections go on to predict that the population of the county will be 70,547 persons in 2020, 

a 9.6 percent increase between 2010 and 2020. At the end of the 20-year period, an additional 

12,447 persons are expected to be living in the county. 

Davidson, Montgomery, and Rowan Counties are expected to grow at rates similar to Stanly 

County over the 20-year period identified in Tables 2-2 and 2-3. 

The pattern of significant population growth in the counties west of Stanly County—Cabarrus, 

Mecklenburg, and Union Counties—is expected to continue over the same analysis period. 

Cabarrus County is expected to grow 26.3 percent by 2010, and another 20.9 percent between 

2010 and 2020, ultimately arriving at a population of 200,092 in 2020. Union County—while 

growing at a faster rate—will arrive at a 2020 population of 210,738. By 2020, Mecklenburg 

County’s population is expected to reach 1,089,258. Between 2000 and 2010, Mecklenburg 

County is expected to grow 28.4 percent; between 2010 and 2020, it is predicted that the county 

will grow 22.0 percent. 

Similar projections for communities within Stanly County are not available. 

Table 2-4 compares population growth in unincorporated and incorporated areas of Stanly 

County. From 1990 to 2000, the unincorporated areas grew at almost the same rate as the 

incorporated area. This may, in part, be due to the annexation of unincorporated areas in the 

past decade. Overall, unincorporated areas comprise almost 58 percent of the county’s overall 

population. 

Table 2-4. Population Growth, Unincorporated and 

Incorporated Areas of Stanly County, 1990-2000. 

Area 1990 2000 

Percent 

Change 

Stanly County Unincorporated Population 29,842 33,482 12.2 

Incorporated Totals 21,923 24,618 12.3 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 and 2000. 

Note: Unincorporated population totals include figures for Red Cross. Red Cross 

incorporated subsequent to the completion of the U.S. Census. 


Population by Census Tract 

STANLY COUNTY 

Population by census tract was also compared in order to determine where growth has been 

occurring within the county (Table 2-5 and Figure 2-1). Tract 9908, located in the southwestern 

portion of the county, includes Stanfield and Locust and portions of the newly created Town of 

Red Cross and has the highest population and highest growth rate between 1990 and 2000. The 

population for tract 9908 in 2000 was 8,421 people. The tract’s population grew 26.7 percent 

during the 1990 to 2000 time period. This is no doubt due to tract’s close proximity to Union and 

Cabarrus Counties. 

Tract 9902—which includes Badin and the northern portion of the Tillery Reservoir shoreline— 

was the second-fastest growing tract at 24.6 percent. Tract 9907—which includes the Millingport 

area—was the third-fastest growing tract at 22.9 percent. As with tract 9908, its growth can be 

attributed to its close proximity to Union and Cabarrus Counties. 

Table 2-5. Population Growth by Census Tract, Stanly County, 1990-2000. 

Census 1990 2000 Percent Highest Highest 

Tract Population Population Growth Population Growth 

9901 7,142 7,745 8.44 2 6 

9902 3,237 4,034 24.62 8 2 

9903 3,648 3,902 6.96 9 7 

9904 3,438 3,481 1.25 11 11 

9905 3,352 3,577 6.71 10 8 

9906 5,917 6,251 5.64 3 9 

9907 3,431 4,218 22.94 7 3 

9908 6,644 8,421 26.75 1 1 

9909 4,579 5,150 12.47 6 5 

9910 4,746 5,468 15.21 5 4 

9911 5,631 5,853 3.94 4 10 


Median Age and Age Distribution 

Table 2-6 provides a comparison of median age statistics for Stanly County, the state of North 

Carolina, and the United States. The median age for the population of Stanly County has been 

aging over the past 20 years. For 1999 the median age was estimated to be 36.7 years of age. 

This is consistent with state and national trends of aging. Stanly County’s median age has been 

consistently higher than the state and national figures. It is projected for the next 20 years that 

the county will continue to age and for the median age to become closer to that of the state as a 

whole. 

Table 2-6. Median Age of the Population, Stanly County, 

State of North Carolina, and the United States, 1981-2020. 

Year Stanly County 1 

North Carolina 1 

United States 2 

1981 32.7 30.0 — 

1990 34.8 33.0 32.8 

2000 36.9 35.8 35.5 

2010 Projected 38.6 38.3 — 

2020 Projected 38.8 39.3 — 

1 State of North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. 

2 U.S. Census Bureau, 1981, 1990, and 2000. 


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Table 2-7 provides a comparative breakdown of the age distribution of Stanly County from 1990 

and 2000. The table illustrates the aging of Stanly County that took place from 1990 to 2000. In 

1990, the largest age cohort was the 25 to 34 age group (15.3 percent of population); while in 

2000, the 35 to 44 cohort (15.5 percent) was the largest. Significant growth occurred—in 

percentage terms—for the 45 to 54, 35 to 44, and 10 to 14 age cohorts. Decreases occurred in 

the 25 to 34, 20 to 24, 65 to 74, and 15 to 19 age cohorts. 

Table 2-7. Age Distribution, Stanly County, 1990-2000. 

1990 2000 2000 

Percentage 

Increase 

Age 1990 Percent Estimates Percent 1990-2000 

0-4 3,746 7.2 3,624 7.2 — 

5-9 3,452 6.7 4,175 7.2 0.5 

10-14 3,395 6.6 4,334 7.5 0.9 

15-19 3,807 7.4 3,870 6.7 -0.7 

20-24 3,762 7.3 3,374 5.8 -1.5 

25-34 7,901 15.3 7,851 13.5 -1.8 

35-44 7,488 14.5 9,022 15.5 1.0 

45-54 5,593 10.8 7,932 13.7 2.9 

55-59 2,544 4.9 3,103 5.3 0.4 

60-64 2,533 4.9 2,550 4.4 -0.5 

65-74 4,505 8.7 4,433 7.6 -1.1 

75-84 2,484 4.8 2,952 5.1 0.3 

85+ 555 1.1 880 1.5 0.4 

Total 51,765 58,100 

Source: State of North Carolina Office of State Budget, Planning and Management, 2000. 

Population Density 

Population density is an indication of the intensity of developed within a geographical area. In 

1990 Stanly County had a population density of 131.0 persons per square mile (Table 2-8). The 

2000 census indicated the population density increased by 12.3 percent to 147.1 persons per 

square mile, a growth rate similar to the national average of 12.7 percent. For the same period, 

the population density of the state of North Carolina grew 21.3 percent to a population density of 

165.2 persons per square mile. 

Table 2-8. Population Density (Persons Per Square Mile), Selected North 

Carolina Counties, State of North Carolina, and the United States, 1990-2000. 

County 1990 2000 Percent Growth 

Stanly 131.0 147.1 12.3 

Anson 44.2 47.5 7.5 

Cabarrus 271.5 359.7 32.5 

Davidson 229.4 266.7 16.3 

Mecklenburg 971.8 1,321.5 36.0 

Montgomery 47.5 54.6 15.0 

Rowan 216.3 254.9 17.9 

Union 132.1 194.0 46.9 

State of North Carolina 136.2 165.2 21.3 

United States 70.3 79.2 12.7 

Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 and 1980. 


STANLY COUNTY 

When compared to other surrounding counties, the counties to the north and west all have 

higher population densities as well as greater percent increases. For the sake of comparison, 

Cabarrus County had in 2000 a population density of 359.7 persons per square mile. The county 

experienced a 32.5 percent increase in density between 1990 and 2000. Union County, which 

began the 1990s with a population density similar to Stanly County’s 2000 population density, 

grew 46.9 percent to a population density of 194.0 persons per square mile. 

Rowan County, located immediately to the north of Stanly County, had a 2000 population density 

of 254.9 persons per square mile and experienced a 17.9 percent increase in that density 

between 1990 and 2000. Davidson County grew at a similar rate over the same time period. 

Anson and Montgomery are the only surrounding Counties that have lower population densities 

than Stanly County. Each has a population density about one-third that of Stanly County. Overall 

this population density analysis indicated that Stanly County lies at the crossroads of a rapidlydeveloped 

and expanding urban area to the west, and a more-rural area to the east. Looking 

ahead, Stanly can learn from the communities to its west of what can be in store for them as the 

Charlotte metropolitan area grows toward Stanly County. 

Table 2-9 provides a summary of household statistics for Stanly County and the state of North 

Carolina. The total number of households in Stanly County increased 12.5 percent from 1990 to 

2000. For this period, an additional 2,476 new households were established within the county. 

This growth rate, although somewhat reduced from the 13.6 percent growth rate for the county 

for the 1980 to 1990 timeframe, mirrors both the county’s continued population growth and 

gradual reduction in household size discussed later in this report. 

For the 1990-2000 time period, the number of households in the state of North Carolina grew 

24.4 percent to a total of 3,132,013 households according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Table 2-9. Households, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000. 

Place 1980 1990 

Percent 

Change 

1980-1990 2000 

Percent 

Change 

1990-2000 

Stanly County 17,378 19,747 13.6 22,223 12.5 

North Carolina 2,043,291 2,517,026 23.2 3,132,013 24.4 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000. 

The mean persons per household in Stanly County decreased from 1990 to 2000 to 2.53 

persons per household. As indicated in Table 2-10, this trend is in keeping with a state trend of 

household sizes getting smaller. Figures for the state of North Carolina decreased at a slightly 

faster rate—2.0 percent—compared to the county rate of 1.6 percent. As a result, Stanly 

County’s 1990 persons per household rate is slightly higher than the state average. 

Table 2-10. Mean Persons Per Household, Stanly 

County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000. 

Place 1980 1990 

Percent 

Change 

1980-1990 2000 

Percent 

Change 

1990-2000 

Stanly County 2.73 2.57 -5.9 2.53 -1.6 

North Carolina 2.78 2.54 -8.6 2.49 -2.0 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000. 


Median Income 

STANLY COUNTY 

Table 2-11 provides a comparison of median income for Stanly County and the state of North 

Carolina. Stanly County’s median household income in 1980 ($14,510) was roughly similar to 

that of the state ($14,481). While the median income of the county rose from 1990 to 2000 by 

74.9 percent to $25,374, that increase was below the state’s growth rate for the same period. 

That trend continued through to the year 2000, with the 2000 median income for the county 

rising to $34,156 compared to $38,498 for the state of North Carolina. 

Table 2-11. Median Income, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000. 

Percent 

Change 

Percent 

Change 

1990-2000 

Place 1980 1 

1990 1 

1980-1990 2000 2 

Stanly County $14,510 $25,374 74.9 $34,156 34.6 

North Carolina $14,481 $26,647 84.0 $38,498 44.5 

1 

U.S. Census Bureau, 1980 and 1990. 

2 

CACI Marketing Source Book of County Demographics, 2000. 

Labor Force Characteristics 

Unemployment 

This section of Section 2 examines characteristics of the labor force of Stanly County in terms of 

the unemployment, distribution of labor, and commuting time. 

Table 2-12 indicates unemployment rates from 1992 to 2001 for both Stanly County and the 

state of North Carolina. While from 1997 to 2000 unemployment rates had experienced a 

gradual decrease in Stanly County, the non-adjusted 2001 unemployment rate was 8.3 percent, 

the highest annual rate since 1992. As for the state of North Carolina, the 5.5 percent 

unemployment rate represents the first rate increase in the 1992 to 2001 analysis period. 

Table 2-12. Unemployment Rate (Not Seasonally Adjusted), 

Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1992-2001. 

Year Stanly County North Carolina 

1992 6.2 6.0 

1993 5.1 4.9 

1994 6.2 4.4 

1995 5.9 4.3 

1996 6.3 4.3 

1997 4.7 3.6 

1998 3.4 3.5 

1999 3.5 3.2 

2000 4.2 3.6 

2001 8.3 5.5 

Source: Civilian Labor Force for North Carolina, 2002. 


Employment Sectors 

STANLY COUNTY 

Comprising of over 27.1 percent the county’s employment base, the largest employment sector 

of the Stanly County economy in 2000 remains the manufacture of non-durable goods (Table 2- 

13) a drop of 0.4 percentage points for the overall market since 1990. This reflects the size and 

importance of this sector of the economy despite the decline of the textile industry since the 

early 1990s. Behind the manufacturing/non-durable sector is the retail trade sector that 

accounted for 14.5 percent of the county’s employment base, and the manufacture of durable 

goods that accounted for 13.0 percent of the county employment base. 

The state of North Carolina’s largest employment sector was the retail trades with 16.0 percent 

of the employed workforce in 2001. Behind the retail trades sector was the manufacture of nondurable 

goods sector at 14.4 percent of persons employed, and the manufacture of durable 

goods sector that accounted for 11.7 percent of statewide employment. 

Commuting Time 

Commuting time is an important indicator of the land use relationship between residential 

development areas patterns and places of employment such as commercial, industrial, public, 

and agricultural areas. In 1990, 74 percent of the Stanly County workforce was traveling less 

than 30 minutes to work (Table 2-14). This indicates that the great majority of Stanly County’s 

labor force was working within the county. The average commute time for the Stanly County 

labor force was 20.8 minutes, roughly similar to the statewide average. Statistics from 2000 

indicated a commuting time increase for Stanly County to 25.3 minutes, a 21.6 percent increase 

from 1990. A similar increase was registered for the state of North Carolina over the same time 

period. 

Table 2-13. Employment by Industrial Sector (Population 16+ 

Years), Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1990-2000. 

State of 

North Carolina Stanly County 

Industry 1990 2000 1990 2000 

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2.8 2.8 2.0 2.1 

Mining 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 

Construction 7.0 7.2 8.7 8.9 

Manufacturing-Non-durable Goods 14.9 14.4 27.5 27.1 

Manufacturing-Durable Goods 11.8 11.7 12.9 13.0 

Transportation 3.8 3.8 2.8 2.8 

Communications and Other Public Utilities 2.6 2.7 1.6 1.6 

Wholesales Trade 4.2 4.4 2.5 2.6 

Retail Trade 16.1 16.0 14.6 14.5 

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 5.1 5.3 3.4 3.6 

Business and Repair Services 3.9 4.0 3.3 3.5 

Personal Services 2.8 2.7 2.0 1.9 

Entertainment and Recreation Services 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.8 

Health Services 7.2 7.1 4.7 4.7 

Educational Services 8.0 7.9 6.8 6.6 

Other Professional and Related Services 5.1 5.2 2.9 2.8 

Public Administration 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.2 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990. 

Claritas, 2002. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Table 2-14. Mean Commuting Time, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1990-2000. 

Census Year Stanly County State of North Carolina 

1990 20.8 19.8 

2000 25.3 24.0 

Percent Change, 1990 to 2000 21.6 Percent 21.2 Percent 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 to 2000. 

With the construction of the eastern section of Interstate 485 to within 13 miles of the western 

edge of Stanly County scheduled to be complete in 2003, commuting times are expected to 

increase for the county labor force. Easier access will allow for quicker commutes to Charlotte 

and its eastern suburbs in Cabarrus and Union Counties. This will result in an increase in the 

population of people who work in Charlotte and Union and Cabarrus Counties but who live in 

Stanly County. This development is of particular concern for western Stanly County, including 

the towns of Locust and Stanfield and the NC 24/27 corridor leading to Albemarle, a situation 

that appears to be borne-out already in 2000 Census figures for Stanly County. 

Educational Attainment 

The educational level of an area is an important factor for employers and new businesses when 

deciding where to locate. Based on 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census figures, Stanly County has a 

relatively high level of educational attainment. As indicated in Table 2-15, educational attainment 

remained relatively unchanged for the county from 1990 to 2000. Over 32.9 percent of the 

population over the age of 25 have obtained a high school diploma, a 0.5 percent increase over 

the 10 year period. The percentage of residents with a high school diploma or greater increased 

at a similar level to 62.5 percent of the over 25 population. 

Table 2-15. Educational Attainment, Stanly County, 1990 and 2000. 

Educational Attainment Level 1990 2000 

Less than 9th Grade 15.0 14.8 

9th-12th Grade, No diploma 22.9 22.8 

High School Graduate 32.4 32.9 

Some College, No Degree 14.1 14.0 

Associate’s Degree 6.3 6.4 

Bachelor's Degree 7.0 6.9 

Graduate or Professional Degree 2.4 2.3 

Percent High School Graduate or Higher 62.2 62.5 

Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.4 9.2 


County Development Trend Analysis 

Zoning and building permit data were examined to identify trend of development within Stanly 

County. Data was used that was available from the county from as far back as 1990 for zoning 

permits activity, and from building permits data from 1997 to the present. It is important to note 

that building permit data discussed in this section of the report includes statistics covering all of 

Stanly County. Zoning permit data, however, excludes statistics for Locust, Oakboro, Richfield, 

and Stanfield. 


Building Activity 

Zoning Permits 

STANLY COUNTY 

Table 2-16 provides a summary of zoning permits issued by the county from 1990 to 2001. The 

statistics include permits granted within Albemarle, Badin, New London, Norwood, as well as all 

unincorporated areas of the county. A total of 10,866 zoning permits were issued over the 12year 

period indicated in Table 2-16, an average of 905 permits granted annually. This figure 

includes not only new construction but additions to existing residential structures. The year with 

the most permits granted was 1999 with 1,050 permits granted followed closely by 1990 with 

1,011 total permits. While zoning permit activity has fluctuated over the analysis period, the 

number of permits granted has never varied from this average by more than 12.5 percent over 

the analysis period. 

Table 2-16. Zoning Permits Issued, Stanly County, 1990-2001. 

Commercial/ 

Industrial 

Total Residential/ 

Commercial/ 

Year 

Residential 

Permits 

Permits Industrial Permits 

1990 — — — 1,011 

1991 — — — 880 

1992 — — — 898 

1993 — — — 856 

1994 — — — 794 

1995 — — — 795 

1996 — — — 834 

1997 — — — 919 

1998 492 31 523 945 

1999 510 54 564 1,050 

2000 481 24 505 979 

2001 480 82 562 905 

Total 1,963 191 2,154 10,866 

Average 490.8 47.8 538.5 905.0 

Source: Stanly County Permit Activity Reports, Stanly County Planning and Zoning Department, 

1990-2001. 

Total Permits 

(Includes Additions) 

A more-detailed breakdown of zoning permit information is provided for the time period 

beginning in 1998. This breakdown—while not providing an adequate length of time to establish 

a clear trend—indicates an average of 490.8 residential zoning permits and 47.8 commercial 

and industrial permits granted annually. The figures for residential permits has been fairly 

consistent over the three-year period, ranging from a low 492 permits in 1998 to a high of 510 

permits in 1999. Figures for commercial and industrial zoning permits is less consistent, ranging 

from a low of 24 in 2000 and a high of 82 in 2001. 

Building Permits 

Table 2-17 provides a summary of building permits issued from 1997 through 2001 for all of 

Stanly County including all incorporated areas. The statistics indicated in Table 2-17 do not 

provide an adequate amount of historical data to indicate a clear trend, but they do indicate 

some interesting findings. First, new home building permits issued in Stanly County have 

averaged 273 permits issued annually with high and low yearly figures within 10 percent of the 

average. Trends for the issuance of permits for manufactured homes—although more erratic 

than statistics on new home construction—are generally consistent from year to year. An 

average of 278 manufactured home permits have been issued since 1997 in Stanly County. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Table 2-17. Building Permits Issued, Stanly County, 1997-2001. 

Year 

Conclusions 

New 

Houses 

Manufactured 

Homes 

Total 

Residential 

New 

Commercial 

and Industrial 

Land Use Plan 2-12 6/02 

Total Permits 

Estimated 

Average 

House Cost 

Estimated 

Average Cost 

Commercial 

and Industrial 

1997 251 294 545 110 655 $84,828 $67,905 

1998 247 323 570 122 692 $93,156 $165,534 

1999 277 338 615 153 768 $93,206 $30,227 

2000 297 267 564 186 750 $103,540 $88,498 

2001 293 168 461 179 927 $94,461 $187,071 

Average 273.0 278.0 551.0 150.0 758.4 $93,838.2 $107,847 

Note: Includes incorporated areas. 

Source: Stanly County Building Department. 

Together, the total number of residential permits issued in Stanly County since 1997 is 551 

permits. The number of commercial and industrial permits rose each year from 1997 to 2000. In 

1997, 110 commercial/industrial permits were granted in the county. This figure rose to 186 

permits in 2000 and decreased slightly to 179 permits in 2001. The average number of 

commercial and industrial permits granted from 1997 to 2001 was 150. 

The estimated value of the new residential construction in Stanly County from 1997 to 2001 was 

an average of $94,461. This figure does not include the estimated value of manufactured 

homes. As with the zoning permit statistics summarized in Table 2-16, the residential permit 

estimated value was fairly consistent from year to year, with a high of $103,540 in 2000 and a 

low of $84,828 in 1997. For commercial and industrial construction, the statistics are less 

consistent. The average estimated value of each commercial/industrial permit for the 1997-2001 

period was $107,847; however, this includes figures as high as $187,071 in 2001 and figures as 

low as $30,227 in 1999. Again, as these statistics are collected for a more considerable period 

of time, a more-clear trend analysis will become possible to identify. 

Analysis reviewed in Section 2 indicates that Stanly County is at a crossroads. Stanly County— 

though twice as large as its eastern and southern neighbors, Anson and Montgomery Counties, 

is growing at a roughly similar rate. Its neighbors to the west—Cabarrus and Union Counties— 

are both growing at a rapid pace due to their location relative to Charlotte. The influence of the 

Charlotte metropolitan region is increasingly being felt throughout the county and particularly in 

the western half in the vicinity of Locust, Oakboro, Red Cross, and Stanfield, and in the northern 

portion near New London and Richfield. 

Stanly County grew to a population of 58,100 in 2000, a 12.2 percent increase since 1990. While 

this growth rate is low relative to adjacent counties, Stanly County in 2000 finds itself where 

Davidson, Cabarrus, and Rowan Counties were in 1990: experiencing double-digit growth rates. 

As planned infrastructure such as road improvements is constructed, Stanly County, and most 

certainly its western perimeter communities will increasingly be connected to the outside world to 

the west. Eventually it will need to be prepared for rapid growth in the near future. 

Some parts of Stanly County are already experiencing this growth. Census tracts centered on 

western (Locust, Red Cross, and Stanfield), west-central (the Millingport area), and east Stanly 

County (Narrows and Tillery Reservoir) all grew at a rate over 20 percent since 1990. While this 

growth maybe small in terms of real numbers, they indicate that these areas are all approaching 

the growth rates of neighboring counties to the north and west as well as residential growth in 

eastern Stanly County near Tillery Reservoir.

STANLY COUNTY 

Data on employment, commuting distances, and educational attainment indicates that Stanly 

County is beginning to more resemble its northern and western neighbors. 

Zoning and building permit information for the county verifies this growth. The Stanly County 

Building Department has issued an average of 273 new home and 278 manufactured home 

permits since 1997. Figures for commercial and industrial building permits indicate a steady 

increase in construction activity since 1997. 


SECTION 3: THE LAY OF THE LAND 

Natural Resources Analysis 

STANLY COUNTY 

An analysis of environmental conditions within Stanly County will provide a framework for 

decision-making about future development patterns in the county. For a variety of environmental 

reasons, certain areas of the planning area are better suited for development than others. 

Factors such as soil conditions, lands subject to wetland conditions and flooding, groundwater 

supplies, and steep slopes must be considered during the planning process. 

The process of determining the suitability of land for development involves analyzing the 

attributes of the natural environment and identifying restrictions placed on development by each 

attribute. The major natural systems that have been analyzed to determine land suitability and 

the county are soils, wetlands, geology, groundwater, surface water, and floodplains. A variety of 

sources were utilized in the environmental analysis including the Soil Survey of Stanly County, 

and information obtained from state and federal agency web sites. 

Geology of the Region 

Stanly County is located in the Piedmont Province of North Carolina, between the Blue Ridge 

Mountains and the Coastal Plain. The land can be defined as gently rolling. The Uwharrie 

Mountain Range, which is considered to be the oldest mountain range in North America, is 

partially located within the County. North Carolina is divided into nine geological belts, areas with 

similar rock types and geologic history. Stanly County is located within the ‘Carolina Slate Belt’ 

that consists of rock of sedimentary and volcanic origin formed during the Cambrian Period 

around 550 to 650 million years ago. When the rock underlying Stanly County today was formed, 

the land was comprised of oceanic volcanic islands. 

That geologic history left Stanly County rich with mineral resources. Stanly County participated in 

the nation’s first “gold rush” beginning in the late 1790s. North Carolina led the United States in 

gold production prior to the gold rush in California in 1849. Some gold mining has continued in 

the area to this day. 

Today, mineral extraction in the Carolina Slate Belt generally consists of surface mining of 

crushed stone for streets, and pyrophyllite for refactories, ceramics, filler, paint, and insecticide 

carriers. Triassic Period basins containing sedimentary rocks that were formed from streams 

carrying mud, silt, sand, and gravel are also found in the county. These mudstones are mined in 

order to produce brick, sewer pipe, structural tile, and drainage pipe (North Carolina Geological 

Survey web site). 

Soils Soil characteristics play an important role in determining the ability of the land to effectively 

support various forms of land use from farming to the construction of a residential subdivision to 

more intensive activities such as commercial or industrial development. 

There are six general soil units in Stanly County as shown on Figure 3-1. Each unit usually is 

comprised of one or two major series as well as minor series. Table 3-1 provides a summary of 

each of the six soil units present in Stanly County. These units can be used to determine soil 

suitability for large areas. Because of the large number of individual soil phases within a general 

series—and the widespread availability of soil surveys from various federal, state, and local 

agencies—they are not mapped. In order to determine individual property soil suitability the Soil 

Survey of Stanly County, North Carolina should be consulted (U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), 1997). 


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STANLY COUNTY 

Table 3-1. General Soil Units of Stanly County. 

Percentage of 

Stanly County 

Soil Unit Land Area General Description 

Badin-Goldston 52.2 These soils range from undulating to steep and are 

well-drained. The surface is loamy with a clayey 

subsoil that is found on uplands. About half of the 

County consists of this type of soil. The 

northwestern portion of the County along with most 

of the eastern and southern portions of the County, 

except near the lakes and Morrow Mountain, are 

Tatum-Badin- 

Georgeville 

Misenheimer- 

Kirksey-Badin 

Tatum 

(eroded)-Badin- 

Georgeville 

(eroded) 

Badin-Goldston soil. 

25.8 Soils vary from gently sloping to rolling and are well 

drained. The top layer is loamy with a clayey subsoil 

and is found on uplands. The western central part of 

the County is made up of this kind of soil, stretching 

from the Stanfield/Locust area up past the 

Millingport area. 

9.1 Almost level to gently sloping soil that is somewhat 

poorly drained to well drained. It contains a loamy 

top layer with a loamy to clayey subsoil and is found 

in depressional areas, at the top of and along 

drainageways, and on knolls and ridges. 

This soil is in isolated areas in the western and more 

central areas of the County including Oakboro, 

Misenheimer, and Richfield. 

5.5 These soils are gently sloping to steep and are well 

drained. The soil is generally eroded and has a 

loamy top layer with a clayey subsoil and is found on 

uplands. 

The southeastern tip of the County along Tillery 

Reservoir consists of this type of soil, this includes 

the Town of Norwood. 

Enon 3.8 Soils are undulating to hilly and well drained. 

Surface layer is stony or cobbly with a plastic clayey 

subsoil and is found on uplands. Scattered areas 

along the eastern side of the County contain this 

Uwharrie- 

Hiwassee- 

Tatum 

type of soil. 

3.6 Soils are gently sloping to very steep and are well 

drained. The top layer is stony or gravelly with a 

clayey subsoil found on uplands. The area around 

Morrow Mountain State Park as well as New London 

to the Yadkin River contain this type of soil. 

Source: Soil Survey of Stanly County, North Carolina. United States Department of 

Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, in cooperation with North 

Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, North 

Carolina Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina Agricultural Extension 

Service, and Stanly Board of Commissioners, 1989. 

Prime Farmland Areas 

Stanly County is an agricultural community. Agriculture—both in terms of cropland and 

pasturage—is the single-largest land use within the county. As of 1997 there were 558 farms 

within the county (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1997). In 1999 there were 55,000 

acres of harvested cropland with an estimated $61,000,000 in farm cash receipts (North 

Carolina Department of Agriculture, 2000). Poultry and beef cattle are the main livestock 

produced in the county, and cotton and soybeans are the major crops, with forages and corn 


STANLY COUNTY 

production closely following those numbers. Of the cash receipts generated in the county, 80 

percent are from livestock sales and 20 percent from crop sales. 

Preserving prime farmland areas as an important resource is essential for the community as 

well as for future generations. According to the USDA, “It is of major importance in meeting the 

Nation’s short and long-range needs for food and fiber. The acreage of high-quality farmland is 

limited, and the USDA recognizes that government at local, state, and federal levels, as well as 

individuals, must encourage and facilitate the wise use of our nation’s prime farmland.” 

According to the American Farmland Trust’s 1997 report Farming on the Edge, the Southern 

Piedmont Major Land Resource Area (MLRA)—a zone that includes Stanly County and extends 

from Northern Virginia to east-central Alabama—was identified as the 21st most-threatened 

MRLA from among 127 MRLAs in the United States. This ranking was based on the relative 

high-quality of the MRLA in terms of soil characteristics and other factors, and relatively high 

development pressures in the region. Farming on the Edge recommends a series of general 

recommendations for highly-threatened, high-quality resource areas such as the Southern 

Piedmont (American Farmland Trust, 1997). 

Prime farmland is defined by the USDA as ‘soils that are best suited to producing food, feed, 

forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. Prime farmland soils produce the highest yields with minimal 

inputs of energy and economic resources.’ A good amount of moisture from precipitation or 

irrigation is usually received and the soil acidity or alkalinity level is acceptable. There are few or 

no rocks in the soil and water and air can easily seep through. Erosion is low and flooding during 

growing season is minimal. Slopes range usually from 0 to 6 percent. 

Based on these criteria, Stanly County has 49,843 acres of prime farmland, approximately 20 

percent of the county’s land area. Although these prime farmland areas are scattered around the 

county, the largest concentrations are found in the Tatum-Badin-Georgeville and Misenheimer- 

Kirksey-Badin soil units as shown on the general soil map (see Figure 3-2). Table 3-2 indicates 

the individual soil phases that are considered to be prime farmland soils in Stanly County. 

Table 3-2. Prime Farmland Soil Phases of Stanly County. 

Soil 

Percentage of 

Stanly County 

Symbol Soil Phase Acreage 

Land Area 

GeB Georgeville Silt Loam, 2 to 8 

Percent Slopes 

6,862 2.7 

HeB Hiwassee Gravelly Loam, 2 to 8 


1,781 0.7 

KkB Kirksey Silt Loam, 0 to 6 Percent 

Slopes 

15,352 6.1 

TbB Tatum Channery Silt Loam, 2 to 8 


28,828 10.2 

Source: Soil Survey of Stanly County, North Carolina, 1997. 

Currently Stanly County has no farmland preservation methods in place. Neighboring Rowan 

County to the north has a voluntary farmland preservation program in place with agricultural 

districts. Landowners sign non-binding agreements to ‘sustain, encourage, and promote 

agriculture’ and in return receive greater protections from nuisance suits filed by nearby 

landowners as well as other harmful impacts (The Land Trust for Central North Carolina, 1997). 

Stanly County has been involved in encouraging and educating residents on farmland 

preservation. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of Stanly County held a Farm 

Land Protection Seminar in May of 2001 to educate farmers and others about the different 

programs, policies, and laws of the State and Local Governments for farm protection. According 

to the Land Trust for Central North Carolina, sites totaling over 1,000 acres have been protected 

as open space or farmland in the last three years within Stanly County. Additional sites totaling 

200 acres will be signed soon for preservation. The State of North Carolina has limited funding 

that individuals can apply for to preserve farmland. One of the criteria for receiving money is if 


Soil Classifications 

GeB 

HeB 

KkB 

TbB 

STANFIELD 

LOCUST 

2 0 2 4 Miles 

NC 200 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

Millingport Rd. 

Swift Rd. 

Ridgecrest Rd. 

RED CROSS 

NC 205 

OAKBORO 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 

RICHFIELD 

St. Martin Rd. 

NC 138 

NEW LONDON 

Austin Rd. 

Old Salisbury Rd. 

NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 

Plank Rd. 

ALBEMARLE 

South Stanly 

School Rd. 

Airport Rd. 

NC 740 

Stony Gap Rd. 

US 52 

NC 740 

Valley Dr. 

Indian Mound Rd. 

BADIN 

NC 73 

NORWOOD 

NC 731 

Figure 3-2 

Prime Farmland Soils 



STANLY COUNTY 

the area requesting the money is considered to be “best soil” or prime farmland. No in depth 

study has been done so far of Stanly County in order to determine this. The Soil Survey of Stanly 

County has designated certain soil phases to have the potential for prime farmland soils, but a 

more specific study needs to be done in order to determine exactly where these areas are. 

Currently, a Regional Farmland Preservation Study is in the beginning stages. 

Surface Waters and Drainage Systems, Flood Hazard Areas, and Wetlands 

Surface Water and Drainage Areas 

Wetland Areas 

Stanly County lies within the watersheds of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River and Rocky River. 

Approximately two-thirds of Stanly County drains into the Rocky River and one-third drains 

directly into the Yadkin-Pee Dee River. The Yadkin River begins in north-central North Carolina 

in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and drains much of central North Carolina and 

eastern South Carolina. Near Morrow Mountain State Park, the Uhwarrie River joins the Yadkin 

River to form the Pee Dee River, a river that ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean south of 

Myrtle Beach. 

The Yadkin-Pee Dee River has been dammed in four locations on the eastern border of Stanly 

County. This system of dams is part of a chain of man-made lakes extending from Blewitt Falls 

near Rockingham upstream to High Rock Reservoir in Davidson/Rowan Counties. Beginning in 

the north, the Tuckertown Dam, located northeast of New London, was created to form 

Tuckertown Reservoir that extends to the northeastern corner of the county. The Narrows or 

Badin Dam, located east of Badin, was created to form the 5,350-acre Narrows Reservoir. 

Immediately downstream from the Narrows Dam is the Falls Dam that creates the Falls 

Reservoir in the vicinity of Morrow Mountain State Park. Each of these systems is managed by 

Yadkin-APGI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcoa, Inc., formally the Aluminum Corporation of 

America (Yadkin-APGI web site), as part of the Yadkin Project. The Yadkin Project is a 

hydroelectrical project licensed by the Federal Energy Regulator Commission (FERC). 

Tillery Reservoir, a 5,000-acre hydroelectrical reservoir managed by the Carolina Power and 

Light Company forms behind the Norwood Dam located east of Norwood. 

Much of the eastern portion of Stanly County drains eastward directly into the Yadkin and Pee 

Dee Rivers or via such tributaries as Mountain Creek. Both the Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers form 

the eastern boundaries of Stanly County (see Figure 3-3). The western and central part of the 

county drain from the northwest to the south via tributaries including Big Bear Creek, Island 

Creek, and Town Creek that then flow southward into the Rocky River. South of Norwood, the 

Rocky River joins the Pee Dee River. The Rocky River forms most of the southern boundary of 

the county. 

Figure 3-3 illustrates wetland areas within Stanly County. Generally these wetland areas are 

limited to isolated small-scale wetland areas located in valley bottoms, and long major rivers and 

tributaries of Stanly County. 

Flood Hazard Areas 

Floodplains serve a multi-purpose role as storage of rain waters, as recharge areas for 

groundwater, and wildlife habitat. Areas of Stanly County within the 100-year floodplain are 

identified in Figure 3-3. These flood hazard are designated by the Flood Insurance Rate Maps 

(FIRM) for Stanly County and are produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA). Areas within the 100-year floodplain are typically subject to a one in 100 chance of 

flooding within a given year. 


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STANLY COUNTY 

Flood-prone areas typically follow the major creeks, rivers, and reservoirs of Stanly County. In 

western Stanly County the larger creeks that have flood hazard areas include Rock Hole Creek, 

Island Creek, Pole Bridge Creek, Running Creek, Little Creek, and Big Bear Creek. In the 

central part of the county the flood hazard areas include Long Creek, Town Creek, Little Long 

Creek, and Mountain Creek. In the eastern area the flood hazard areas are adjacent to Narrows 

Reservoir, the Yadkin River, the Pee Dee River, and Tillery Reservoir. The Rocky River along 

the southern portion of the County also has flood hazard areas along it as well. 

Stanly County has created a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance in order to limit potential 

damage and injury from flooding. Within the ordinance limitations are set on building in flood 

areas along with requiring a Development Permit in all special flood hazard areas (Stanly 

County, 2000). 

When new development occurs in the county there is the increased potential for flooding. 

Development increases the amount of impervious surface in the form of roadways, sidewalks, 

parking areas, thus increasing the volume and rate of surface water runoff. As the county 

develops, measures will need to be considered to mitigate the potential for flooding. 

Watershed Management Areas 

Steep Slopes 

Stanly County has two watershed protection areas within its boundaries. These areas are 

protected by the Stanly County Watershed Protection Ordinance and contain both Critical and 

Protected Areas. Certain land uses are prohibited within the Critical areas because of their 

potential for contamination of drinking water in the Yadkin-Pee Dee basin. Critical areas in the 

northeast follow the Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers and extend 500 feet from the center of the river. 

The Protected areas extend further out from the Critical areas. From the Pee Dee River in the 

east the Protected area extends to the eastern part of Albemarle. And in the north the Protected 

area covers the Town of Richfield and the northern part of New London. 

The topography of Stanly County consists of gently rolling hills giving way to the Uwharrie 

Mountains in the eastern third of the county. Areas with steep slopes are more difficult to farm 

and develop for more-intensive activities such as residential development, and the construction 

of commercial and industrial areas. Soil types also can affect what land uses can be 

accommodated in an area. A slope analysis using U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic 

information indicates that most of Stanly County has slopes with grades less than ten percent. 

Small areas with steep slopes greater than ten percent are scattered around the county, but are 

mostly concentrated in the vicinity of Morrow Mountain State Park and along the Yadkin and Pee 

Dee Rivers as illustrated in Figure 3-4. 

Scenic Byways 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has designated 44 Scenic Byways 

throughout the state to provide motorists with an opportunity to experience North Carolina’s 

history, geography, and culture while raising awareness for the protection and preservation of 

these corridors (NCDOT web site). Sixteen Scenic Byways have been identified in the Piedmont 

area including four routes within Stanly County. Figure 3-5 illustrates the location of each of the 

byways within Stanly County. 


Slope Percentage 

0'-10'% 

10'-20'% 

STANFIELD 

LOCUST 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

2 0 2 4 Miles 

NC 200 


Swift Rd. 


RED CROSS 

NC 205 

OAKBORO 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 

RICHFIELD 


NC 138 

NEW LONDON 

Austin Rd. 


NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 


ALBEMARLE 


School Rd. 

Airport Rd. 

NC 740 

Stony Gap Rd. 

US 52 

NC 740 

Valley Dr. 


BADIN 

NC 73 

NORWOOD 

NC 731 

Figure 3-4 

Slope Analysis 



Quiet Cove 

HICK ORY HILL 

S TRA WBE RRY 

TITE 

GREEN OAKS 

WHITE OAK 

MYRTL E 

P INE BLUFF 

RUB EN 

FRED 

Legend 

RL 

RENEE F ORD 

NAN CE 

TUCKE R- HELMS 

THOMAS 

ROS SIE 

COPLE Y 

DAV ID 

Renee Ford Rd. 

Scenic Byways 

NC 24-27 

B ROW NS HILL 

P OLK F ORD 

S MITH 

G RIFFIN-HILL 

JODIE 

TA LLEY 

TATER 

QUE ENS 

JE NKINS 

Y OW 

V ERNON 

R EED MINE 

MONTCLA IR 

ME ADOW CREEK CHURCH 

SCOUT 

NC 24/27 

NC 24- 27 

BERTHA 

MA IN 

BRENTWOOD 

JUNGLE 

RIDGE 

HILLCREST 

T UCKER 

NATU RE 

TWIN OAK S 

DAK OTA 

CREE KV IEW 

OLD HICKORY 

WES T STA NLY 

HACKNE Y 

RIVE R 

W OODWINDS 

K LUTTZ 

LOVE MILL 

ROCK HOLE 

S IMPSON 

MA TH 

LAK EVIEW 

P INE 

HONEYCUTT 

WILLO W 

S TEP HANIE 

P INE 

CHURCH 

F AMIL Y 

SMITH 

B ELL 

OAK 

REDAH 

LOVE CHAPE L 

DEERWOOD 

P OP LAR 

NC 200 

POPLAR 

DANITA 

CENTRAL 

NC HWY 200 N 

LIONS CLUB 

CA BARRUS 

RA LEIGH 

A SH 

MA PLE 

U NION 

C HARLOTTE 

LOVE 

B ETHEL CHURCH 

DIXON 

NC 200 

CAROL 

QUAIL RUN 

SUNSET 

S PRING VIEW 

WAT ER OA K 

BEREA B APT IST CHURCH 

STANFIELD 

Love Mill Rd. 

Rolling Kansas 

Byway 

C ONCORD 

LA NE S END 

S UNSET LA KE 

V ELLA 

HARVE LL 

MA UNEY 

ELM 

COLEY STORE 

TANGLEW OOD 

NC HW Y 200 S 

B EVE RLY 

DRYEW OOD 

S EDGE FIELD 

CRESTV IEW 

ELM ST 

RUS HING 

C OYLE 

WEBB 

MISSION CH URCH 

HINSON FARM 

N C 200 

BARRIER STORE 

P OND 

BIG LICK 

OSCAR 

BETHE L CHURCH 

LOCUST 

SEV EN OA KS 

M OCKINGBIRD 

CHERRY T RE E 

RIVER HE IGHTS 

K ENNE L 

MA RLW OOD 

OA KLAND 

K INGS 

STONY CR EEK 

JACKS 

CRE ST RIDGE 

FURR 

VONNIE 

LEWIS 

ISLA ND CREE K 

ROB ERT 

BRIDLE 

B ARBEE 

MA RY 

FARM POND 

WA CO 

PHILADELPHIA CHURCH 

FIVE POINT 

PLES S MILL 

P AIGE 

HE RRIN GROVE 

Mission Church 

Rd. 

BROOK S 

BRE ND A 

ST JOHNS 

P ROVIDENCE 

B RATTAIN 

WAYFIELD 

S T THOMA S 

LEE-GRIFFIN 

HATLEY- BURRIS 

L A MBER T 

C HURCHILL 

T RAV IS 

DRY E-HILL 

RUNNING CR 

BE E TREE 

EEK CHURCH 

JOES 

OA K G ROVE 

HILLT OP 

RED BA RN 

STONY 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

RENDEE 

NICHOLS 

W ES TW AY 

SADDLE CLUB 

B RIDGE 

CAP RA 

SUBSTA TION 

SILVER 

GRIFFIN-GREENE 

TUCKER 

S MITH GROVE 

RETTIE 

GREE NE 

HARRIS 

J D 

PAG E 

B ANKS 

PEBBLE STONE 

B USTE R 

POLE RUNNING 

PEA CH TRE E 

LEDB ET TER-FORD 

JET 

HUGH 

DEERFIELD 

HOWAR D 

JOY 

COUNTRY 

RA NCH VIEW 

JACOB 

HATHCOCK GLEN 

N C 205 

B OUNDARY 

NAY 

S WIFT 

OLD MINE 

S HELLEY 

FO X T RAIL 

CULP 

DUSTY 

B ETHLEHEM C 

B EAR CLAW 

N C 205 

S T ST EPHENS 

HWY 49 

DUTCH 

CEMETE RY 

L AKEW OOD 

LOWDER 

LY NN 

HURLEY 

F INGE R 

W ADE 

MINE RAL SP RINGS 

LIGHTHOUS E 

RIDGE CREST 

GADDIS 

HA TLEY 

BRANCH 

PEACEFUL 

CREST 

BANTAM 

F ARM WOOD 



4 0 4 Miles 

NC 200 

Swift Rd. 

TRAILBLAZE RS 

NC 205 

B IG L ICK 

S HINN 

NC 205 

NO VIE W 

BEV ERLY 

STONE Y RUN 

CREP TS BRA NCH 

OS BORNE 

EA GLE 

W ALT ERS 

E LE VE NT H 

OLD SANDB AR 

GOLD HILL 

ROWLA ND 

SUGAR HILL 

HAMILTON 

LIBER TY HILL CHURCH 

PEC AN 

E IGHTH 

CENTE R 

OLD CON CORD 

S ECOND 

W AT SON 

W ILLIA MS 

GOLD HILL 

E LLEN 

HAY WOOD 

MAIN 

MIST Y 

F IF TH 

BO RUN 

D UNN 

F LINT RIDGE 

DO RSE TT 

COBLE 

ROCK Y RIVER 

BE AR CRE EK CHURCH 

V ICK 

FROG POND 

B ULL HILL 

AQUADALE 

JAME S 

MATTONS GRO 

OLD MILL 

NE WS OME 

DANA 

ALONZO 

NC 742 

RIDENHOUR 

ROGE RS 

SHO RTCUT 

RED CROSS 

CLAY MON 

HE AVE N 

Liberty Mill 

Church Rd. 

ANDREW 

NINT H 

T ENT H 

P INE 

S EV ENTH 

ALLISON 

CO LL EGE 

HILL 

LONG 

T HOMAS 

FARMRIDGE 

F IRS T 

OA K 

BRA DY 

A MERICAN 

TOL-CO 

LORCH 

WOODF IELD 

MCLEST ER 

E ARL 

LOW DER RE UNION 

SUN RISE 

G LENMORE 

DORT HY 

BURRIS 

JA SE 

BILES 

COLLIE 

P ARS ONAGE 

GUY-VE RNE 

L UTHER 

CLOVER 

MA TTON GROV E CHURCH 

FINK 

SA M 

HWY 52 

RA MSEY 

NC 24-27 

HA ZA RD 

W AGONER 

ELDER-EUDY 

MILLINGP ORT 

HALF MILE 

RICHARD- SANDY 

C HERO K EE 

GLENMORE 

ESTHER 

P AULS CROSSING 

S UNNYBRO OK 

FRIENDLY 

NC 49 

US 52 

JA Y 

B RIDGE PORT 

HILL- FORD 

FRICK 

NC 73 

CILLE 

PRES TON 

P O PLA R LANE 

OAKBORO 

NC 742 

MAXT ON 

CECIL 

W ILSON 

MCSW AIN 

US 52 HW Y N 

W ES LEY CHA PE L 

BARBE ES GROV E 

ENDY 

CURTIS 

LINGE RFE LT 

HELMS 

BIG BEAR 

HARWOOD 

DILLON 

STOGNER-LITTLE 

B OOGER HOLLAR 

W ARD 

W ILDW OOD 

MILLE R 

REE VES ISLAND 

A PRIL 

E MERY 

TRE ECE 

COMMUNITY 

TEETER 

M E RNER 

WAGONER 

Milingport Rd. 

LITTLE B E AR 

NC 24/27 

CLAU DE 

LA ROCK 

BETTY 

EF IRD 

HILLS-V IEW 

PFEIF FER 

H OLT 

RYAN 

VON 

OLD S CHOOL 

P OP LIN 

O LD 49 

PA RK ER 

RUTHE RFOR D 

LITTLE CREEK 

BOST 

S TATE 

B URLE SO N 

S TATE 

FORE MA N RANCH 

CULP 

NC 73 

OFFIE 

PARKER 

FISHER 

MISE NHEIMER 

GOODMA N 

H IG HWAY 49 

B RADF ORD 

CANTON 

JA ME S 

RICHFIELD 

M ORGA N 


NC 138 

CRIS CO 

FLOYD 

HARK EY 

LEE 

TIFF ANY WOOD 

KE NDA LLS CHURCH 

LOW ELL 

HATLE Y FARM 

ODELL 

CLARK 

CARRIKER 

DOC 

PRINCE 

CAUDLE 

CANE 

RHEA 

LA KESIDE 

HOLLYB ROOK 

MOSS 

S MIT H MILL 

HARTSE LL 

CEMETERY 

A LMOND 

RE AP 

CLET E 

RIDER 

NELS ON MOUNTAIN 

THOMPS ON 

JORDANS POND 

MORG AN 

Austin Rd. 

MAIN 

WE STRIDGE 

S IDE S 

HIG H ROCK 

CHURCH 

LOCKWOOD 

O RCHARD 

BURRIS-BURLE SON 

TIFFANY 

RED HILL 

RICHF IE LD 

DEE SE 

HUNTERS 

LISA 

NEW T 

P INE ACRE S 

P ARKE 

DANV ILLE 

AUS TIN 

H ERMAN 

R MEMORIA L 

FIDDLER 

SPRING 

B OB CAT 

WYA TT 

T ERCHER 

W INT ER 

DANRITCH 

A MERON 

NORITAK E 

C E D AR 

STO KES FE RRY 

S UMMER 

STEAK HOUSE 

W ALNUT 

FOSTOR IA 

VILLAGE 

CARPENTER 

B E LL 

FIN CH 

COUNTY LINE 

GOLD BRANCH 

PINE WOOD 

CITY LA KE 

IMPERIA L 

CANYON COURT 

NANNY 

C RYSTA L 

CLUB HOUSE 

BETHLE HEM CHURCH 

B LALOCK 

H ENDERSON 

RAY BUD 

PICK LER 

COLLE GE 

DUCK POND 

NC 49 

WALNUT 

Old Salsbury Rd. 

Pennington Rd. 

CEDAR RIDGE 

HEDGE 

SPIRAL 

LODGE 

MES SAG E 

OA KLAW N 

APE X 

ROYAL 

BIVENS 

W ILLIE 

JUDE 

OLD US 52 

S CENIC V IEW 

OLD PARKE R 

SPIVE Y 

INGOLD SCHOOL 

H OLLY 

S T MART IN 

COGGINS 

BE TH 

OLD HERLOCKER 

MA CARTHUR 

DE RA 

S MITH- PLYLER 

C HURCH 

PEN NINGT ON 

HOBE 

HOBERT 

CHURCH EXT 

S PE ISS 

P OPLINS GROV E CHURCH 

M AIN 

B LAK E 

CURL EE 

CHA RLIE 

E DGE WOOD 

MORLIN 

LIT TL E 

NA PIER 

LONA 

NIELDS 

WES TERN 

TYSON 

CRO S S 

COURTLAND 

C ROWN P OINT 

H ILLCREST 

NC 49 

INGRAM 

BLUE BIRD 

IKE 

OLD S ALISBURY 

RED F OX 

J UDY 

WE ST 

BURNS 

M ANN 

OLD DAVIS 

NC 8 

NEW LONDON 

B ROOKW OOD 

V INE 

MAIN 

FREE DOM 

MA Y 

A UTUMN 

OAK 

KINGSLE Y 

F ORES T 

P ARK 

S KYLINE 

HICKORY 

NC 138 

PINE 

LOW DE R 

LA UREL 

DEP OT 

WHITE OAK 

MA PLE 

CREEK RIDGE 

GE ORGE 

FERRY 

CHURCH 

E UDY 

LOW DE R 

SPRING 

LOCUST 

FIRE LINE 

GRE ENWOOD 

CORB IN 

BLUFF 

JOSH 

REID 

CENT RAL 

DRY 

GOLD 

RANDOM 

S P RINGDA LE 

MONROE 

S NUGGS PA RK 

WISCAS SET T 

WALNUT 

E DGEFIEL D 

POPLAR 

L IBERTY 

COBLE 

PAR K 

W INFIELD 

LES LIE 

ELM 

HILL 

OA KW OOD 

WOOD 

B ARBEE 

ARLINGTON 

HIGHLA ND 

LONG 

EFIRD 

MI LLS 

CO NCORD 

JACK SON 

DOGW OOD 

A LDRIDGE 

NC 8 

BE THA NY 

V ALLEYVIE W 

LORENE 

MCKEE 

STONE WA LL 

H IG H 

RITCHIE 

MORGAN 

LONG 

PA LMER 

E UDY 

LIS K 

OLD AQUADALE 

LOVE 

SALISBURY 

MA BRY 

UNI ON GROVE 

H ERLO CK ER 

US 52 

SNUGG S 

CORB IN 

MILL 

US 52 HWY N 

W OODCREST 

FURR 

B OST 

OLD CHA RLOTTE 

FERNWOOD 

CRANFORD 

CAROLI NA 

STOKER 

CHAPE L 

BA LDWIN 

COLLIN S 

W OODLAND 

NC 138 

HAZE LW OOD 

FIE LD 

RUSS ELL 

EDGE MONT 

WES LEY HEIGHTS 


AUS TIN 

B ROOKMEA DE 

BROOME 

GRAHAM 

WAT TS 

K ERR 

NC 8 -49 

NC 24-27 BY PAS S W 

SOUTHE RN 

OPA L 

ARBOR 

E DWARDS 

S OUTH 

US 52 S OU TH 

REE VE S 

BRE VARD 

HON EYBE E 

WOODHURS T 

HE MLO CK 

HARVARD 

ASH 

LO IS 

MA SON 

MARLBROOK 

DOG WOOD 

M OOSE 

KA TES 

ROS E 

FAIRVIEW 

LESLIE 

B EL MONT 

MULB ERRY 

A ZAL EA 

BULLOCK 

P ROSPE CT CHURCH 

IDLEW OOD 

MA SON 

HENNING 

F IRS T 

CA RT ER 

HILLTOP 

RILEY 

F AULKNER 

MAULDIN 

GA DDYS FE RRY 

PINEV IEW 

LUDLOW 

GLE NN 

FRA NKLIN 

WILSON 

EBEN 

SURRATT 

CLYDE 

KING 

NC 138 

NORT H 

LILLY 

WA RD 

EDDINS-POP LIN 

HOLT 

CAGLE 

US 52 NO RTH 

MORTON 

F UL TON 

HOLT 

HAMILTON 

T HIRD 

HEA RNE 

CARTER 

SH EPHERD 

PE NNY 

MCCURDY 

SUMMIT 

CIRCLE 

PARK 

FIFTH 

GOODMA N 

AVERY 

S STA NLY S CHOOL 

GE NE 

HUB ERT 

YADKIN 

REBA 

F LORAL 

F OURTH 

MIDWA Y 

A NNE BELL 

S ILV ER SPRING S 

HUNEY CUTT MILL 

COOP ER 

ROCKY RIVE R SP RINGS 

SAW MILL 

W A V ERLY 

P EE DEE 

HAW THORN 

F IFTH 

HILL 

BOYD 

GRAY 

HEA TH 

CLOVER FORK 

L INWO OD 

F IFT H 

K IM REY 

P ECAN 

NORTH WOODS 

ROTA RY 

G ARRISON 

S IXT H 

MCGILL 

MILLER 

RICHA RDSON 

B LANCHE 

ELI ZAB ETH 

NC 24-27 BY PAS S E 

DEW EY 

S IXTH 

P ARK 

MURDOCK 

PARK 

AVONDALE 

EAS T 

SEVE NTH 

ELLE NWOOD 

RUBY 

FLAKE 

CHE STER 

F ISH CAMP 

GURLEY 

HEA RNE 

ME LCHOR 

PLANK 

ROSS 

NINTH 

HOPK INS 

TE NTH 

MONTGOME RY 

COTTON 

ELAINE 

COLS TON 

PORTER 

SHA DY 

LUNDIX 

HARDY 

L EDB ETTE R 

MA SCOT 

W ALL 

WILDWOOD 

HASTINGS 

BOONE CA UDLE 

AMA NDA 

MORR OW 

QUAIL RIDGE 

MOUNTA IN CRE EK 

LA FAYE TTE 

I NGOLD 

QUINCY 


School Rd. 

KNOLLWOOD 

T ENTH 

NORT HCRE ST 

HA PP Y 

PARK RIDGE 

W ADDELL 

COLO NIAL 

A RE Y 

COLSON 

TALBE RT 

LA URAS 

RIDG E 

POU 

WR1 

B ELLAMY 

CARDINA L 

MA RION 

Cottonville Rd. 

ELE VENTH 

Uwharrie 

Scenic Drive 

BEA LE 

BISHOP 

S OUTHS IDE 

HOLLY RIDGE 

NO RTH E AS T CONNECTO R 

P EA C HTRE E 

LE ONARD 

HYMA N 

O LD COTTONVILLE 

AL LEN-LE E 

S WA RINGE N 

K EMP 

FRE EMAN 

EASTOVE R 

D UCK 

HERITA GE 

COTTON TRE E 

C AROLYN 

LA NDIS 

I NGER 

HOLBROOK 

GRIGG 

REBE L 

MA GNOLIA 

H ARMONY 

MA NE RS 

EAGLE HEAD 

Mountain Creek Rd. 

AM HURS T 

T A 

EURY 

HINS ON 

MATT -NE AL 

FA IRW AY 

HENSON 

HOOPS 

AIRP ORT 

P ALES TINE 

DEANNA 

GROV ES 

SOUTHBOUND 

JA SON 

PORTER HILL 

FLEETW OOD 

B ERRY 

COTTONV ILLE 

BIRD 

MERRICK 

P ARK W AY 

OLD W HITNEY 

Carter Acres 

Rd. 

CHURCHYARD 

STE RLING 

LEE LYNN 

DICK 

ME LTON 

SPRINGHAVE N 

M OSS SP RINGS 

MONZA 

JOHNS 

NC 740 BY PAS S 

HALF W AY 

HE RRING 

T OW ER 

CA TALINA 

EAS TWOO D 

HILCO 

DEER HA VEN 

PINE RIDGE 

STANLY SCHOOL 

B ARNHARDT 

YADKIN BRICK 

LATON 

S ANDY 

IM PA LA 

MIDW OOD 

MOONS HINE 

ALBEMARLE 

SMITH 

CA NNON 

CHIMNEY 

BE LL 

MONDALE 

ROY 

ROCK FIELD 

E LME R 

LEE- FURR 

SMILEY 

PALMET TO 

WOODHAVE N 

CHE 

US 52 

B ERNA RD 

D ON 

RRY WOOD 

S PEIGHT 

WINDY HILL 

HARGE TT 

GA RY 

ROS EHILL 

KIMBE RLY 

NC 740 

SMILE Y 

P RIME BEEF 

LATON 

CHARTER 

WOODCROFT 

US 52 HWY S 

B ADIN 

MA RW OOD 

WOODHURS T 

W HITLE Y 

MT ZION CHURCH 

DOVE 

DOGWOOD 

S TALE Y 

MOS S 

MOUNTA IN VIE W CHURCH 

S UNVIE W 

HORNE 

A NDERSON GROV E CHU RCH 

CARTERS ACR ES 

ANDE RSON 

B ECK 

LOOP 

T ALL WHIT 

E DS 

CRUMP 

FIRS T G ATE 

STARWOOD 

HARPER HEARNE 

COLONIAL HEIGHTS 

FAIRFIELD 

HICKS 

HUDSO N 

K IRK 

RUMMA GE 

GRE ENVIEW 

HOWELL 

WILL 

P IN ION 

P UMPHOUSE 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 

S STANLY SCHOOL 

ADAM 

SHAVE R 

NC 740 

MORROW MOUNTAIN 

K NOLLW OOD 

DELA ND 

SW EET 

IS EN 

NC 740 HW Y 

IVY 

HOME CHURCH 

PLANTATION 

MOUNTAIN 

FOREST 

Stony Gap Rd. 

LEFLER 

Z EKE 

HERCU LES 

S TONY GAP 

LILLAR 

NORTHW OOD 

H ICKORY 

S KI POND 

W IND 

B RICKYA RD 

CANNON 

K INGS 

DAISY 

WR2 

CA TFISH 

ME RCEDES 

DUPREE 

B AILEY 

DAV IS 

LAWNWOOD 

CHAD 

LEE 

DENNIS 

MA RTIN 

GUA RD 

T OM 

BOW ERS 

S ETZER 

S HADY RES T 

TA XIDERMIST 

BYRD 

A MBE R 

ROCK HAV EN 

NC 7 40 

RA ILROAD 

VICKER S STORE 

DOODY 

GADSON 

CO OK S 

KELTY 

WELCH 

M CNE IL 

P IN E 

KEND ALL 

S NIDER 

L INCOLN 

A NGIE 

SHERM AN 

SUMMIT 

CA RLIE 

A NSON 

ALPINE 

ANDRE WS 

S UNS ET 

MILL 

WRIGHT 

SHORT 

MA RA NA THA 

KECIA 

PARKER 

S IM S 

ARROWOOD 

GORDON 

THOMAS 

DE WEY 

BROA DWA Y 

SNUGGS 

SHINN 

G RANT 

DUNLAP 

LA KE SHORE 

T URNER 

PEE DEE 

CAM PBELL 

CANAL 

S TUART 

THOMPSON FARM 

WOOD 

K EYS TONE 

LEHUE -PA RK ER 

RIV ERVIEW 

MA RION 

COX 

JAY -ALLEN 

Valley Dr. 


A S H 

COLLEGE 

S TORY 

SCENIC 

V INCE NT 

POPLIN 

NEW 

NICKS 

BROWN 

WR3 

WALL 

P ALM ERVILLE 

V ALLEY 

NC 24-27- 73 

ENO 

B EA CH 

ARROW HE AD 

ALLENTON 

R AY LEE 

CRAWLEY 

CHEOA H 

IVEY 

WILLOW 

MARGIE 

SINGLEW ODD 

S AP ONA 

ATK INS 

PA RA DISE 

STONY HILL 

W AL NUT 

STONY M OUNTAIN 

MARK JOSE PH 

CA RVER 

P RICE 

BOYDEN 

LA KE HEA D 

FA LLS 

RANDA LLS FERRY 

US 52 HW Y S 

W AL-ANN 

LAKE 

CHE STNUT 

RAVE NW OOD 

S HORE FARM 

WIL-K RIS 

INDIAN M OUND 

LANIER 

OA KWOOD 

VINEYA RD 

A CORN A CRES 

OAK 

ELM 

SPR UCE 

LAKE HURS T FA RM 

MILLE R TOWN 

LISENBY 

STA NLY 

ACCESS 

ISLAND COVE 

A SH 

CHE RRY 

RANDALLS CHURCH 

BERRY HILL 

NE LLS 

ALBERTA 

WR4 

BADIN 

AN CHOR 

MOUNTA IN RIDGE 

NC 73 

FORE MAN 

HARBOR 

WR5 

WR10 

TRANQ UIL B AY 

DEE R RUN 

CLODF ELTER 

LA KE TILLE RY 

PINE TREE 

HIDDE N 

RIVE R RUN 

WR9 

SYCA MORE 

CANDY 

MAP LE 

PINEY POINT 

HA MMER 

RIVER HA VEN 

NORWOOD 

SHANKLE 

WR6 

P IEDMONT 

V IRDEN 

R OBE RTS LOOP 

S HA NK LE E XT 

W ILLOW O AK 

BUCK 

A MANDA 

L AKE TIL LERY 

Q UAIL TRA IL 

GUY 

FO X 

SWIF T ISLAND 

TAR HE EL 

WR8 

WOOD LAND 

NC 731 

HYDRO 

OLD THOMP SON 

FORK 

N C 731 

JONES 

WR11 

STRAND 

Sandhills 

Scenic 

Drive 

Valley 

Drive 

WR7 

Pee Dee 

Valley 

Drive 

Figure 3-5 

Scenic Byways 



Pee Dee Valley Drive 

STANLY COUNTY 

This 14-mile route passes through a valley between Albermarle and the Pee Dee River in 

eastern Stanly County. The drive starts at the town of Badin and runs south along Valley Drive to 

the intersection of 24/27/73. A side tour is available along Morrow Mountain Road to Morrow 

Mountain State Park where wonderful views of Narrows Reservoir to the north and Tillery 

Reservoir towards the south is available from the upper parking lot. Narrows Reservoir was 

created in 1917 for hydroelectric power by the Carolina Aluminum Company. In 1935 Morrow 

Mountain State Park was formed from land given by James McKnight Morrow and today has 

hiking and equestrian trails, camping and cabins, along with the historical house of Dr. Francis 

Joseph Kron. Three mountain peaks that include Sugarloaf Mountain, Mill Mountain, and Tater 

Top Mountain are part of the Uwharrie Mountain Range. 

The byway follows NC 24/27/73 east until it turns south at Indian Mound Road and passes Tillery 

Reservoir into the town of Norwood where the tour ends. Norwood, named for its first 

postmaster, was established in 1826 and is just west of Tillery Reservoir. Another side visit is 

Town Creek Indian Mound that can be found from NC 731 from Norwood past Mount Gilead to 

Indian Mound Road. 

Rolling Kansas Byway 

This nine-mile byway goes through an area called “Rolling Kansas” because of its hilly 

topography, farms, and windmills. It starts at Bear Creek Church Road at the Cabarrus/Stanly 

County line. Soon after is Bethel Bear Creek United Church of Christ and its graveyard. There 

are tombstones that are from the 1820s making the cemetery among the oldest in the county. 

The tour continues east across a one-lane bridge entering Rolling Kansas. The byway continues 

north along Millingport Road where you can see unobstructed views of gently sloping 

countryside. The tour ends at the Town of Richfield at U.S. 52. 

Sandhills Scenic Drive 

This Scenic Byway starts in Moore County to the east of Stanly County and travels west along 

NC 24/27 through Montgomery County and finally ends in Stanly County just before the City of 

Albemarle at Home Church Road. As you cross the Pee Dee River and into Stanly County the 

byway points out Tillery Reservoir on your left and that Stony Mountain is in the background of 

the Pee Dee’s west shore. 

Uwharrie Scenic Road 

Starting in Asheboro in Randolph County, this byway travels along NC 49 through Davidson 

County into Rowan County then Stanly County and ending in Cabarrus County. 

Land Suitability/Summary of Natural Resources 

Stanly County is rich in natural resources throughout that at once provide numerous 

opportunities as well as constraints to the use of land. The resources that influence development 

within the County include soils characteristics, wetlands, floodplains, drainage, and watersheds. 

Soils within the County play a major factor in where development should take place and where 

soils for prime farmland should be preserved. Almost 20 percent of Stanly County’s soils are 

considered prime farmland. Unfortunately soils that are usually prime for farmland are also 

excellent for development as well. These two competing interests need to be measured and 

compared in order for both to happen in the future. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Floodplains along major creeks, rivers, and lakes also may influence development activity to 

site-specific areas in the county. Development is discouraged in these areas in order to keep 

flood damage to a minimal and to allow for unobstructed continuous flow along these 

waterways. 

Watershed areas need to be protected from land uses that would contaminate the Yadkin and 

Pee Dee Rivers. It is essential to keep the county’s drinking water safe for generations to come. 

Existing Land Use 

Introduction 

An inventory of existing land uses within Stanly County is shown in Figure 3-6. The area 

included in this inventory is limited to those portions of Stanly County which lie within the area 

subject to the Land Use Plan—unincorporated areas outside municipal jurisdictions and ETJs. 

The purpose of conducting an existing land use analysis is to determine development patterns, 

identify existing and potential land use conflicts, and help identify opportunities and constraints 

to future development. The land use inventory in this report was created using digital 

orthophotography completed for the Stanly County Geographic Information System (GIS) Office 

in March 2000, field surveys in May and June of 2001, and consultation with county planning 

staff. 

Eight generalized land use areas were identified within the existing land use survey: agricultural, 

wooded areas, commercial, industrial, parks and recreational areas, residential, public/semipublic, 

and surface water are identified. Each area is described below. 

Agricultural Uses 

The importance of agriculture to the county goes beyond land use analysis in that farming plays 

a critical role in defining the physical and functional character of Stanly County. Despite recent 

growth trends in some areas of the county, and the increasing impact of the Charlotte 

metropolitan area on Stanly County, large segments of the county still rely on farming for 

employment. The agricultural areas indicated on Figure 3-6 include farmland as well as related 

agricultural activities such as farmhouses and other farm structures. As indicated in Table 3-3, 

agricultural uses comprise 36.4 percent of study area, 63,542 acres overall. 

Further, the rural character of Stanly County is a drawing card for future development. Albemarle 

and Stanly County’s other communities still largely retain their places as the center of an 

important agricultural region, and each is viewed as a desirable small town. Increasingly, new 

scattered residential development is occurring throughout the county for residents seeking to 

experience the rural way of life. 

Agriculture and related uses represent the largest single land use in all of Stanly County after 

wooded areas. While agricultural activity is indicated on Figure 3-6 throughout the county, its 

largest concentration is focused in western Stanly County near Millingport. Other large 

agricultural concentrations can be found in south central Stanly County near Aquadale and St. 

Martin. 


Wooded Areas 

STANLY COUNTY 

Stanly County contains a large amount of wooded acreage that generally represent second- and 

third-growth forest areas. This land use category includes 89,048 acres or 50.8 percent of the 

study area. Figure 3-6 identifies stands of trees greater than five acres in area within the study 

area. Large concentrations of forest land can be found throughout the county. Generally, tree 

coverage is denser in the part of Stanly County east of U.S. 52 and NC 138. West of this 

corridor, forest coverage is less dense. It is important to note that while tree coverage appears 

to be the largest land use activity, much of the wooded areas shown on Figure 3-6 may be used 

for animal pasturage. 

Commercial Uses 

Commercial land uses include retail sales establishments, personal services businesses, health 

care offices, eating and drinking establishments, banks, professional offices, and agribusinesses. 

As would be expected, most commercial activity in Stanly County is located in the 

county’s municipalities, however a small number of commercial land uses can be found near 

municipal corporate boundaries and along major thoroughfares. The largest concentration of 

commercial uses within the study area are found along the U.S. 52 corridor north of Albemarle. 

Smaller concentrations can be found in Aquadale in southern Stanly County. 

While the proximity of Stanly County to the Charlotte metropolitan region may limit the demand 

for large-scale commercial development associated with large urban and suburban areas, 

growth in Albemarle, Locust/Stanfield, and New London/Richfield will likely require the provision 

of an adequate amount of land to meet the demands of a growing population in the near term. 

Commercial development in other areas of Stanly County will also be required to meet needs in 

those areas as well. 

Industrial Uses 

Industrial uses include manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution facilities. Industrial land 

uses are not prevalent in the study area of the county since industrial activity tends to locate 

close to population centers within incorporated areas of the county. The availability of utilities 

and transportation infrastructure—streets, highways, and rail lines—also play an important role 

in determining the location of industrial operations. 

The two largest industrial activities in the study area are Albemarle-Stanly County Airport and the 

solite plant in the south-central part of the county. Small pockets of industrial activity can be 

found immediately west of Norwood and in Aquadale and along NC 740 in northeastern Stanly 

County near the airport. All told, 1,284 acres of industrial land uses are located within the study 

area. 

The limited number of industrial areas in the study area can be expected to continue as long as 

public services essential to industrial activity are not provided in these areas. Despite this, Stanly 

County does offer some assets that could encourage increased industrial development. Those 

factors include a large volume of undeveloped land adjacent or near areas presently served by 

essential public services, good highway connectivity to the central North Carolina region, the 

presence of a first-class airport, and excellent rail access. One issue identified throughout the 

planning process thus far has been the lack of highway access in the county. With the planned 

widening of NC 24/27, NC 49, and U.S. 52 in the near future, among other projects, this 

drawback will be mitigated. 


Land Use Classifications 

Commercial 

Parks, Recreation & Open Space 

Public / Semi-Public 

Residential 

Woodlands 

Industrial 

Agricultural 

Water 

Study Area Boundary 

STANFIELD 

1 0 1 2 Miles 

LOCUST 

NC 200 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 


Swift Rd. 


RED CROSS 

NC 205 

OAKBORO 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 

RICHFIELD 


NC 138 

NEW LONDON 

Austin Rd. 


NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 


ALBEMARLE 


School Rd. 

Airport Rd. 

NC 740 

Stony Gap Rd. 

US 52 

NC 740 

Valley Dr. 


BADIN 

NC 73 

NORWOOD 

NC 731 

Figure 3-6 

Existing 

Land Use 



Parks and Recreational Uses 

STANLY COUNTY 

This land use category is composed of publicly and privately owned parks and recreation areas 

including ballfields, playgrounds, and golf courses as well as undeveloped natural open space 

areas. This land use category is dominated by Morrow Mountain State Park, a 4,693-acre 

preserve located in east central Stanly County. The remaining parks and recreation areas in the 

county are comprised of privately-owned golf courses and other facilities. As indicated in Table 

3-3, 2.6 percent of the study area is comprised of park and recreation areas. 

Public and Semi-Public Uses 

The public and semi-public land use category includes schools, churches, government-owned 

institutions, and fraternal clubs and organizations. Within the area subject to this land use 

inventory, small pockets of public/semi-public uses can be found throughout the county, typically 

along major thoroughfares and in established unincorporated population centes such as 

Aquadale and Millingport. 

All told, about 0.2 percent of the county is classified as public/semi-public. 

Residential Uses 

Residential uses that include all types of housing—from single-family detached homes to 

apartments—are located within this land use category. For those portions of Stanly County 

within the study area, larger concentrations of residential development can be found in the 

following locations: 

Adjacent to the Albemarle ETJ, particularly north and east of the county seat and extending 

to Badin; 

Along the shores of Narrows Reservoir and Tillery Reservoir in eastern Stanly County. 

Increasingly this area is becoming a year-round community, building on its base of cabins 

and vacation homes; 

In south central Stanly County in Aquadale, St. Martin, and adjacent to the Oakboro ETJ; 

and 

South of the Stanfield/Locust ETJs. 

Other pockets of residential development is generally limited to homes fronting major and minor 

thoroughfares such as NC 138 and Aquadale Road south of Albemarle, and northeast of 

Albemarle along NC 740. For the purposes of this land use survey, only areas where a 

concentration of five or more homes were identified were classified as residential. This 

distinguishes true residential development from agricultural-related farmhouses. Typically this 

type of residential development is occurring at a much lower density than that which is taking 

place in western Stanly County within the Locust/Stanfield ETJs. Generally the existing land use 

inventory suggests that this type of residential development is more firmly established in the 

eastern third of the county and in close proximity of Narrows Reservoir and Tillery Reservoir 

than in more agricultural areas of the county. All told, 5.1 percent of the study area is used for 

residential purposes or 9.012 acres. 


Surface Waters 

STANLY COUNTY 

A significant part of the character of Stanly County is defined by manmade lakes (Tuckertown 

Reservoir, Narrows Reservoir, Falls Reservoir, and Tillery Reservoir) which together outline 

much of the eastern boundary of the county. The reservoirs also occupy a large amount of land 

area. Together the lakes cover 10,350 acres of land in Stanly County and adjoining Montgomery 

County including 6,638 acres within Stanly County. This represents 3.8 percent of Stanly 

County’s land area. 

Existing Land Use Distribution 

Table 3-3 provides a summary of the distribution of the land use categories identified in Figure 

3-6. The analysis of the land use distribution is limited to the study area identified in Figures 1-2 

and 3-6 and excludes 42,600 acres of land either within incorporated areas of the county or 

those areas within ETJs. 

Table 3-3. Existing Land Use Summary. 

Land Use Category 1 

Acres Percent of Study Area 

Agriculture 63,542 36.4 

Wooded Areas 89,048 50.8 

Commercial 32 Less than 0.1 

Industrial 1,285 0.7 

Parks and Recreation 4,597 2.6 

Public/Semi-Public Areas 384 0.2 

Residential 8,834 5.1 

Surface Waters 6,638 3.8 

Total 174,360 99.7 

1 

Corresponds to land use categories identified in Figure 3-6. 

2 

Excludes 41,583 acres within municipal boundaries and ETJs outside Land Use Plan study 

area. 

Source: Stanly County GIS Aerial Photography (completed in April 2000) and Woolpert, 

2001. 

Existing Land Use Summary 

Despite the growth pressures presented to Stanly County, the county retains much of the rural 

character that has defined its appeal for so many for so long. Stanly County presents an 

interesting cross-section of development trends: in the west, Locust and Stanfield are 

experiencing the first effects of a tide of development rippling from the Charlotte metropolitan 

area just to their west. In eastern Stanly County, the shorelines of Narrows Reservoir and Tillery 

Reservoir are increasingly becoming year-round communities amongst the cabins and vacation 

homes of the recent past. Albemarle remains the population center of the county and its 

foremost commercial and cultural center. Other areas of the county, although growing, still retain 

the rural atmosphere of central North Carolina. 

Because of the county’s location relative to Charlotte, good roads and public services, and large 

amount of agricultural and other open spaces, there will be continued pressure in certain areas 

of the county. Other factors—such as the widening of NC 24/27 to four lanes and the completion 

of the eastern leg of Interstate 485—will place additional development pressure on certain parts 

of the county. This will have some predictable impacts on the way land is used in the future. 

There will be continued pressure to develop farm areas of in western Stanly County and the 

shorelines of Narrows Reservoir and Tillery Reservoir in the near term, and the remainder of the 

county in the long-term. This will have potentially the unavoidable impact of removing land 

permanently from agricultural production and the inventories of wooded area and open space. 


STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 4: INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS SERVING THE COUNTY 

Introduction 

Section 4 of the Phase I report provides a summary of infrastructure serving the county. 

Infrastructure examined in this section—including transportation systems, utilities, and 

community facilities—all take part in helping defining the future of the county since they so play 

such an important role influence development patterns. 

Transportation Analysis 

Introduction 

Roadways 

A balanced transportation network should provide a safe and efficient means of travel for both 

people and goods. In addition, transportation systems, particularly roadways, contribute 

significantly to the patterns of development in any community, be it a city or town, county, or a 

region. This section of the Stanly County Land Use Plan examines existing transportation 

systems in Stanly County. Roadways, bikeways, rail lines, and public transportation will be 

studied in this analysis. 

Stanly County’s roadway system is typical of many other counties in central North Carolina. Most 

major thoroughfares—NC 24/27, NC 73, NC 138, NC 740, and U.S. 52—link the county seat, 

Albemarle, with outlying rural areas and the central North Carolina region in a radial roadway 

pattern. This radial pattern is repeated to a lesser extent in other population centers of the 

county such as Locust/Stanfield, Oakboro, Richfield, and New London. 

The remainder of the county road system essentially feeds the major road network by following 

the natural topography of the county. 

Functional Classification System 

According to the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 

each roadway is specifically designed and used to serve a particular role—or functional 

classification—within the overall roadway network for a community, county, or region. The North 

Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) uses the functional classifications identified in 

Table 4-1. 

In general terms, each roadway classification is based on two design factors: 

1. Mobility, or the capacity of a roadway segment to move traffic efficiently; and 

2. Accessibility, or the ability of a roadway to provide access to land adjacent to the 

thoroughfare. 

Each factor is inversely proportional to the other, that is, the capacity of an interstate highway to 

accommodate mobility limits its ability to accommodate accessibility to individual properties— 

homes, schools, businesses, industrial operations—along a roadway (AASHTO). By looking at 

the local classification system an understanding can be gained of the current roadway network, 

development patterns, and future opportunities for roadway expansion and development. 

The functional classifications system for Stanly County is illustrated in Figure 4-1. 


Qu ie t Cov e 

HICKORY HIL L 

STRAWBE RRY 

TI T E 

Legend 

G R EEN OAKS 

WHITE OAK 

MYR TLE 

PINE BLUFF 

RUBEN 

FRED 

RL 

RENEE FORD 

Major Arterials 

Minor Arterials 

Major Collector 

Minor Collector 

NA NCE 

THOMAS 

ROSSIE 

COPL EY 

TUCKER-HEL MS 

DAVID 

NC 24 -27 

BRO WNS HILL 


PO LK FORD 

NC 2 4-27 

SMITH 

GRIFFIN-HILL 

JODI E 

T ALLEY 

TAT ER 

Q UEENS 

J EN KINS 

YOW 

VERNON 

REED MINE 

MONTCL AIR 

SCOUT 

M E ADOW CREEK CHURCH 

NC 24/27 

BERTHA 

MAIN 

B RENTWOOD 

JUNGLE 

RIDGE 

NATURE 

HILL CREST 

TUCKER 

TWIN OAKS 

DAKOTA 

CR EEKVIEW 

O LD H I C KO R Y 

WE ST STANL Y 

HACKNEY 

RIVER 

W OO DWIND S 

KL UT TZ 

ROCK HOLE 

L OVE MI L L 

SIMPSON 

M ATH 

P INE 

HONEYCUTT 

LAK EVIEW 

S TEPHA NI E 

CHURCH 

F AMILY 

L OVE CHAP EL 

DEERWOOD 

REDAH 

POPL AR 

NC 200 

DANITA 

ASH 

MAPL E 

NC HWY 2 0 0 N 

CABAR RUS 

BETHEL CHURCH 

RAL EIGH 

UNION 

CEN TRAL 

CHARLOTTE 

LIONS CL UB 

CAROL 

QUAIL RUN 

S UNSET 

S PRINGVIEW 

WATE R OAK 

B EREA BAPTIST CHURCH 

LAN ES END 

SUNSET LAKE 

VELL A 

HARVE LL 

COLEY STORE 

ELM 

M AUNEY 

TANGL EWOOD 

DRYEWOOD 

NC HW Y 20 0 S 

BEV ERL Y 

SEDGEFIELD 

CRESTVIEW 

LOCUST 

WILL OW 

PI NE 

SMITH 

B ELL 

POPL AR 

D IXON 

CONCORD 

SEVEN OAKS 

MO CKI NG BI R D 

CHERRY TREE 

RIVER HEIGHTS 

KENN EL 

MARL WOOD 

STANFIELD 

Love Mill Rd. 

OAK 

LOVE 

NC 200 

O AK L AND 

KINGS 

ELM ST 

RUSHING 

COYLE 

WEBB 

M ISSION CHURCH 

HI NSON FARM 

STONY CREEK 

J ACKS 

C REST RIDGE 

NC 2 00 

BARRIER STORE 

POND 

BIG LICK 

OSCAR 

NC 200 

F URR 

VO NNIE 

L EWI S 

BETHEL CHURCH 

I S LA ND C RE EK 

ROBERT 

BRIDLE 

BARB EE 

MARY 

FARM POND 

WA CO 

PHILA DEL PHIA CHURCH 

FIVE P OINT 

PLESS MILL 

PAIG E 

HER RIN GROVE 


Rd. 

BROOKS 

BREN DA 

S T JOHNS 

PROVIDENCE 

B RATTAIN 

LEE-GRIFFIN 

ST THOMAS 

WAYFIEL D 

CHURCHILL 

LAMBERT 

HATL EY-BURRIS 

TRAVIS 

BEE TREE 

RUNNI NG CREEK CHURCH 

HIL LTOP 

OAK GROVE 

STONY 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

DR YE-HILL 

J OES 

R ENDEE 

NICHOL S 

SADD LE CL UB 

RED B ARN 

WESTWAY 

BRIDGE 

SILVER 

C APRA 

S UBSTATION 

SMITH G ROVE 

R ETTIE 

G RIFFIN-GREENE 

TUC KER 

GREENE 

HARRIS 

J D 

PAGE 

PEBBLE STON E 

B U STE R 

BANKS 

POL E RUNNING 

PE ACH TREE 

L EDBETTER- FORD 

JET 

DEERFIEL D 

HOW ARD 

HUGH 

C OUNTRY 

J OY 

RA NCH VI EW 

JACO B 

NC 2 05 

BOUNDAR Y 

HATHCOCK GLEN 

NAY 

SWIFT 

OL D M INE 

SHE L LEY 

FOX TR AIL 

CUL P 

DUSTY 

BETHLEHEM C 

HWY 49 

N C 2 05 

DUTCH 

L AKE WO OD 

TRA I L BL AZERS 

BEAR CLAW 

CEMETERY 

ST STEPHENS 

LYNN 

L OWDER 

HU RL EY 

F INGER 

MINERAL SPRINGS 

WAD E 

NO VIEW 

L IG HTHOUSE 

RIDGE CREST 

BRANCH 

PEACE FUL 

CREST 

FARMW OOD 

G ADDIS 

HATLEY 

STON 

EY RUN 

BA NTAM 

CR EPTS BRANCH 


Swift Rd. 


NC 205 

BI G LI CK 

SHINN 

BEVERLY 

OL D SANDBAR 

GOL D HIL L 

ROWL AND 

EAGL E 

OSBO RNE 

WALTERS 

ELEVE NTH 

SUG AR HILL 

HAM IL TON 

L IBERTY HIL L CHURCH 

CL AYM ON 

PECAN 

EI GHTH 

C ENTER 

OL D CONCORD 

SEC OND 

WILL IAM S 

WATS ON 

HEA V EN 

Liberty Mill 

Church Rd. 

ANDRE W 

NI NTH 

T ENTH 

PINE 

SEV ENTH 

ALL I SON 

C OLLEGE 

HIL L 

G OLD H IL L 

M AIN 

EL LEN 

H AYWOOD 

MISTY 

BO RU N 

FI FTH 

DU NN 

FL I NT RIDGE 

D ORSETT 

COBL E 

ROC KY RIVER 

BEAR CREEK CHURCH 

VIC K 

FROG POND 

BUL L HILL 

AQUA DALE 

J AMES 

MATTONS GRO 

O LD MILL 

NEWS OME 

DANA 

ALONZO 

NC 7 42 

RIDENHOUR 

ROGERS 

SHO RTCUT 

LORCH 

WOODFIEL D 

MCL EST ER 

EAR L 

SUN RIS E 

L OWDER REUNION 

GLENMOR E 

B URRIS 

J ASE 

BIL ES 

COLL I E 

PARSO NAG E 

FINK 

SAM 

HWY 52 

RAMSEY 

M IL LINGPORT 

NC 24-27 

RED CROSS 

OAKBORO 

NC 205 

LONG 

THOMAS 

FARMRI D GE 

FI RST 

OAK 

BRAD Y 

AMERICAN 

TOL -CO 

NC 742 

DORTHY 

GUY-V ERNE 

L UTHER 

CL OVER 

M ATTON G ROVE CHURCH 

HAZA R D 

WAGONER 

ELDER-EUDY 

HAL F MILE 

RICHARD-S ANDY 

CH EROKEE 

GL ENMORE 

S UNNYBROOK 

FRIENDL Y 

NC 49 

E STHER 

US 52 

PAULS CROSSING 

JAY 

BRIDG EPORT 

HIL L- FORD 

F RICK 

NC 73 

CILL E 

PRESTON 

PO PLAR LANE 

M A XTON 

WIL SON 

CECI L 

MCSWA IN 

U S 52 HW Y N 

WESL EY CHAPEL 

BARBEES GROVE 

ENDY 

CURTIS 

HEL MS 

H ARWOO D 

L INGERFEL T 

B IG BEAR 

D ILLON 

BOO GER HOLL AR 

STOGN ER- LITTLE 

WARD 

W IL DWOOD 

MIL LER 

REEVES ISLAND 

APRIL 

EMERY 

TREECE 

COM MUNIT Y 

TEETER 

M ERNER 

WAG ON ER 


LITTLE BEAR 

NC 24/27 

LA RO CK 

CLAUD E 

BETTY 

HOLT 

EFI RD 

HILL S-VIEW 

PFEIFFER 

RYAN 

VON 

OL D SCHOOL 

P OPLIN 

RU TH ERFORD 

O LD 49 

PARKER 

L ITTLE C REEK 

BOST 

S TATE 

M ORGAN 

BU RLESON 


O FFIE 

CUL P 

MISENHEIMER 

NC 73 

NC 138 

STATE 

FOREMAN RANCH 

PARKER 

F ISHER 

G OODMAN 

HIGHWAY 49 

BRADFORD 

C ANTON 

CRISCO 

J AME S 

FLOYD 

HARKEY 

LEE 

TIFFANY WOOD 

KEND 

AL LS CHURCH 

H ATLEY FARM 

ODE LL 

L OWE L L 

CLARK 

CARRIKER 

P RI N CE 

CAUDL E 

DOC 

HOL LYBROOK 

CANE 

HART SEL L 

MOSS 

CEMETERY 

RHEA 

SMITH M IL L 

LAKESIDE 

AL MON D 

REAP 

CL ETE 

JORDANS POND 

RIDER 

MORG AN 

NEL SON MOUNTAIN 

T HOMPSON 

SI DES 

M A IN 

HIGH ROCK 

CHURCH 

BURRIS- BURLESON 

TIFFANY 

RED HILL 

RICHFIEL D 

DEESE 

HUNTERS 

LISA 

PARKER MEMORIAL 

N EWT 

DANVIL LE 

H ERMAN 

AUSTIN 

BOB CAT 

WYATT 

FIDDL ER 

TER CHER 

WI NTER 

STOKES FERRY 

SUMM ER 

COUNTY L INE 

BEL L 

GO L D BRANCH 

RICHFIELD 

Austin Rd. 

W ESTRIDGE 

LOC KWOOD 

O RCHARD 

PINE A CRES 

SPR I N G 

DANRITC H 

AMERON 

NORITAKE 

CEDA R 

STEAKHOUSE 

FOSTORIA 

CARPENTER 

W ALNUT 

V ILLAGE 

FINCH 

PINEWOO D 

CITY L AKE 

IMPERI AL 

CANYON COURT 

NANNY 

CRYSTAL 

CEDAR RIDGE 

CLUB HOUSE 

BET HL EHEM CHURCH 

B LALOCK 

HENDERSON 

RAY BUD 

PICKLER 

COLLEGE 

APEX 

DUCKPOND 

NC 49 



WAL NUT 

HEDGE 

SPIRAL 

LODG E 

MESSAGE 

OAKL AWN 

WILLIE 

OL D US 52 

ROYA L 

BIVEN S 

JU DE 

SCE 

NIC VIEW 

O LD PARKER 

I NGOL D SCHOOL 

SPIVEY 

HOLLY 

ST MARTIN 

COGGINS 

B ETH 

OL D HERLOCKER 

M A CART HUR 

DERA 

C HURCH 

SMI TH-PL YL ER 

PENNINGTON 

HOBE 

HOBERT 

POPLINS GROVE CHURCH 

M AIN 

SPEISS 

BLAKE 

CU RLEE 

CHURC H EXT 

L I TTLE 

NAPIER 

CHARLIE 

EDGEW OOD 

C ROW N POI NT 

LONA 

WESTERN 

TYSON 

CROSS 

OLD SA 

I NG RAM 

I KE 

L ISBURY 

W EST 

BU RNS 

NC 49 

BLUE BIRD 

NIELDS 

HILLCREST 

COURTL AND 

M ORL IN 

RED FOX 

J UDY 

OLD DAVIS 

MANN 

NC 8 

BROOKW OOD 

FREEDOM 

M A Y 

VINE 

MAIN 

AUTUMN 

KING SLEY 

PARK 

SKYLINE 

HICKORY 

NC 13 8 

GEORGE 

FERRY 

DEPOT 

L OWDER 

SPRING 

LOCUST 

G REENWOOD 

L AUREL 

WHITE OAK 

FIRE L INE 

CORBIN 

E D G EFI E LD 

DRY 

GOL D 

RANDOM 

S PRINGDALE 

MONR OE 

WISCASSETT 

L IBERTY 

WIN FIELD 

L ESLIE 

ARLI NGTON 

HIGHLAND 

NEW LONDON 

OA K 

FORE ST 

LOWDER 

P INE 

MAPL E 

C REEKRIDGE 

CHURCH 

B LUFF 

EUDY 

JOSH 

REID 

CENTRAL 

C OBLE 

WALNUT 

POPL AR 

PARK 

E LM 

OAKWOOD 

WOOD 

HILL 

BAR BEE 

SNUGGS PARK 

LO NG 

EFIRD 

CONC ORD 

JACKSON 

M IL LS 

Figure 4-1 

Functional Classification System 


Stanly County, North Carolina 

NC 8 

B ETHANY 

VAL LEYVIEW 

MORG AN 

E UDY 

OL D AQUADALE 

L ORENE 

DOGWOOD 

M CKEE 

STONEW ALL 

HI GH 

ALDRIDGE 

RITCHIE 

LO NG 

PAL MER 

L IS K 

L OVE 

H ERLOCKER 

US 52 

CORBIN 

SNUG GS 

MABRY 

UNION G ROVE 

S ALISBURY 

MIL L 

U S 52 HWY N 

WOODCREST 

F URR 

B OST 

OL D CHARL OTTE 

FERNWOOD 

CRAN FORD 

CAROLINA 

STOKER 

WOODL AND 

CHAPEL 

BALDWI N 

COL LINS 

HAZE L WOOD 

WESL EY HEIGHTS 

NC 138 


AUSTIN 

BROOKM EADE 

F I ELD 

RU SSELL 

EDGEMONT 

WATTS 

BRO OM E 

BREVARD 

HONEYB EE 

WOODHU RST 

HEMLOCK 

H AR V ARD 

ASH 

LOIS 

GRAHAM 

MASON 

M ARLBROOK 

MOOSE 

KERR 

DOGWOOD 

NC 8- 49 

FIRST 

NC 24 -2 7 BYPASS W 

R EEVES 

S O UTHERN 

KATES 

OPAL 

ARBOR 

ED WARDS 

R OSE 

FAIRVIEW 

LESL IE 

BEL MONT 

SOUTH 

US 52 SOUTH 

MULB ERRY 

A ZALEA 

BUL LOCK 

PROSPECT CHURCH 

IDL EWOOD 

MASON 

CA RTER 

RILEY HILL TOP 

HENNING 

F AULKNER 

MAUL DIN 

GLENN 

G AD DYS FERRY 

PINEVIEW 

LUDLOW 

FRANKL IN 

WILSON 

EBEN 

S URRATT 

CL YDE 

KING 

NC 138 

WARD 

EDD INS -PO PLIN 

NORTH 

LILL Y 

H OLT 

CAGL E 

US 52 NORT H 

MORTON 

H AMILTON 

FUL TON 

HEARNE 

HOL T 

THIRD 

CARTER 

SHEPH ERD 

MC CURDY 

PENNY 

SUMM IT 

PARK 

FIFTH 

AVERY 

S ILVER SPRINGS 


CIRCL E 

G ENE 

G OODM AN 

M I D WAY 

HUBERT 

YADKIN 

REBA 

ANNE BELL 

SAW MIL L 

FL ORAL 

FOURTH 

H AWTHORN 

FIFTH 

WAVERL Y 

HIL L 

BOYD 

H UNEYCUTT M IL L 

COOPER 

GRAY 

L I NWOOD 

FIFTH 

HEATH 

ROCKY RIVER SPRINGS 

CLOVER FORK 

PEE DEE 

SIXTH 

NC 24 -2 7 BYPASS E 

KIM REY 

PECAN 

N ORTHWOODS 

ROTARY 

GARRISON 

MCGIL L 

MILLER 

RICHAR DSON 

DEWEY 

SIXTH 

BL A NCHE 

PARK 

E L IZABETH 

MURDOCK 

P ARK 

AVONDALE 

SEV ENTH 

ELLENW OOD 

EAST 

RUBY 

FLAKE 

C HESTER 

FISH C AMP 

G URL EY 

H EARNE 

K NOLLWOOD 

M EL C HOR 

PLA NK 

ROSS 

NINTH 

HOPKINS 

T ENTH 

MONTGOM ERY 

WALL 

COTTON 

PORTER 

ELAINE 

WILD WOOD 

M ASCOT 

TENTH 

NORTHCREST 

SHADY 

COL STON 

LUNDIX 

HARDY 

L ED BE TTER 

HASTINGS 

M ORROW 

Q UAIL R IDGE 

M OUN TAIN CREEK 

L AF AYETTE 

PARK RIDGE 

C O LS O N 

COL ONIAL 

AREY 

ING OLD 

HAPPY 

B OONE CAUDLE 

A MANDA 

QUI NCY 

M ARIO N 

EL EVENTH 

C ARDINAL 

WADDELL 

SMITH 

TALBERT 

BEALE 

BIS HOP 

LAURAS 

RIDGE 

POU 

WR1 

BEL LAM Y 

EASTOVER 

S O U THS I D E 

HOL LY RIDG E 

NO RTH EAST CONNECTOR 

PEACHTREE 

HYMAN 

L EON ARD 

DUCK 

H ERITAGE 

K EMP 

SWAR INGEN 


ALLEN -LEE 

F REEMAN 

INGER 

GRIGG 

COTTON TREE 

HOL BROOK 

CAROL YN 

L ANDIS 

REB EL 

MAG NO LIA 

H ARMONY 

EAGLE HE AD 

AMHU RST 

T A 

EURY 

MANERS 

CHIMNEY 

CHURCHYARD 

H I N SON 

MATT- NEA L 

FAIRWAY 

HENSON 

H OOPS 

AIRPORT 

PAL ESTIN E 

DEANNA 

G R OVES 

SOUTHBOUND 

J ASON 

PORTER HILL 

BERRY 

FL EETWOO D 

BIRD 

COTTO NVIL LE 

M ERRICK 

PARKWAY 

OL D WHIT NEY 

RO CK FIELD 

STER 

L ING 

LEE LYNN 

S PRINGHAVEN 

DICK 

JOHNS 

M EL TON 

M O SS SP R IN G S 

MONZA 

NC 74 0 BYPASS 

H AL F WAY 

HERR ING 

TOWER 

CA TALINA 

E ASTWOOD 

HI LCO 

DEER HAVE N 

P INERIDGE 

S TANL Y SCHOOL 

BARNHARDT 

YAD KIN BRICK 

S ANDY 

I MPALA 

MIDWOOD 

LATON 

MO ONSHINE 

BERNAR D 

N C 7 40 

PRIME BEEF 

ALBEMARLE 


School Rd. 



Carter Acres 

Rd. 

C ANNON 

BELL 

M ONDALE 

ROY 

ELM ER 

L EE-FURR 

SMILE Y 

P ALM ETTO 

WO ODHAVEN 

US 52 

SPEIGHT 

SMILEY 

WINDY HIL L 

HAR GETT 

DON 

CHERRYWOOD 

ROSEH ILL 

GARY 

KIMBERL Y 

LATON 

CHARTER 

WOODCROFT 

WOODHURST 

US 52 HWY S 

BADIN 

MARWOOD 

W HITLEY 


DOVE 

DOG WOOD 

MOSS 

M OUNTAIN VIEW CHURCH 

STALEY 

SUNVIEW 

HORNE 

CARTERS ACRES 

ANDERSON GROVE CHURCH 

ANDERSON 

BECK 

LOOP 

TALL WHIT 

HARPER HEARNE 

EDS 

CRU MP 

F I RST GATE 

CO LONIAL HEIGHTS 

F AIRFIELD 

H ICKS 

STARW OOD 

RUM MAG E 

G REENVIEW 

HUD SON 

HOW ELL 

KIRK 

W IL L 

PINION 

PUMPHOUSE 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 


AD AM 

S HAVER 

NC 740 

MORROW M OUNTAIN 

DELAND 

SWEET HO 

M E CHURCH 

KNOL LWOO D 

ISE N 

NC 740 HWY 

IVY 

PL A NTATION 

MOUNTAIN 

FOREST 

Stony Gap Rd. 

L EFLER 

HERCULES 

STO NY GAP 

LIL LAR 

ZEKE 

H ICKORY 

NORTHWO OD 

BRI CKY ARD 

SKI POND 

C ANNON 

WIND 

KI NGS 

D AI S Y 

WR2 

CA TFISH 

MERC EDES 

DUPREE 

BAILEY 

DAVIS 

L AW NWOOD 

L EE 

CHAD 

DENNIS 

GUARD 

BOWERS 

S H AD Y R E ST 

MARTI N 

TOM 

SETZER 

T AXIDERMIST 

BYRD 

A MBER 

ROCK HAVEN 

NC 740 

RAIL RO AD 

V ICKERS STORE 

DOO DY 

KEL TY 

GADSON 

CO OKS 

W E LCH 

S UNSET 

PI NE 

MILL 

L I NCOL N 

M CNEI L 

A N G IE 

AND REWS 

K ENDALL 

S HORT 

SNIDE R 

SHERMAN 

S UMM IT 

CARL IE 

WR I G HT 

MAR ANATHA 

P ARKER 

KECIA 

A NSON 

SIMS 

B RO ADWAY 

G ORDON 

ALPI NE 

ARROWOOD 

T HOM AS 

DEW EY 

S NUGGS 

DUNL AP 

L AKE SHORE 

S HINN 

GR ANT 

CAMPB ELL 

TUR NER 

PEE DEE 

CANAL 

STU ART 

THOMP 

WO OD 

SON FARM 

KEYS TONE 

A SH 

LEHUE-P ARKER 

CO LL EGE 

RIVERVIEW 

MARION 

C OX 

JAY-AL LEN 

STORY 

POPLIN 

SC ENIC 

V INCENT 

NEW 

BROWN 

WR3 

A RROW HEAD 

N ICKS 

WALL 

B EACH 

PALMERVILL E 

BADIN 

Valley Dr. 


VALL EY 

N C 24 -27 -73 

ENO 

AL LENTON 

CRAWL EY 

C HEOAH 

RAY LEE 

IVEY 

WILL O W 

MARG IE 

SAPONA 

SINGLEW ODD 

ATKINS 

WALN UT 

P ARADISE 

STONY HILL 

STON Y MO UNTAIN 

MAR K JO SEPH 

C ARVER 

PR ICE 

BOYDEN 

R ANDALL S FERRY 

US 52 HWY S 

LAK E H EAD 

WAL- ANN 

C HESTNUT 

FALLS 

RAVENWOOD 

LAKE 

SHORE FARM 

WIL-KRIS 

I NDI AN M OU ND 

LANIER 

O AKWO OD 

VINEYAR D 

LAKEHURST FARM 

ACORN ACRES 

OAK 

ELM 

SPRUC E 

ISLAND COVE 

LISENBY 

STANLY 

MILL ER TOWN 

ACCESS 

A SH 

CHERRY 


BERRY HIL L 

NORWOOD 

N ELLS 

A LBERTA 

WR4 

ANCHO R 

M OUNT AI N RI DGE 

NC 73 

FORE MAN 

HARBOR 

WR5 

WR1 0 

DEER RUN 

CLODFEL TER 

PI NE TREE 

HIDDEN 

RIVER RUN 

WR9 

TRANQUIL BAY 

L AKE TIL LER Y 

S YCAMORE 

CANDY 

RIVER HAVEN 

M APL E 

PI NEY POI NT 

HAM MER 

SHANKL E 

PI EDMO NT 

VIRD EN 

WR6 

WIL LOW OAK 

RO BERTS LOOP 

SHAN KLE EXT 

BUCK 

AMA NDA 

Q U AIL TR AIL 


GUY 

FOX 

SWIFT IS 

L AND 

TAR H EEL 

WR8 

WOOD LAND 

NC 731 

H YDRO 

OL D THOMPSON 

FORK 

NC 731 

JONES 

WR1 1 

STRAND 

WR7

Freeways 

STANLY COUNTY 

Table 4-1. Roadway Functional Classifications. 

Roadway 

Classification Description 

Freeway (Interstate) A divided highway that has full access control with intersections that 

are separated by grade. The primary uses are for interstate and 

Major Arterial and 

Other Principal 

Arterials 

intrastate travel. 

The primary function is to carry local and regional traffic, connect 

communities, and to allow travel between major destinations. This 

classification of road is used for long distance travel and signals are 

used in areas of development. In many instances it is necessary to 

control access (curb cuts) for safety and to allow for continued flow. 

Minor Arterial The role of a minor arterial is similar to that of a major one except 

that travel distances are shorter and the amount of traffic volume is 

smaller. 

Major Collector Provide access to and travel between arterials. They provide travel to 

specific destinations and allow traffic flow between neighborhoods as 

well as countywide mobility. 

Minor Collector Minor collectors take traffic from local streets for short distances, 

then distributed the traffic to major collectors and arterials. 

Local Streets Local streets allow access to individual lots. 

Source: NCDOT. 

There are no roadways classified as freeways in Stanly County. Presently, construction is 

underway on the extension of eastern leg of Interstate 485—the Charlotte by-pass—in 

Mecklenburg County. Presently Interstate 485 ends at the Lawyers Road interchange. At its 

nearest point, Interstate 485 will pass within approximately 13 miles of the southwestern corner 

of Stanly County at the proposed Albemarle Road (NC 24/27) interchange in Mecklenburg 

County. Interchanges are planned at NC 218 and NC 24/27 in Mint Hill. 

Major Arterials (Other Principal Arterial) 

Minor Arterials 

Major arterial roads in Stanly County include: 

U.S. 52, a major north-south roadway linking Richfield, New London, Albemarle, and 

Norwood. U.S. 52 continues northward to Salisbury and southward to Wadesboro. 

NC 49, a major east-west corridor for the central North Carolina region. From Richfield, NC 

travels northward to Asheboro and southward to the north side of Charlotte/Mecklenburg 

County. NC 49 is the only major roadway in the county that does not feed directly into 

Albemarle, the county seat. 

For the purposes of this planning study, it is expected that once NC 24/27 is widened to four 

lanes west of Albermarle, the roadway will be considered a major arterial. This roadway 

improvement is discussed later in this report. 

Minor arterial roadways in Stanly County include: 

NC Highway 24/27 west of Albemarle to Locust/Stanfield. 

NC Highway 24/27/73 east of Albemarle to the county line. 


Major Collectors 

Major collectors are as follows: 

Minor Collectors 

Local Streets 

STANLY COUNTY 

NC 73 west of Albemarle. 

Renee Ford Road in the southwest corner of the County. 

NC 200 in the southwest corner of the County running in north-south fashion through 

Stanfield and Locust. 

Running Creek Church Road from NC 24/27 in southwestern part of the county and turning 

into Millingport Road up to U.S. 52 at Richfield. 

NC 205 in its entirety from the county line through Oakboro and ending at NC 24/27. 

NC 742 in its entirety from Oakboro south to the county line. 

NC 138 in its entirety from Oakboro to Aquadale and eventually to Albemarle. 

Stanly School Road from Aquadale going east to until U.S. 52 at Norwood. 

NC 731 in its entirety. 

NC 740 in its entirety east from Albemarle to Badin and northwest to New London. 

NC 8 in its entirety from New London north to the county line. 

Minor collectors include the following: 

Love Mill Road in the southwest part of the county from the County line and continuing north 

to Stanfield. 

Barrier Store Road at the western County line going east and becoming Five Point Road 

and then turning east again to Mission Church Road and ending at Millingport Road. 

Ridgecrest Road starting from the intersection of NC 205 and NC 24/27 and continuing 

north until Millingport Road. 

Swift Road in the southwest part of the County beginning at NC 205 and continuing north 

and becoming Liberty Mill Church Road until NC 24/27. 

St. Martin Road starting from Oakboro and continuing northeast to Albemarle at NC 24/27 

Plank Road from Aquadale to Cottonville. 

Cottonville Road from Cottonville north to Stanly School Road. 

Indian Mound Road in the southeast from Norwood and continuing north to NC 24/27/73. 

Stony Gap Road from U.S. 52 south of Albemarle to NC 24/27/73 becoming Valley Drive 

and continuing north to Badin. 

Ridge Street running from the northeastern part of Albemarle and continuing north until it 

turns to Mt. View Church Road and continuing west then north to Palestine. 

Kemp Road from the northeast edge of Albemarle and continuing northeast into Palestine 

Road to Palestine. 

Airport Road from the northeast edge of Albemarle continuing east through Palestine then 

turning north until NC 740. 

Mountain Creek Road from northern Albemarle north to NC 740. 

Old Salisbury Road from the northwest part of Albemarle northwest to Richfield. 

Pennington Road from the northwest edge of Albemarle west to Austin Road. 

Austin Road northeast from NC 73 to U.S. 52. 

Main Street in Richfield north becoming High Rock Road to the county line. 

Local streets are located throughout the county in less populated areas and within subdivisions. 

They allow for easy access of individual lots as well as travel to other local, collector, and arterial 

roads. 


Planned Future Road Projects 

STANLY COUNTY 

Interviews were conducted with the Stanly County Planning staff as well as NCDOT in order to 

determine future road projects for the county. The NCDOT Construction – Active Project List 

and Future Project Letting List were used as well to help determine future dates and road 

segments. All project dates are subject to change and should only be used as a guide. 

Figure 4-2 illustrates programmed NCDOT projects in Stanly County. Each project identified on 

Figure 4-2 is detailed below: 

NC 24/27 is in the process of being widened to four lanes and in some locations within 

Albemarle to five lanes. Currently on NC 24/27 from East of St. Martin Road to Bird Road in 

Albemarle is being widened. In 2005 the last part west of Albemarle should be let 

(construction started) for widening. This means that around 2007 NC 24/27 should be four 

lanes all the way from Albemarle to Charlotte as well as to Interstate 485. 

Interstate 485, the outer loop around the City of Charlotte, eastern section is scheduled to 

be complete in 2003. The interstate will be about 13 miles from Stanly County’s border and 

around 35 miles from Albemarle. Residential development has already started to increase in 

the western census tract 9908 that includes Locust and Stanfield. This is predicted to 

continue as the completion date gets closer and once the road is finished allowing easy 

access to the City of Charlotte. 

The eastern part of NC 24/27, east of Albemarle to the County line will also be widened to 

four lanes with a schedule to be let in 2007 with completion date unsure, possibly in 2009. 

Ridge Street will be extended to Airport Road in order to provide for greater access to the 

Airport. The scheduled to start is 2006 and completion could possibly be two years later. 

In 2004 the U.S. 52 Extension from the existing U.S. 52 to NC 24/27 will be let. And 

widening of U.S. 52 from U.S. 74 in Wadesboro to U.S. 52 southeast of Albemarle to four 

lanes is on the schedule to be let in 2007. 

Widening of NC 49 to four lanes from east of SR 2444 to the Yadkin River is to be let in 

2009. 

U.S. 52 widening from Richfield to Salisbury is on the TIP. The first section within Stanly 

County is tentatively planned to start in late 2010, but is currently not funded. As part of this 

section a bypass around Pfeiffer University and Richfield is also planned. 

In addition to these projects, Stanly County has requested that NC 73 should be widened to four 

lanes west of Albermarle. This identified need—shown in Figure 4-2—has not been included as 

yet in the NCDOT project list. 

Access Management Plans 

Access management is a tool by which transportation planners and designers protect 

transportation safety and efficiency while at the same time providing necessary and appropriate 

access to adjacent land. Access management is largely based on the function of a roadway. 

As discussed in the Functional Classification System section of this report, the higher the road 

classification, the more emphasis is placed on roadway mobility over roadway accessibility. 

Presently Cabarrus and Lincoln Counties are completing access management plans for NC 73 

from Concord to Lincolnton. The plans—as currently presented—require the minimum setback 

of driveways from intersections and limit access. Stanly County needs to examine the use of 

access management plans on the proposed Albemarle Northeast Connector, the NC 24/27 

widening, and all other future four-lane widening projects in the future. Specific elements to be 


Qu ie t Cov e 

HICKORY HIL L 

STRAWBE RRY 

TI T E 

Legend 

G R EEN OAKS 

WHITE OAK 

MYR TLE 

PINE BLUFF 

RUBEN 

Planned Roadway Projects 

To be let 

2005 

To be let 

2002 

FRED 

RL 

RENEE FORD 

NA NCE 

THOMAS 

ROSSIE 

COPL EY 

TUCKER-HEL MS 

DAVID 

NC 24 -27 

BRO WNS HILL 


PO LK FORD 

NC 2 4-27 

SMITH 

GRIFFIN-HILL 

JODI E 

T ALLEY 

TAT ER 

Q UEENS 

J EN KINS 

YOW 

VERNON 

REED MINE 

MONTCL AIR 

SCOUT 


NC 24/27 

BERTHA 

MAIN 

B RENTWOOD 

JUNGLE 

RIDGE 

NATURE 

HILL CREST 

TUCKER 

TWIN OAKS 

DAKOTA 

CR EEKVIEW 

WE ST STANL Y 

HACKNEY 


RIVER 

Love Mill Rd. 

KL UT TZ 

W OO DWIND S 

ROCK HOLE 

L OVE MI L L 

SIMPSON 

M ATH 

P INE 

HONEYCUTT 

LAK EVIEW 

S TEPHA NI E 

WILL OW 

PI NE 

CHURCH 

F AMILY 

SMITH 

B ELL 

OAK 

POPL AR 

L OVE CHAP EL 

DEERWOOD 

REDAH 

POPL AR 

NC 200 

DANITA 

ASH 

MAPL E 


CABAR RUS 

RAL EIGH 

UNION 

CEN TRAL 

CHARLOTTE 

LOVE 

BETHEL CHURCH 

D IXON 

NC 200 

LIONS CL UB 

CAROL 

QUAIL RUN 

S UNSET 

S PRINGVIEW 

WATE R OAK 

LAN ES END 

SUNSET LAKE 

VELL A 

HARVE LL 

COLEY STORE 

ELM 

M AUNEY 


BEV ERL Y 

ELM ST 

RUSHING 

COYLE 

WEBB 


HI NSON FARM 

LOCUST 


CONCORD 

SEVEN OAKS 

MO CKI NG BI R D 

CHERRY TREE 

RIVER HEIGHTS 

KENN EL 

TANGL EWOOD 

DRYEWOOD 

SEDGEFIELD 

CRESTVIEW 

MARL WOOD 

STONY CREEK 

C REST RIDGE 

NC 2 00 

BARRIER STORE 

STANFIELD 

O AK L AND 

KINGS 

To be let 

2009 - Feb. 

J ACKS 

POND 

BIG LICK 

OSCAR 

NC 200 

F URR 

VO NNIE 

L EWI S 

BETHEL CHURCH 

I S LA ND C RE EK 

ROBERT 

BRIDLE 

BARB EE 

MARY 

FARM POND 

WA CO 


FIVE P OINT 

PLESS MILL 

PAIG E 

HER RIN GROVE 


Rd. 

BROOKS 

BREN DA 

S T JOHNS 

PROVIDENCE 

B RATTAIN 

LEE-GRIFFIN 

ST THOMAS 

WAYFIEL D 

CHURCHILL 

LAMBERT 


TRAVIS 

BEE TREE 


HIL LTOP 

OAK GROVE 

STONY 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

DR YE-HILL 

J OES 

R ENDEE 

NICHOL S 

SADD LE CL UB 

RED B ARN 

WESTWAY 

BRIDGE 

SILVER 

C APRA 

S UBSTATION 


TUC KER 

SMITH G ROVE 

R ETTIE 

GREENE 

HARRIS 

J D 

PAGE 

PEBBLE STON E 

B U STE R 

BANKS 

POL E RUNNING 

PE ACH TREE 


JET 

DEERFIEL D 

HOW ARD 

HUGH 

C OUNTRY 

J OY 

RA NCH VI EW 

JACO B 

NC 2 05 

BOUNDAR Y 

HATHCOCK GLEN 

NAY 

SWIFT 

OL D M INE 

SHE L LEY 

FOX TR AIL 

CUL P 

DUSTY 

BETHLEHEM C 

HWY 49 

N C 2 05 

DUTCH 

L AKE WO OD 


CEMETERY 

BEAR CLAW 

ST STEPHENS 

LYNN 

L OWDER 

HU RL EY 

F INGER 


WAD E 

NO VIEW 

L IG HTHOUSE 

RIDGE CREST 

BRANCH 

PEACE FUL 

CREST 

G ADDIS 

HATLEY 

FARMW OOD 

STON 

EY RUN 

BA NTAM 



Swift Rd. 


NC 205 

BI G LI CK 

SHINN 

NC 205 

BEVERLY 

OL D SANDBAR 

GOL D HIL L 

ROWL AND 

EAGL E 

OSBO RNE 

WALTERS 

ELEVE NTH 

SUG AR HILL 

HAM IL TON 


ANDRE W 

NI NTH 

CL AYM ON 

PECAN 

T ENTH 

EI GHTH 

C ENTER 

To be let 

tenative 2010 

start unfunded 

OL D CONCORD 

SEC OND 

WILL IAM S 

WATS ON 

HEA V EN 

Liberty Mill 

Church Rd. 

PINE 

SEV ENTH 

ALL I SON 

C OLLEGE 

HIL L 

G OLD H IL L 

M AIN 

EL LEN 

H AYWOOD 

MISTY 

BO RU N 

FI FTH 

DU NN 

FL I NT RIDGE 

D ORSETT 

COBL E 

ROC KY RIVER 


VIC K 

FROG POND 

BUL L HILL 

AQUA DALE 

J AMES 

MATTONS GRO 

O LD MILL 

NEWS OME 

DANA 

ALONZO 

NC 7 42 

RIDENHOUR 

ROGERS 

SHO RTCUT 

LORCH 

WOODFIEL D 

MCL EST ER 

EAR L 


SUN RIS E 

GLENMOR E 

B URRIS 

J ASE 

BIL ES 

COLL I E 

PARSO NAG E 

FINK 

SAM 

HWY 52 

RAMSEY 

M IL LINGPORT 

NC 24-27 

RED CROSS 

FARMRI D GE 

OAK 

OAKBORO 

LONG 

THOMAS 

FI RST 

BRAD Y 

AMERICAN 

TOL -CO 

NC 742 

DORTHY 

GUY-V ERNE 

L UTHER 

CL OVER 


HAZA R D 

WAGONER 

ELDER-EUDY 

HAL F MILE 


CH EROKEE 

GL ENMORE 

S UNNYBROOK 

FRIENDL Y 

NC 49 

E STHER 

US 52 


JAY 

BRIDG EPORT 

HIL L- FORD 

F RICK 

NC 73 

CILL E 

PRESTON 

PO PLAR LANE 

M A XTON 

WIL SON 

CECI L 

MCSWA IN 

U S 52 HW Y N 


BARBEES GROVE 

ENDY 

CURTIS 

HEL MS 

H ARWOO D 

L INGERFEL T 

B IG BEAR 

D ILLON 



WARD 

W IL DWOOD 

MIL LER 

REEVES ISLAND 

APRIL 

EMERY 

TREECE 

COM MUNIT Y 

TEETER 

M ERNER 

WAG ON ER 


LITTLE BEAR 

NC 24/27 

LA RO CK 

CLAUD E 

BETTY 

HOLT 

EFI RD 

HILL S-VIEW 

PFEIFFER 

RYAN 

VON 

OL D SCHOOL 

P OPLIN 

RU TH ERFORD 

O LD 49 

PARKER 


BOST 

S TATE 

M ORGAN 

BU RLESON 


O FFIE 

CUL P 

MISENHEIMER 

NC 73 

NC 138 

STATE 

FOREMAN RANCH 

PARKER 

F ISHER 

G OODMAN 

HIGHWAY 49 

BRADFORD 

C ANTON 

CRISCO 

J AME S 

FLOYD 

HARKEY 

LEE 

TIFFANY WOOD 

KEND 

AL LS CHURCH 

H ATLEY FARM 

ODE LL 

L OWE L L 

CLARK 

CARRIKER 

P RI N CE 

CAUDL E 

DOC 

HOL LYBROOK 

CANE 

MOSS 

SMITH M IL L 

LAKESIDE 

HART SEL L 

CEMETERY 

RHEA 

AL MON D 

REAP 

CL ETE 

JORDANS POND 

RIDER 

MORG AN 

NEL SON MOUNTAIN 

T HOMPSON 

SI DES 

M A IN 

HIGH ROCK 

CHURCH 


TIFFANY 

RED HILL 

RICHFIEL D 

DEESE 

HUNTERS 

LISA 


N EWT 

DANVIL LE 

AUSTIN 

H ERMAN 

WYATT 

FIDDL ER 

TER CHER 

WI NTER 

STOKES FERRY 

SUMM ER 

COUNTY L INE 

BEL L 

STEAKHOUSE 

BOB CAT 

GO L D BRANCH 

RICHFIELD 

Austin Rd. 

W ESTRIDGE 

LOC KWOOD 

O RCHARD 

PINE A CRES 

SPR I N G 

DANRITC H 

AMERON 

NORITAKE 

CEDA R 

W ALNUT 

FOSTORIA 

CARPENTER 

V ILLAGE 

FINCH 

PINEWOO D 

CITY L AKE 

IMPERI AL 

CANYON COURT 

NANNY 

CRYSTAL 

CEDAR RIDGE 

CLUB HOUSE 


B LALOCK 

HENDERSON 

RAY BUD 

PICKLER 

COLLEGE 

APEX 

DUCKPOND 

NC 49 



WAL NUT 

HEDGE 

SPIRAL 

LODG E 

MESSAGE 

OAKL AWN 

WILLIE 

OL D US 52 

ROYA L 

BIVEN S 

JU DE 

SCE 

NIC VIEW 

SPIVEY 

O LD PARKER 


HOLLY 

ST MARTIN 

COGGINS 

B ETH 


M A CART HUR 

DERA 

C HURCH 


PENNINGTON 

HOBE 

M AIN 

HOBERT 

SPEISS 


BLAKE 

CU RLEE 

CHURC H EXT 

L I TTLE 

NAPIER 

CHARLIE 

EDGEW OOD 


HILLCREST 

LONA 

WESTERN 

TYSON 

CROSS 

OLD SA 

I NG RAM 

I KE 

L ISBURY 

W EST 

BU RNS 

OLD DAVIS 

NC 49 

BLUE BIRD 

NIELDS 

COURTL AND 

M ORL IN 

RED FOX 

J UDY 

MANN 

NC 8 

BROOKW OOD 

FREEDOM 

M A Y 

VINE 

MAIN 

AUTUMN 

PARK 

KING SLEY 

HICKORY 

NC 13 8 

GEORGE 

FERRY 

DEPOT 

L OWDER 

SPRING 

LOCUST 

G REENWOOD 

L AUREL 

DRY 

GOL D 

RANDOM 

S PRINGDALE 

MONR OE 

WISCASSETT 

L IBERTY 

WIN FIELD 

L ESLIE 

NEW LONDON 

US 52 

extension 

to be let 

2004 

OA K 

FORE ST 

SKYLINE 

LOWDER 

P INE 

WHITE OAK 

MAPL E 

C REEKRIDGE 

CHURCH 

FIRE L INE 

B LUFF 

EUDY 

CORBIN 

JOSH 

REID 

CENTRAL 


WALNUT 

C OBLE 

POPL AR 

PARK 

WOOD 

E LM 

OAKWOOD 

HILL 

BAR BEE 

ARLI NGTON 

HIGHLAND 

SNUGGS PARK 

LO NG 

EFIRD 

CONC ORD 

JACKSON 

M IL LS 

NC 8 

B ETHANY 

VAL LEYVIEW 

M CKEE 

MORG AN 

E UDY 

OL D AQUADALE 

L ORENE 

DOGWOOD 

STONEW ALL 

HI GH 

ALDRIDGE 

RITCHIE 

LO NG 

PAL MER 

L IS K 

L OVE 

MABRY 

UNION G ROVE 

H ERLOCKER 

US 52 

CORBIN 

SNUG GS 

MIL L 

U S 52 HWY N 

WOODCREST 

S ALISBURY 

F URR 

B OST 


FERNWOOD 

CRAN FORD 

CAROLINA 

STOKER 

WOODL AND 

HAZE L WOOD 

CHAPEL 

BALDWI N 

COL LINS 


NC 138 


AUSTIN 

BROOKM EADE 

F I ELD 

RU SSELL 

EDGEMONT 

WATTS 

BRO OM E 

BREVARD 

HONEYB EE 

WOODHU RST 

HEMLOCK 

H AR V ARD 

ASH 

LOIS 

GRAHAM 

MASON 

M ARLBROOK 

KERR 

MOOSE 

DOGWOOD 

NC 8- 49 

FIRST 


R EEVES 

S O UTHERN 

KATES 

OPAL 

ARBOR 

SOUTH 

US 52 SOUTH 

ED WARDS 

R OSE 

FAIRVIEW 

LESL IE 

BEL MONT 

MULB ERRY 

A ZALEA 

BUL LOCK 


IDL EWOOD 

MASON 

CA RTER 


HENNING 

F AULKNER 

MAUL DIN 


PINEVIEW 

LUDLOW 

GLENN 

FRANKL IN 

WILSON 

EBEN 

S URRATT 

CL YDE 

KING 

NC 138 

WARD 


NORTH 

LILL Y 

H OLT 

MORTON 

H AMILTON 

FUL TON 

HEARNE 

HOL T 

CAGL E 

CARTER 

US 52 NORT H 

SHEPH ERD 

THIRD 

MC CURDY 

PENNY 

SUMM IT 

PARK 

FIFTH 

AVERY 



CIRCL E 

G ENE 

G OODM AN 

M I D WAY 

HUBERT 

YADKIN 

REBA 

ANNE BELL 

SAW MIL L 

FL ORAL 

FOURTH 

H AWTHORN 

FIFTH 

WAVERL Y 

HIL L 

BOYD 


COOPER 

GRAY 

L I NWOOD 

FIFTH 

HEATH 


CLOVER FORK 

PEE DEE 

SIXTH 


KIM REY 

PECAN 

N ORTHWOODS 

ROTARY 

GARRISON 

MCGIL L 

MILLER 

RICHAR DSON 

DEWEY 

SIXTH 

BL A NCHE 

PARK 

E L IZABETH 

MURDOCK 

P ARK 

AVONDALE 

SEV ENTH 

ELLENW OOD 

EAST 

RUBY 

FLAKE 

C HESTER 

FISH C AMP 

G URL EY 

H EARNE 

M EL C HOR 

PLA NK 

ROSS 

NINTH 

HOPKINS 

T ENTH 

MONTGOM ERY 

WALL 

COTTON 

PORTER 

ELAINE 

WILD WOOD 

M ASCOT 

SHADY 

COL STON 

LUNDIX 

HARDY 

L ED BE TTER 

HASTINGS 

M ORROW 

Q UAIL R IDGE 


L AF AYETTE 

PARK RIDGE 

C O LS O N 

COL ONIAL 

AREY 

ING OLD 

B OONE CAUDLE 

A MANDA 


School Rd. 

To be let 

2009 - April 

K NOLLWOOD 

TENTH 

NORTHCREST 

HAPPY 

QUI NCY 

M ARIO N 

EL EVENTH 

WADDELL 

C ARDINAL 

TALBERT 

BEALE 

LAURAS 

POU 

BIS HOP 

RIDGE 

WR1 

BEL LAM Y 

EASTOVER 


HOL LY RIDG E 


PEACHTREE 

HYMAN 

L EON ARD 

DUCK 

H ERITAGE 

K EMP 

SWAR INGEN 


ALLEN -LEE 

F REEMAN 

INGER 

GRIGG 

COTTON TREE 

HOL BROOK 

CAROL YN 

L ANDIS 

REB EL 

MAG NO LIA 

H ARMONY 

EAGLE HE AD 

MANERS 


AMHU RST 

T A 

EURY 

H I N SON 

MATT- NEA L 

FAIRWAY 

HENSON 

H OOPS 

AIRPORT 

PAL ESTIN E 

DEANNA 

G R OVES 

SOUTHBOUND 

J ASON 

PORTER HILL 

BERRY 

FL EETWOO D 

BIRD 

COTTO NVIL LE 

M ERRICK 

PARKWAY 

OL D WHIT NEY 

Carter Acres 

Rd. 

CHIMNEY 

CHURCHYARD 

RO CK FIELD 

ALBEMARLE 


SMITH 

C ANNON 

BELL 

M ONDALE 

ROY 

STER 

L ING 

LEE LYNN 

S PRINGHAVEN 

ELM ER 

DICK 

JOHNS 

M EL TON 


MONZA 

NC 74 0 BYPASS 

H AL F WAY 

HERR ING 

TOWER 

CA TALINA 

E ASTWOOD 

HI LCO 

DEER HAVE N 

P INERIDGE 

L EE-FURR 

SMILE Y 


BARNHARDT 

YAD KIN BRICK 

S ANDY 

I MPALA 

P ALM ETTO 

MIDWOOD 

WO ODHAVEN 

US 52 

LATON 

MO ONSHINE 

BERNAR D 

N C 7 40 

PRIME BEEF 

SPEIGHT 

SMILEY 

WINDY HIL L 

HAR GETT 

DON 

CHERRYWOOD 

ROSEH ILL 

GARY 

KIMBERL Y 

LATON 

CHARTER 

WOODCROFT 

WOODHURST 

US 52 HWY S 

BADIN 

MARWOOD 

W HITLEY 


DOVE 

DOG WOOD 

MOSS 


STALEY 

SUNVIEW 

HORNE 

CARTERS ACRES 


ANDERSON 

BECK 

LOOP 

TALL WHIT 

HARPER HEARNE 

EDS 

CRU MP 

F I RST GATE 


F AIRFIELD 

H ICKS 

STARW OOD 

RUM MAG E 

G REENVIEW 

HUD SON 

HOW ELL 

KIRK 

W IL L 

PINION 

PUMPHOUSE 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 


AD AM 

S HAVER 

NC 740 


DELAND 

SWEET HO 

M E CHURCH 

KNOL LWOO D 

ISE N 

NC 740 HWY 

IVY 

PL A NTATION 

MOUNTAIN 

FOREST 

Stony Gap Rd. 

L EFLER 

ZEKE 

HERCULES 

STO NY GAP 

LIL LAR 

H ICKORY 

NORTHWO OD 

BRI CKY ARD 

SKI POND 

C ANNON 

WIND 

KI NGS 

D AI S Y 

WR2 

CA TFISH 

MERC EDES 

DUPREE 

BAILEY 

DAVIS 

L AW NWOOD 

L EE 

CHAD 

DENNIS 

GUARD 

BOWERS 


MARTI N 

TOM 

SETZER 

T AXIDERMIST 

ROCK HAVEN 

BYRD 

A MBER 

NC 740 

RAIL RO AD 


DOO DY 

KEL TY 

GADSON 

CO OKS 

W E LCH 

S UNSET 

PI NE 

L I NCOL N 

M CNEI L 

A N G IE 

MILL 

AND REWS 

K ENDALL 

S HORT 

SNIDE R 

SHERMAN 

S UMM IT 

CARL IE 

WR I G HT 

MAR ANATHA 

P ARKER 

KECIA 

A NSON 

SIMS 

G ORDON 

B RO ADWAY 

ALPI NE 

ARROWOOD 

T HOM AS 

DEW EY 

S NUGGS 

L AKE SHORE 

S HINN 

GR ANT 

CAMPB ELL 

TUR NER 

DUNL AP 

PEE DEE 

CANAL 

STU ART 

THOMP 

WO OD 

SON FARM 

KEYS TONE 

LEHUE-P ARKER 

RIVERVIEW 

MARION 

A SH 

CO LL EGE 

C OX 

JAY-AL LEN 

STORY 

POPLIN 

SC ENIC 

V INCENT 

NEW 

BROWN 

N ICKS 

WR3 

A RROW HEAD 

WALL 

B EACH 

PALMERVILL E 

BADIN 

Valley Dr. 

Under 

Construction 


VALL EY 

N C 24 -27 -73 

ENO 

AL LENTON 

CRAWL EY 

C HEOAH 

RAY LEE 

IVEY 

WILL O W 

MARG IE 

SAPONA 

SINGLEW ODD 

ATKINS 

P ARADISE 

STONY HILL 

WALN UT 

STON Y MO UNTAIN 

MAR K JO SEPH 

C ARVER 

PR ICE 

BOYDEN 


US 52 HWY S 

LAK E H EAD 

WAL- ANN 

C HESTNUT 

FALLS 

LAKE 

RAVENWOOD 

SHORE FARM 

WIL-KRIS 

I NDI AN M OU ND 

LANIER 

O AKWO OD 

VINEYAR D 


ACORN ACRES 

OAK 

ELM 

SPRUC E 

ISLAND COVE 

LISENBY 

STANLY 

MILL ER TOWN 

ACCESS 

A SH 

CHERRY 


BERRY HIL L 

N ELLS 

A LBERTA 

WR4 

ANCHO R 


NC 73 

NORWOOD 

FORE MAN 

HARBOR 

WR5 

WR1 0 

DEER RUN 

CLODFEL TER 

PI NE TREE 

HIDDEN 

WR9 

RIVER RUN 

TRANQUIL BAY 


S YCAMORE 

CANDY 

RIVER HAVEN 

M APL E 

PI NEY POI NT 

HAM MER 

SHANKL E 

WR6 

PI EDMO NT 

VIRD EN 

WIL LOW OAK 

RO BERTS LOOP 

SHAN KLE EXT 

BUCK 

AMA NDA 



GUY 

FOX 

SWIFT IS 

L AND 

TAR H EEL 

WR8 

WOOD LAND 

NC 731 

H YDRO 

OL D THOMPSON 

To be let 

2006 

FORK 

NC 731 

JONES 

WR1 1 

STRAND 

To be let 

2007 

To be let 

2007 

Figure 4-2 

Planned Roadway Projects 



WR7

STANLY COUNTY 

examined include the management of driveway separation distances and the use of right-in and 

right-outs. Crossovers and lights should be kept to a minimum since statistics indicate accidents 

and congestion increase when traffic signals are installed. 

Roadways Issues 

Bicycle Routes 

A large number of roadway issues have been raised through this point in the Land Use Plan 

development process. The following list was developed based on technical interviews with 

transportation planners, county officials, and the Land Use Plan Steering Committee. As the 

planning process continues, information obtained from public meetings and other sources will be 

integrated into this list. 

Improved access to the remainder of central North Carolina has been identified as a primary 

concern for the long-range well being of the county. Currently there are no limited-access 

highways in Stanly County and only two sections of U.S. 52—one four-lane section in 

Albemarle and a five-lane section in Richfield—containing more than three lanes of traffic. 

The lack of better access to regional markets has been identified as a significant hindrance 

to economic development efforts in the county. 

Stanly County needs to plan for future roadway improvements now in order for them to be 

added to NCDOT’s TIP. Presently there is a seven-year waiting period between the 

placement of a project on the TIP and actual construction. Stanly County should continue 

with long-range transportation planning efforts to ensure that road projects will be added to 

the state TIP. 

The overall circulation system in Stanly County needs to be improved. Generally there is a 

lack of a north-south connections especially in the western part of the County. Another 

connection from NC 24/27 to NC 73 is needed. Further, the secondary and tertiary road 

system will require improvement as development occurs. 

The placement of future schools in the county needs to be coordinated with long-range 

transportation plans in order to identify ideal locations relative to traffic flow. Interior campus 

circulation plans that allow for easy drop-off and pick-up and that limit traffic backups and 

congestion should also be examined. 

Industrial growth and development needs to be channeled to locations that support the truck 

traffic it will generate. 

The widening of NC 73 to four lanes needs to be examined. Currently this project is on the 

needs list for the TIP but is not funded. This improvement would greatly improve access 

from west-central Stanly County and Albemarle to Interstate 85, Concord, and Kannapolis. 

Kendalls Church Road, which provides access to the cotton gin in the Millingport area, is 

inadequately-sized for tractor-trailers that serve the gin. NCDOT recognizes the problem but 

the cost in order to remedy the situation is large relative to other needs in the county. 

Congestion was also brought up as an issue at U.S. 52 at North Stanly High School where 

high school students are dismissed and shift changes at nearby industrial businesses occur 

at the same time. 

NCDOT has identified a 187-mile bikeway system in Stanly County consisting of bike routes 

along existing roads. The system is illustrated in Figure 4-3. Table 4-2 provides a summary 

description of each route. 


Qu ie t Cov e 

HICKORY HIL L 

STRAWBE RRY 

TI T E 

G R EEN OAKS 

WHITE OAK 

MYR TLE 

Legend 

PINE BLUFF 

RUBEN 

FRED 

RL 

RENEE FORD 

NA NCE 

THOMAS 

ROSSIE 

COPL EY 

TUCKER-HEL MS 

DAVID 

NC 24 -27 

BR OWNS HILL 


PO LK FORD 

NC 2 4-27 

SMITH 

Bikeways 

GRIFFIN-HILL 

JODIE 

T ALLEY 

TAT ER 

Q UEENS 

J EN KINS 

YOW 

VERNON 

REED MINE 

MONTCL AIR 

SCOUT 


NC 24/27 

BERTHA 

MAIN 

B RENTWOOD 

JUNGLE 

RIDGE 

NATURE 

HILL CREST 

TUCKER 

TWIN OAKS 

DAKOTA 

CR EEKVIEW 


WE ST STANL Y 

HACKNEY 

RIVER 

W OO DWIND S 

KL UT TZ 

ROCK HOLE 

L OVE MIL L 

SIMPSON 

M ATH 

P INE 

HONEYCUTT 

LAK EVIEW 

S TEPHA NI E 

WILL OW 

FAMIL Y 

PI NE 

CHURCH 

SMITH 

B ELL 

OAK 

POPL AR 

L OVE CHAP EL 

DEERWOOD 

REDAH 

POPL AR 

NC 200 

DANITA 

ASH 

MAPL E 


CABARRUS 

RAL EIGH 

UNION 

CEN TRAL 

CHARLOTTE 

LOVE 

BETHEL CHURCH 

D IXON 

NC 200 

QUAIL RUN 

LOCUST 

LIONS CL UB 

CAROL 

S UNSET 

S PRINGVIEW 

SEVEN OAKS 

WATE R OAK 


LAN ES END 

SUNSET LAKE 

VELL A 

M OCKI NG BI R D 

COLEY STORE 

ELM 

CHERRY TREE 

RI VER HEIGHTS 

HARV ELL 

KEN NEL 

M AUNEY 

TANGL EWOOD 

DRYEWOOD 


BEV ERL Y 

SEDGEFIELD 

CRESTVIEW 

MARL WOOD 

STANFIELD 

Love Mill Rd. 

CONCORD 

O AK L AND 

KINGS 

ELM ST 

RUSHING 

COYLE 

WEBB 


HI NSON FARM 

STONY CREEK 

J ACKS 

C REST RIDGE 

NC 2 00 

BARRIER STORE 

POND 

BIG LICK 

F URR 

OSCAR 

VO NNIE 

L EWI S 

BETHEL CHURCH 

I S LA ND C RE E K 

ROBERT 

BRIDLE 

BARB EE 

MARY 

FARM POND 

WA CO 


FIVE P OINT 

PLESS MILL 

PAIG E 

HE RRIN GROVE 


Rd. 

BROOKS 

BRE NDA 

S T JOHNS 

PROVIDENCE 

B RATTAIN 

LEE-GRIFFIN 

ST THOMAS 

WAYFIEL D 

LAMBERT 

CHURCHILL 


TRAVIS 

BEE TREE 


HIL LTOP 

OAK GROVE 

STONY 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

DR YE-HILL 

J OES 

R ENDEE 

NICHOL S 

SADD LE CL UB 

RED BARN 

WESTWAY 

BRIDG E 

SILVER 

C APRA 

S UBSTATION 

SMITH G ROVE 

R ETTIE 


TUC KER 

GREENE 

HARRIS 

J D 

PAGE 

PEBBLE STON E 

B U STE R 

B ANKS 

POL E RUNNING 

PE ACH TREE 


JET 

DEERFIEL D 

H OW ARD 

HUGH 

C OUNTRY 

J OY 

RA NCH VI EW 

JACO B 

NC 2 05 

BOUNDAR Y 

HATHCOCK GLEN 

NAY 

SWIFT 

OL D M INE 

SHE L LEY 

FOX TR AIL 

CUL P 

DUSTY 

BETHLEHEM C 

HWY 49 

N C 2 05 

DUTCH 

L AKE WO OD 


CEMETERY 

BEAR CLAW 

ST STEPHENS 

L OWDER 

LYNN 

HU RL EY 

F INGER 


WAD E 

L IG HTHOUSE 

RIDGE CREST 

BRANCH 

PEACE FUL 

CREST 

HATLEY 

FARMW OOD 


4 0 4 Miles 

NC 200 

Swift Rd. 


NC 205 

BI G LI CK 

SHINN 

NO VIEW 

NC 205 

BEVERLY 

G ADDIS 

STON 

EY RUN 

BA NTAM 


OL D SANDBAR 

GOL D HI L L 

ROWL AND 

EAGL E 

OSBO RNE 

WALTERS 

ELEVE NTH 

SUG AR HILL 

HAM IL TON 


ANDRE W 

NI NTH 

CL AYM ON 

PECAN 

T ENTH 

EI GHTH 

C ENTER 

OL D CONCORD 

SEC OND 

WILL IAM S 

WATS ON 

G OLD H IL L 

M AIN 

EL LEN 

H AYWOOD 

MISTY 

BO RU N 

FI FTH 

DU NN 

D ORSETT 

FL I NT RIDGE 

COBL E 

ROC KY RIVER 


VIC K 

FROG POND 

BUL L HILL 

AQUA DALE 

J AMES 

MATTONS GRO 

O LD MILL 

NEWS OME 

DAN A 

ALONZO 

NC 7 42 

RIDENHOUR 

ROGERS 

SHO RTCUT 

LORCH 

WOODFIEL D 

MCL EST ER 

EAR L 

SUN RIS E 


GLENMOR E 

B URRIS 

J ASE 

BIL ES 

COLL I E 

PARSO NAG E 

FINK 

SAM 

HWY 52 

RAMSEY 

M IL LINGPORT 

NC 24-27 

RED CROSS 

HEA V EN 

Liberty Mill 

Church Rd. 

PINE 

SEV ENTH 

ALL I SON 

C OLLEGE 

HIL L 

FARMRI D GE 

OAK 

BRAD Y 

AMERICAN 

TOL -CO 

DORTHY 

OAKBORO 

LONG 

THOMAS 

FI RST 

NC 742 

GUY-V ERNE 

L UTHER 

CL OVE R 


HAZA R D 

WAGONER 

ELDER-EUDY 

HAL F MILE 


CH EROKEE 

GL ENMORE 

S UNNYBROOK 

FRIENDL Y 

NC 49 

E STHER 

US 52 


JAY 

BRIDG EPORT 

HIL L- FORD 

F RICK 

NC 73 

CILL E 

PRESTON 

PO PLAR LANE 

MA XTON 

WIL SON 

CECI L 

MCSWA IN 

U S 52 HW Y N 


BARBEES GROVE 

ENDY 

CURTIS 

HEL MS 

H ARWOO D 

L INGERFEL T 

B IG BEAR 

D ILLON 



WARD 

W IL DWOOD 

MIL LER 

REEVES ISLAND 

APRIL 

EMERY 

TREECE 

COM MUNIT Y 

TEETER 

M ERNER 

WAG ON ER 


LIT TLE BEAR 

NC 24/27 

LA RO CK 

CLAUD E 

BETTY 

HOLT 

EFI RD 

HILL S-VIEW 

PFEIFFER 

RYAN 

VO N 

OL D SCHOOL 

RU THERFORD 

P OPLIN 

O LD 49 

PARKER 


BOST 

S TATE 

M ORGAN 

BU RLESON 


O FFIE 

CUL P 

MISENHEIMER 

NC 73 

NC 138 

STATE 

FOREMAN RANCH 

PARKER 

F ISHER 

BRADFORD 

G OODMAN 

HIGHWAY 49 

C ANTON 

CRISCO 

J AME S 

FLOYD 

HARKEY 

LEE 

TIFFANY WOOD 

KEND 

AL LS CHURCH 

H ATLEY FARM 

ODE LL 

L OWE L L 

CLARK 

CARRIKE R 

P RI N CE 

CAUDL E 

DOC 

HOL LYBROOK 

CANE 

R HEA 

LAKESIDE 

HART SEL L 

MOSS 

SMITH M IL L 

CEMETERY 

AL MON D 

REAP 

CL ETE 

JORDANS POND 

RIDER 

MORG AN 

NEL SO N MOUNTAIN 

T HOMPSON 

SI DES 

M A IN 

W ESTRIDGE 

HIGH ROCK 

CHURCH 

LOC KWOOD 

O RCHARD 


TIFFANY 

RED HILL 

RICHFIEL D 

DEESE 

H UNTERS 

LISA 


N EWT 

DANVIL LE 

PINE A CRES 

AUSTIN 

H ERMAN 

BOB CAT 

WYATT 

FIDDL ER 

SPR ING 

TER CHER 

WI NTER 

STOKES FERRY 

SUMM ER 

DANRIT CH 

AMERON 

NORITAKE 

CEDA R 

COUNTY L INE 

BEL L 

STEAKHOUSE 

W ALNUT 

GO L D BRANCH 

FOSTORIA 

CARPENTER 

V ILLAGE 

FINCH 

PINEWOO D 

CITY L AKE 

IMPERI AL 

CANYON COURT 

NANNY 

CRYSTAL 

CLUB HOUSE 


B LALOCK 

HENDERSON 

RAY BUD 

PICKLER 

COLLEGE 

APEX 

DUCKPOND 

NC 49 

RICHFIELD 

Austin Rd. 



WAL NUT 

CEDAR RIDGE 

HEDGE 

SPIRAL 

LODG E 

MESSAGE 

OAKL AWN 

WILLIE 

OL D US 52 

ROYA L 

BIVEN S 

JU DE 

SCE 

NIC VIEW 

SPIVEY 

O LD PARKER 


HOLLY 

ST MARTIN 

COGGINS 

B ETH 


M A CART HUR 

DERA 

C HURCH 


PENNINGTON 

HOBE 


M AIN 

HOBERT 

SPEISS 

BLAKE 

CU RLEE 

CHURC H EXT 

L I TTLE 

NAPIER 

CHARLIE 

EDGEW OOD 


LONA 

WESTER N 

TYSON 

CROSS 

OLD SA 

ING RAM 

I KE 

L ISBURY 

W EST 

BU RNS 

OLD DAVIS 

NC 49 

BLUE BIRD 

NIELDS 

HILLCREST 

COURTL AND 

M ORL IN 

RED FOX 

J UDY 

MANN 

NC 8 

BROOK WOOD 

FREEDOM 

M A Y 

VINE 

MAIN 

AUTUMN 

OA K 

KING SLEY 

PARK 

S KYLINE 

LOWDER 

HICKORY 

NC 13 8 

L AUREL 

WHITE OAK 

C REEKRIDGE 

GEORGE 

DEPOT 

FERRY 

CHURCH 

NEW LONDON 

FORE ST 

P INE 

MAPL E 

L OWDER 

SPRING 

FIRE L INE 

LOCUST 

G REENWOOD 

B LUFF 

EUDY 

CORBIN 

JOSH 

REID 

CENTRAL 

C OBLE 

DRY 

GOL D 

RANDOM 

S PRINGDALE 

MONR OE 


WISCASSETT 

WALNUT 

POPL AR 

PARK 

WOOD 

L IBERTY 

WIN FIELD 

E LM 

OAKWOOD 

HILL 

BAR BEE 

L ESLIE 

ARLI NGTON 

HIGHLAND 

SNUGGS PARK 

LO NG 

EFIRD 

CONC ORD 

JACKSON 

M IL L S 

NC 8 

B ETHANY 

VAL LEYVIEW 

L ORENE 

DOGWOOD 

M CKEE 

STONEW ALL 

HI GH 

MORG AN 

E UDY 

OL D AQUADALE 

ALDRIDGE 

RITCHIE 

LO NG 

PAL MER 

L IS K 

L OVE 

H ERLOCKER 

US 52 

CORBIN 

SNUG GS 

S ALISBURY 


MABRY 

UNION G ROVE 

MIL L 

U S 52 HWY N 

WOODCREST 

F URR 

B OST 

FERNWOOD 

CRAN FORD 

CAROLINA 

STOKER 

WOODL AND 

HAZE L WOOD 

CHAPEL 

BALDWI N 

COL LINS 


NC 138 


AUSTIN 

BROOKM EADE 

F I ELD 

RU SSELL 

EDGEMONT 

WATTS 

BRO OM E 

BREVARD 

HONEYB EE 

WOODHU RST 

HEMLOCK 

H AR V ARD 

ASH 

LOIS 

GRAHAM 

MASON 

M ARLBROOK 

MOOSE 

KERR 

DOGWOOD 

NC 8- 49 

FIRST 


R EEVES 

S O UTHERN 

KATES 

OPAL 

ARBOR 

SOUTH 

US 52 SOUTH 

ED WARDS 

R OSE 

FAIRVIEW 

LESL IE 

BEL MONT 

MULB ERRY 

A ZALEA 

BUL LOCK 


IDL EWOOD 

MASON 

MAUL DIN 

CA RTER 


HENNING 

F AULKNER 


PINEVIEW 

LUDLOW 

GLENN 

FRANKL IN 

WILSON 

EBEN 

S URRATT 

CL YDE 

KING 

WARD 


NORTH 

LILL Y 

H OLT 

CAGL E 

US 52 NORT H 

MORTON 

H AMILTON 

FUL TON 

HEARNE 

HOL T 

THIRD 

CARTER 

SHEPHERD 

MC CURDY 

PENNY 

SUMM IT 

PARK 

FIFTH 

AVERY 



CI RCLE 

G ENE 

G OODM AN 

YADKIN 

REBA 

M I D WAY 

ANNE BELL 

HUBERT 

SAW MILL 

FL ORAL 

FOURTH 

H AWTHORN 

FIFTH 

WAVERL Y 

HIL L 

BOYD 


COOPER 

GRAY 

L I NWOOD 

FIFTH 


CLOVER FORK 

PEE DEE 

HEATH 

SIXTH 


KIM REY 

N ORTHWOODS 

ROTARY 

GARRISON 

MCGIL L 

MILLER 

RICHA RDSON 

DEWEY 

PECAN 

SIXTH 

P ARK 

BL A NCHE 

E L IZABETH 

P ARK 

AVONDALE 

ELLENW OOD 

MURDOCK 

EAST 

SEV ENTH 

RUBY 

FLAKE 

C HESTER 

FISH C AMP 

G URL EY 

H EARNE 

K NOLLWOOD 

WALL 

M EL CHOR 

PLA NK 

ROSS 

NINTH 

HOPKINS 

T ENTH 

MONTGOM ERY 

COTTON 

ELAINE 

WILD WOOD 

M ASCOT 

TENTH 

NORTHCRES T 

PORTER 

COL STON 

LUNDIX 

HARDY 

SHADY 

L ED BE TTE R 

HASTINGS 

M ORROW 

Q UAIL R IDGE 


L AF AYETTE 

PARK RIDGE 

C O LS O N 

COL ONIAL 

AREY 

ING OLD 

HAPPY 

B OONE CAUDLE 

A MANDA 

QUI NCY 

M ARI ON 

EL EVENTH 

C ARDINAL 

WADDELL 

TALBERT 

BEALE 

BI S HOP 

LAURAS 

POU 

WR1 

RIDGE 

BEL LAM Y 

EASTOVER 


HOL LY RIDG E 


PEACHTREE 

DUCK 

HYMAN 

L EON ARD 

H ERITAGE 

K EMP 

SWAR INGEN 


ALLEN -LEE 

F REEMAN 

INGER 

GRIGG 

COTTON TREE 

HOL BROOK 

CAROL YN 

L ANDIS 

REB EL 

MAG NO LIA 

H ARMONY 

EAGLE HE AD 

AMHU RST 

T A 

EURY 

MANERS 


H I N SON 

MATT- NEA L 

FAIRWAY 

HENSON 

H OOPS 

AIRPORT 

PAL ESTIN E 

DEANNA 

G R OVES 

SOUTHBOUND 

J ASON 

PORTER HILL 

BERRY 

FL EETWOO D 

BIRD 

COTTO NVIL LE 

M ERRICK 

PARKWAY 

OL D WHIT NEY 

Carter Acres 

Rd. 

ALBEMARLE 

NC 138 


School Rd. 


SMITH 

C ANNON 

CHIMNEY 

BELL 

CHURCHYARD 

M ONDALE 

RO CK FIELD 

ROY 

STER 

L ING 

LEE LYNN 

S PRINGHAVEN 

ELM ER 

DICK 

JOHNS 

M EL TON 


MONZA 

NC 74 0 BY PASS 

H AL F WAY 

HERR ING 

TOWER 

CA TALINA 

E ASTWOOD 

HI LCO 

DEER HAVE N 

P INERIDGE 

L EE-FURR 

SMIL EY 


BARNHARDT 

YAD KIN BRICK 

S ANDY 

I MPALA 

P ALM ETTO 

MIDWOOD 

WO ODHAVEN 

US 52 

LATON 

MO ONSHINE 

BERNAR D 

N C 7 40 

PRIME BEEF 

SPEIGHT 

SMILEY 

WINDY HIL L 

HAR GETT 

DON 

CHERRYWOOD 

ROSEH ILL 

GARY 

KIMBERL Y 

LATON 

CHARTER 

WOODCROFT 

WOODHURST 

US 52 HWY S 

BADIN 

MARWOOD 

W HITLEY 


DOVE 

DOG WOOD 

STALEY 

MOSS 


SUNVIEW 

HORNE 

CARTERS ACRES 


ANDERSON 

BECK 

LOOP 

TALL WHIT 

HARPER HEARNE 

EDS 

CR UMP 

F I RST GATE 


F AIRFIELD 

H ICKS 

STARW OOD 

HUD SON 

RUM MAG E 

G REENVIEW 

H OW ELL 

KIRK 

W IL L 

P INION 

P UMPHOUSE 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 


AD AM 

S HAVER 

NC 740 


DELAND 

SWEET HO 

M E CHURCH 

KNOL LWO OD 

ISE N 

NC 740 HWY 

IVY 

PL A NTATION 

MOUNTAIN 

FOREST 

Stony Gap Rd. 

L EFLER 

HERCULES 

STO NY GAP 

LIL LAR 

ZEKE 

H ICKORY 

NORTHWO OD 

BRI CKY ARD 

SKI POND 

C ANNON 

WIND 

KI NGS 

D AI S Y 

WR2 

CA TFISH 

MERC EDES 

DUPREE 

BAILEY 

DAVIS 

L AW NWOOD 

C HAD 

L EE 

DENNIS 

GUARD 

BOWERS 


MARTI N 

TOM 

SETZER 

T AXIDERMIST 

BYRD 

A MBER 

ROCK HA VEN 

NC 740 

RAIL RO AD 


DO ODY 

GADSON 

CO OKS 

KEL TY 

W E LCH 

S UNSET 

PI NE 

L I NCOL N 

M CNEI L 

A N G I E 

MILL 

AND REWS 

K ENDALL 

S HORT 

SNIDE R 

SHERMAN 

S UMM IT 

CARL IE 

WR I G HT 

MAR ANATHA 

P ARKER 

KECIA 

A NSON 

SIMS 

B RO ADWAY 

G ORDON 

ALPI NE 

ARROWOOD 

T HOM AS 

DEW EY 

S NUGGS 

L AKE SHORE 

S HINN 

G RANT 

CAMPB ELL 

TUR NER 

DUNL AP 

PEE DEE 

CANAL 

STU ART 

THOMP 

WO OD 

SON FARM 

KEYS TONE 

RIVERVIEW 

A SH 

LEHUE-P ARKER 

CO LL EGE 

MARION 

C OX 

JAY-AL LEN 

STORY 

POPLIN 

SC ENIC 

V INCENT 

NEW 

BROWN 

WR3 

A RROW HEAD 

N ICKS 

WALL 

B EACH 

PALMERVILL E 

BADIN 

Valley Dr. 


VALL EY 

N C 24 -27 -73 

ENO 

AL LENTON 

CRAWL EY 

C HEOAH 

RAY LEE 

IVEY 

WILL O W 

MARG IE 

SAPONA 

SINGLEW ODD 

ATKINS 

P ARADISE 

STONY HILL 

WALN UT 

STO NY MO UNTAIN 

MAR K JO SEPH 

C ARVER 

PR ICE 

BOYDEN 

LAK E H EAD 

FALLS 


US 52 HWY S 

WAL- ANN 

C HESTNUT 

RAVENW OOD 

LAKE 

SHORE FARM 

WIL-KRIS 

I NDI AN MOU ND 

LANIER 

O AKWO OD 

VINEYAR D 


ACORN ACRES 

OAK 

ELM 

SPRU CE 

ISLAND COVE 

LISENBY 

STANLY 

MILL ER TOWN 

ACCESS 

A SH 

CHERRY 


BERRY HIL L 

N ELLS 

A LBERTA 

WR4 

ANCHO R 


NC 73 

FORE MAN 

HARBOR 

WR5 

WR1 0 

DEER RUN 

PI NE TREE 

HIDDEN 

CLODFEL TER 

WR9 

RIVER RUN 

TRANQUIL BAY 

NORWOOD 

Bikeways 




S YCAMORE 

CANDY 

RIVER HAVEN 

M APL E 

PI NEY POI NT 

HAM MER 

SHANKL E 

WR6 

PI EDMO NT 

VIRD EN 

WIL LOW OAK 

RO BERTS LOOP 

SHAN KLE EXT 

BUCK 

AM ANDA 



GUY 

FOX 

SWIFT IS 

L AND 

TAR H EEL 

WR8 

WOOD LAND 

NC 731 

H YDRO 

OL D THOMPSON 

FORK 

NC 731 

JONES 

WR1 1 

STRAND 

WR7 

Figure 4-3

STANLY COUNTY 

Table 4-2. Countywide Bikeway System. 

Route Description 

Length 

(In Miles) 

1 Connects Badin, Albemarle, and Aquadale 20 

2 Connects Misenheimer, New London, Badin, Morrow Mountain 

State Park, Norwood, Aquadale, Oakboro, Stanfield, and Locust 

84 

3 Connects Richfield, Albemarle, Oakboro 25 

6 Consists of a portion of the cross-state Piedmont Spur Route. 24 (of 200 

Begins in Morganton in Burke County and continues through Stanly 

County, ending at Snow Camp in Alamance County. 

Miles Overall) 

Source: NCDOT. 

Public Transportation 

Railroads 

Subscription and on-demand public transportation in Stanly County is provided by the Stanly 

County Umbrella Services Agency (SCUSA). The system consists of buses and vans and 

provides county residents with transportation to and from public agencies, employment, 

businesses, medical centers within and out of the county, the community college, senior center, 

nutrition sites, YMCA after school program, group trips, dialysis, nursing homes, county schools, 

daycare’s and other areas as well. 

Presently there is no other public transportation available that runs along a regular scheduled 

route in Stanly County. 

Stanly County is served by four rail systems that connect the county with the rest of central North 

Carolina and other outside markets. The provision of rail service in the county is consistently 

identified by one in five prospective industries considering moving into the county. The Winston- 

Salem Southbound (WSSB), CSX, Norfolk and Southern (NS), and Aberdeen Carolina and 

Western Railways (ACWR). Collectively these lines provide piggyback service to Charlotte, daily 

switching service, and access to 50 motor freight carriers that serve the county (see Figure 4-4). 

The ACWR line runs east-west and connects Charlotte with the southern part of Cabarrus 

and Stanly County. The rail line continues through Stanfield and Oakboro through Aquadale 

to Norwood and into Montgomery County. 

The WSSB is a north-south from Winston-Salem through Lexington along the Yadkin River 

into Stanly County past Narrows Reservoir. A spur line goes to Badin to serve the Alcoa 

Badin Works while the main line goes on through Albemarle then paralleling N.C. 52 past 

Norwood and to Anson County. 

The NS line comes from the northwest in Salisbury and travels south along N.C. 52 through 

the northeast tip of Cabarrus County into Stanly County through Richfield and New London 

into Albemarle. 

In addition to commercial cargo-handling rail service, there has been considerable discussion 

regarding the establishment of passenger rail service within Stanly County. One proposal 

presented has been the establishment of a tourist train using the ACWR line from Stanfield, 

Oakboro, and Norwood eastward to Aberdeen in Moore County. 

Another proposal being discussed in the very preliminary stages is the potential for providing 

light rail passenger service between southern Stanly County and the Charlotte metropolitan 

region. This line—which could potentially use the ACWR line—would connect Oakboro and 

Stanfield with Mint Hill and Charlotte. 


Qu ie t Cov e 

HICKORY HIL L 

STRAWBE RRY 

TI T E 

G R EEN OAKS 

Legend 

WHITE OAK 

MYR TLE 

PINE BLUFF 

RUBEN 

FRED 

RL 

RENEE FORD 

NA NCE 

THOMAS 

ROSSIE 

COPL EY 

TUCKER-HEL MS 

DAVID 

NC 24 -27 

BR OWNS HILL 


PO LK FORD 

NC 2 4-27 

SMITH 

GRIFFIN-HILL 

JODIE 

T ALLEY 

TAT ER 

Q UEENS 

J EN KINS 

YOW 

VERNON 

REED MINE 

MONTCL AIR 

SCOUT 


NC 24/27 

BERTHA 

MAIN 

Rail-roads 

B RENTWOOD 

JUNGLE 

RIDGE 

NATURE 

HILL CREST 

TUCKER 

TWIN OAKS 

DAKOTA 

CR EEKVIEW 


WE ST STANL Y 

HACKNEY 

RIVER 

W OO DWIND S 

KL UT TZ 

ROCK HOLE 

L OVE MIL L 

SIMPSON 

M ATH 

P INE 

HONEYCUTT 

LAK EVIEW 

S TEPHA NI E 

FAMIL Y 

CHURCH 

L OVE CHAP EL 

DEERWOOD 

REDAH 

POPL AR 

NC 200 

DANITA 

ASH 

MAPL E 


CABARRUS 

BETHEL CHURCH 

RAL EIGH 

UNION 

CEN TRAL 

CHARLOTTE 

LIONS CL UB 

CAROL 

QUAIL RUN 

S UNSET 

S PRINGVIEW 

WATE R OAK 


LAN ES END 

SUNSET LAKE 

VELL A 

HARV ELL 

COLEY STORE 

ELM 

M AUNEY 

TANGL EWOOD 

DRYEWOOD 


BEV ERL Y 

SEDGEFIELD 

CRESTVIEW 

LOCUST 

WILL OW 

PI NE 

SMITH 

B ELL 

POPL AR 

D IXON 

SEVEN OAKS 

M OCKI NG BI R D 

CHERRY TREE 

RI VER HEIGHTS 

KEN NEL 

MARL WOOD 

STANFIELD 

Love Mill Rd. 

OAK 

LOVE 

NC 200 

CONCORD 

O AK L AND 

KINGS 

ELM ST 

RUSHING 

COYLE 

WEBB 


HI NSON FARM 

STONY CREEK 

J ACKS 

C REST RIDGE 

NC 2 00 

BARRIER STORE 

POND 

BIG LICK 

OSCAR 

NC 200 

F URR 

VO NNIE 

L EWI S 

BETHEL CHURCH 

I S LA ND C RE E K 

ROBERT 

BRIDLE 

BARB EE 

MARY 

FARM POND 

WA CO 


FIVE P OINT 

PLESS MILL 

PAIG E 

HE RRIN GROVE 


Rd. 

BROOKS 

BRE NDA 

S T JOHNS 

PROVIDENCE 

B RATTAIN 

LEE-GRIFFIN 

ST THOMAS 

WAYFIEL D 

CHURCHILL 

LAMBERT 


TRAVIS 

DR YE-HILL 

BEE TREE 


HIL LTOP 

OAK GROVE 

STONY 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

J OES 

SADD LE CL UB 

RED BARN 

WESTWAY 

ACWR 

R ENDEE 

NICHOL S 

BRIDG E 

SILVER 

C APRA 

S UBSTATION 

SMITH G ROVE 


TUC KER 

R ETTIE 

GREENE 

HARRIS 

J D 

PAGE 

PEBBLE STON E 

B U STE R 

B ANKS 

POL E RUNNING 

PE ACH TREE 


JET 

DEERFIEL D 

H OW ARD 

HUGH 

C OUNTRY 

J OY 

RA NCH VI EW 

JACO B 

NC 2 05 

BOUNDAR Y 

HATHCOCK GLEN 

NAY 

SWIFT 

OL D M INE 

SHE L LEY 

FOX TR AIL 

CUL P 

DUSTY 

BETHLEHEM C 

HWY 49 

N C 2 05 

DUTCH 

L AKE WO OD 


BEAR CLAW 

CEMETERY 

ST STEPHENS 

LYNN 

L OWDER 

HU RL EY 

F INGER 

WAD E 


L IG HTHOUSE 

RIDGE CREST 

BRANCH 

PEACE FUL 

CREST 

HATLEY 

FARMW OOD 


4 0 4 Miles 

Swift Rd. 


NC 205 

BI G LI CK 

SHINN 

NO VIEW 

NC 205 

BEVERLY 

G ADDIS 

STON 

EY RUN 

BA NTAM 


OL D SANDBAR 

GOL D HI L L 

ROWL AND 

EAGL E 

OSBO RNE 

WALTERS 

ELEVE NTH 

SUG AR HILL 

HAM IL TON 


ANDRE W 

NI NTH 

CL AYM ON 

PECAN 

T ENTH 

EI GHTH 

C ENTER 

PINE 

OL D CONCORD 

SEV ENTH 

SEC OND 

WILL IAM S 

WATS ON 

G OLD H IL L 

M AIN 

EL LEN 

H AYWOOD 

MISTY 

FI FTH 

BO RU N 

DU NN 

FL I NT RIDGE 

D ORSETT 

COBL E 

ROC KY RIVER 


VIC K 

FROG POND 

BUL L HILL 

AQUA DALE 

J AMES 

MATTONS GRO 

O LD MILL 

NEWS OME 

DAN A 

ALONZO 

NC 7 42 

RIDENHOUR 

ROGERS 

SHO RTCUT 

LORCH 

WOODFIEL D 

MCL EST ER 

EAR L 


SUN RIS E 

GLENMOR E 

B URRIS 

J ASE 

BIL ES 

COLL I E 

PARSO NAG E 

FINK 

SAM 

HWY 52 

RAMSEY 

M IL LINGPORT 

NC 24-27 

RED CROSS 

HEA V EN 

Liberty Mill 

Church Rd. 

ALL I SON 

OAKBORO 

C OLLEGE 

HIL L 

LONG 

THOMAS 

FARMRI D GE 

FI RST 

OAK 

BRAD Y 

AMERICAN 

TOL -CO 

NC 742 

DORTHY 

GUY-V ERNE 

L UTHER 

CL OVE R 


HAZA R D 

WAGONER 

ELDER-EUDY 

HAL F MILE 


CH EROKEE 

GL ENMORE 

S UNNYBROOK 

FRIENDL Y 

NC 49 

E STHER 

US 52 


JAY 

BRIDG EPORT 

HIL L- FORD 

F RICK 

NC 73 

CILL E 

PRESTON 

PO PLAR LANE 

MA XTON 

WIL SON 

CECI L 

MCSWA IN 

U S 52 HW Y N 


BARBEES GROVE 

ENDY 

CURTIS 

HEL MS 

H ARWOO D 

L INGERFEL T 

B IG BEAR 

D ILLON 



WARD 

W IL DWOOD 

MIL LER 

REEVES ISLAND 

APRIL 

EMERY 

TREECE 

COM MUNIT Y 

TEETER 

M ERNER 

WAG ON ER 


LIT TLE BEAR 

NC 24/27 

EFI RD 

HILL S-VIEW 

RYAN 

OL D SCHOOL 

P OPLIN 

PARKER 

BOST 

S TATE 

BU RLESON 

O FFIE 

CUL P 

MISENHEIMER 

NC 73 

G OODMAN 

Norfolk Southern 

LA RO CK 

CLAUD E 

BETTY 

HOLT 

PFEIFFER 

VO N 

O LD 49 

RU THERFORD 


M ORGAN 


NC 138 

STATE 

FOREMAN RANCH 

PARKER 

F ISHER 

BRADFORD 

HIGHWAY 49 

C ANTON 

CRISCO 

J AME S 

FLOYD 

HARKEY 

LEE 

TIFFANY WOOD 

KEND 

AL LS CHURCH 

H ATLEY FARM 

ODE LL 

L OWE L L 

CLARK 

CARRIKE R 

P RI N CE 

CAUDL E 

DOC 

HOL LYBROOK 

CANE 

HART SEL L 

MOSS 

R HEA 

SMITH M IL L 

LAKESIDE 

CEMETERY 

AL MON D 

REAP 

CL ETE 

JORDANS POND 

RIDER 

MORG AN 

NEL SO N MOUNTAIN 

T HOMPSON 

SI DES 

M A IN 

HIGH ROCK 

CHURCH 


TIFFANY 

RED HILL 

RICHFIEL D 

DEESE 

H UNTERS 

LISA 


N EWT 

DANVIL LE 

AUSTIN 

H ERMAN 

BOB CAT 

WYATT 

FIDDL ER 

TER CHER 

DANRIT CH 

AMERON 

WI NTER 

STOKES FERRY 

SUMM ER 

COUNTY L INE 

BEL L 

STEAKHOUSE 

GO L D BRANCH 

RICHFIELD 

Austin Rd. 

W ESTRIDGE 

LOC KWOOD 

O RCHARD 

PINE A CRES 

SPR ING 

NORITAKE 

CEDA R 

W ALNUT 

FOSTORIA 

CARPENTER 

V ILLAGE 

FINCH 

PINEWOO D 

CITY L AKE 

IMPERI AL 

CANYON COURT 

NANNY 

CRYSTAL 

CEDAR RIDGE 

CLUB HOUSE 


B LALOCK 

HENDERSON 

RAY BUD 

PICKLER 

COLLEGE 

APEX 

DUCKPOND 

NC 49 



WAL NUT 

HEDGE 

SPIRAL 

LODG E 

MESSAGE 

OAKL AWN 

WILLIE 

OL D US 52 

ROYA L 

BIVEN S 

JU DE 

O LD PARKER 


SCE 

NIC VIEW 

SPIVEY 

HOLLY 

ST MARTIN 

COGGINS 

B ETH 


M A CART HUR 

DERA 

C HURCH 


PENNINGTON 

HOBE 

M AIN 

HOBERT 

SPEISS 


BLAKE 

CU RLEE 

CHURC H EXT 

L I TTLE 

NAPIER 

CHARLIE 

EDGEW OOD 


HILLCREST 

LONA 

WESTER N 

TYSON 

CROSS 

OLD SA 

ING RAM 

I KE 

L ISBURY 

W EST 

BU RNS 

NC 49 

BLUE BIRD 

NIELDS 

COURTL AND 

M ORL IN 

RED FOX 

J UDY 

OLD DAVIS 

NC 8 

MANN 

BROOK WOOD 

FREEDOM 

M A Y 

VINE 

MAIN 

AUTUMN 

KING SLEY 

PARK 

S KYLINE 

HICKORY 

NC 13 8 

GEORGE 

FERRY 

DEPOT 

L OWDER 

SPRING 

LOCUST 

G REENWOOD 

L AUREL 

WHITE OAK 

FIRE L INE 

CORBIN 


S PRINGDALE 

MONR OE 

DRY 

GOL D 

RANDOM 

WISCASSETT 

L IBERTY 

WIN FIELD 

L ESLIE 

ARLI NGTON 

HIGHLAND 

NEW LONDON 

OA K 

FORE ST 

LOWDER 

P INE 

MAPL E 

C REEKRIDGE 

CHURCH 

B LUFF 

EUDY 

JOSH 

REID 

CENTRAL 

C OBLE 

WALNUT 

POPL AR 

PARK 

E LM 

OAKWOOD 

WOOD 

HILL 

BAR BEE 

SNUGGS PARK 

EFIRD 

LO NG 

CONC ORD 

JACKSON 

M IL L S 

NC 8 

B ETHANY 

VAL LEYVIEW 

M CKEE 

MORG AN 

E UDY 

OL D AQUADALE 

L ORENE 

DOGWOOD 

STONEW ALL 

HI GH 

ALDRIDGE 

RITCHIE 

LO NG 

PAL MER 

L IS K 

L OVE 

H ERLOCKER 

US 52 

CORBIN 

SNUG GS 

MIL L 

MABRY 

UNION G ROVE 

U S 52 HWY N 

WOODCREST 

S ALISBURY 

F URR 

B OST 


FERNWOOD 

CRAN FORD 

CAROLINA 

STOKER 

WOODL AND 

CHAPEL 

BALDWI N 

COL LINS 

HAZE L WOOD 


NC 138 


AUSTIN 

BROOKM EADE 

F I ELD 

RU SSELL 

EDGEMONT 

BRO OM E 

BREVARD 

HONEYB EE 

WOODHU RST 

HEMLOCK 

H AR V ARD 

ASH 

LOIS 

GRAHAM 

WATTS 

MASON 

M ARLBROOK 

KERR 

MOOSE 

DOGWOOD 

NC 8- 49 

FIRST 


R EEVES 

S O UTHERN 

KATES 

OPAL 

ARBOR 

SOUTH 

US 52 SOUTH 

ED WARDS 

R OSE 

FAIRVIEW 

LESL IE 

BEL MONT 

MULB ERRY 

A ZALEA 

BUL LOCK 


IDL EWOOD 

MASON 

MAUL DIN 

CA RTER 


HENNING 

F AULKNER 


PINEVIEW 

LUDLOW 

GLENN 

FRANKL IN 

WILSON 

EBEN 

S URRATT 

CL YDE 

KING 

WARD 


NORTH 

LILL Y 

H OLT 

MORTON 

FUL TON 

HEARNE 

HOL T 

CAGL E 

US 52 NORT H 

THIRD 

CARTER 

SHEPHERD 

MC CURDY 

PENNY 

PARK 

FIFTH 

AVERY 



CI RCLE 

G ENE 

G OODM AN 

M I D WAY 

HUBERT 

YADKIN 

REBA 

ANNE BELL 

SAW MILL 

FL ORAL 

FOURTH 

H AWTHORN 

FIFTH 

WAVERL Y 

HIL L 

BOYD 


COOPER 

GRAY 

L I NWOOD 

FIFTH 


CLOVER FORK 

PEE DEE 

HEATH 

SIXTH 


KIM REY 

PECAN 

N ORTHWOODS 

ROTARY 

GARRISON 

MCGIL L 

MILLER 

RICHA RDSON 

DEWEY 

SIXTH 

P ARK 

BL A NCHE 

E L IZABETH 

MURDOCK 

P ARK 

AVONDALE 

SEV ENTH 

ELLENW OOD 

EAST 

RUBY 

FLAKE 

C HESTER 

FISH C AMP 

G URL EY 

H EARNE 

K NOLLWOOD 

M EL CHOR 

PLA NK 

ROSS 

NINTH 

HOPKINS 

T ENTH 

MONTGOM ERY 

COTTON 

PORTER 

ELAINE 

SHADY 

COL STON 

LUNDIX 

HARDY 

L ED BE TTE R 

HASTINGS 

M ORROW 

Q UAIL R IDGE 


L AF AYETTE 

PARK RIDGE 

C O LS O N 

COL ONIAL 

AREY 

ING OLD 

B OONE CAUDLE 

A MANDA 

QUI NCY 

WADDELL 

TALBERT 

LAURAS 

RIDGE 

POU 

WR1 

BEL LAM Y 

EASTOVER 


HOL LY RIDG E 


ALBEMARLE 

NC 138 

H AMILTON 

SUMM IT 

WALL 

WILD WOOD 

M ASCOT 


School Rd. 

TENTH 

NORTHCRES T 

HAPPY 

M ARI ON 


EL EVENTH 

C ARDINAL 

SMITH 

BEALE 

BI S HOP 

PEACHTREE 

DUCK 

HYMAN 

L EON ARD 

H ERITAGE 

K EMP 

SWAR INGEN 


ALLEN -LEE 

F REEMAN 

INGER 

GRIGG 

COTTON TREE 

HOL BROOK 

CAROL YN 

L ANDIS 

REB EL 

MAG NO LIA 

H ARMONY 

MANERS 

AMHU RST 

T A 

EURY 

CHURCHYARD 

H I N SON 

MATT- NEA L 

FAIRWAY 

HENSON 

H OOPS 

AIRPORT 

PAL ESTIN E 

DEANNA 

G R OVES 

SOUTHBOUND 

J ASON 

PORTER HILL 

FL EETWOO D 

BERRY 

COTTO NVIL LE 

M ERRICK 

BIRD 

PARKWAY 

OL D WHIT NEY 

STER 

L ING 

LEE LYNN 

S PRINGHAVEN 

DICK 

JOHNS 

M EL TON 


MONZA 

NC 74 0 BY PASS 

H AL F WAY 

HERR ING 

TOWER 

CA TALINA 

E ASTWOOD 

HI LCO 

DEER HAVE N 

P INERIDGE 


BARNHARDT 

YAD KIN BRICK 

S ANDY 

I MPALA 

MIDWOOD 

LATON 

MO ONSHINE 

Norfolk Southern 

EAGLE HE AD 


Carter Acres 

Rd. 

C ANNON 

CHIMNEY 

BELL 

M ONDALE 

RO CK FIELD 

ROY 

ELM ER 

L EE-FURR 

SMIL EY 

P ALM ETTO 

WO ODHAVEN 

US 52 

BERNAR D 

N C 7 40 

PRIME BEEF 

SPEIGHT 

SMILEY 

WINDY HIL L 

HAR GETT 

DON 

CHERRYWOOD 

ROSEH ILL 

GARY 

KIMBERL Y 

LATON 

CHARTER 

WOODCROFT 

WOODHURST 

US 52 HWY S 

BADIN 

MARWOOD 

W HITLEY 


DOVE 

DOG WOOD 

MOSS 


STALEY 

SUNVIEW 

HORNE 

CARTERS ACRES 


ANDERSON 

BECK 

LOOP 

TALL WHIT 

HARPER HEARNE 

EDS 

CR UMP 

F I RST GATE 


F AIRFIELD 

H ICKS 

STARW OOD 

RUM MAG E 

G REENVIEW 

HUD SON 

H OW ELL 

KIRK 

W IL L 

P INION 

P UMPHOUSE 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 


AD AM 

S HAVER 

NC 740 


DELAND 

SWEET HO 

IVY 

M E CHURCH 

KNOL LWO OD 

ISE N 

NC 740 HWY 

PL A NTATION 

MOUNTAIN 

FOREST 

Stony Gap Rd. 

WSSB 

L EFLER 

ZEKE 

WSSB 

HERCULES 

STO NY GAP 

LIL LAR 

H ICKORY 

NORTHWO OD 

BRI CKY ARD 

SKI POND 

C ANNON 

WIND 

KI NGS 

D AI S Y 

WR2 

CA TFISH 

MERC EDES 

DUPREE 

BAILEY 

DAVIS 

L AW NWOOD 

C HAD 

L EE 

DENNIS 

GUARD 

BOWERS 


MARTI N 

TOM 

SETZER 

T AXIDERMIST 

BYRD 

A MBER 

ROCK HA VEN 

NC 740 

RAIL RO AD 


DO ODY 

KEL TY 

GADSON 

CO OKS 

W E LCH 

S UNSET 

PI NE 

L I NCOL N 

M CNEI L 

A N G I E 

MILL 

AND REWS 

K ENDALL 

S HORT 

SNIDE R 

SHERMAN 

S UMM IT 

CARL IE 

WR I G HT 

MAR ANATHA 

P ARKER 

KECIA 

A NSON 

SIMS 

B RO ADWAY 

ALPI NE 

ARROWOOD 

G ORDON 

T HOM AS 

DEW EY 

S NUGGS 

DUNL AP 

L AKE SHORE 

S HINN 

G RANT 

CAMPB ELL 

TUR NER 

PEE DEE 

CANAL 

STU ART 

THOMP 

WO OD 

SON FARM 

KEYS TONE 

LEHUE-P ARKER 

RIVERVIEW 

MARION 

A SH 

CO LL EGE 

C OX 

JAY-AL LEN 

STORY 

POPLIN 

SC ENIC 

V INCENT 

NEW 

BROWN 

N ICKS 

WR3 

A RROW HEAD 

WALL 

B EACH 

PALMERVILL E 

BADIN 

Valley Dr. 


VALL EY 

N C 24 -27 -73 

ENO 

AL LENTON 

CRAWL EY 

C HEOAH 

RAY LEE 

IVEY 

WILL O W 

MARG IE 

SAPONA 

SINGLEW ODD 

ATKINS 

WALN UT 

P ARADISE 

STONY HILL 

STO NY MO UNTAIN 

MAR K JO SEPH 

C ARVER 

PR ICE 

BOYDEN 


US 52 HWY S 

LAK E H EAD 

WAL- ANN 

C HESTNUT 

FALLS 

RAVENW OOD 

LAKE 

SHORE FARM 

WIL-KRIS 

I NDI AN MOU ND 

LANIER 

O AKWO OD 

VINEYAR D 


ACORN ACRES 

OAK 

ELM 

SPRU CE 

ISLAND COVE 

LISENBY 

STANLY 

MILL ER TOWN 

ACCESS 

A SH 

CHERRY 


BERRY HIL L 

NORWOOD 

Rail Lines 



N ELLS 

A LBERTA 

WR4 

ANCHO R 


NC 73 

FORE MAN 

HARBOR 

WR5 

WR1 0 

DEER RUN 

CLODFEL TER 

PI NE TREE 

HIDDEN 

WR9 

RIVER RUN 

TRANQUIL BAY 


S YCAMORE 

CANDY 

RIVER HAVEN 

M APL E 

PI NEY POI NT 

HAM MER 

SHANKL E 

PI EDMO NT 

VIRD EN 

WR6 

WIL LOW OAK 

RO BERTS LOOP 

SHAN KLE EXT 

BUCK 

AM ANDA 



GUY 

FOX 

SWIFT IS 

L AND 

TAR H EEL 

WR8 

WOOD LAND 

NC 731 

H YDRO 

OL D THOMPSON 

FORK 

NC 731 

JONES 

WR1 1 

STRAND 

WR7 

Figure 4-4

Conclusions 

STANLY COUNTY 

It is extremely important to note that this proposal more than likely lies outside of the 20-year 

framework around which long-range recommendations contained in the Stanly County Land Use 

Plan will eventually be focused. Generally, plans for a Charlotte light rail system are focusing 

first on a north-south line generally following the Interstate 77 corridor with potential for 

expansion to the growing areas of Union and Cabarrus Counties. Regardless, should passenger 

rail service prove to be a desirable public improvement for the county, this important corridor will 

need to be preserved to maintain the capability to link to the Charlotte light rail system in the 

long range. 

Stanly County’s transportation systems have played a key role in its historical development. This 

same system will also define the future of Stanly County by focusing transportation 

improvements and enhancements to transportation corridors in growing areas of the community. 

Presently access to the remainder of the central North Carolina region is poor. A number of 

significant transportation improvements are planned for Stanly County that will remedy this 

situation and impact the county’s future. These projects include the widening of NC 24/27 from 

the western county line to Albemarle in 2005 and from Albemarle eastward by 2007. Other major 

improvements are planned for the U.S. 52 and NC 49 corridors. Collectively these projects will 

greatly improve internal countywide transportation mobility and access to adjoining areas of the 

central North Carolina region. 

Stanly County’s transportation issues do no end at its borders. Presently the eastern end of 

Interstate 485 is being extended northward from its present terminus at Lawyers Road in Union 

County to Cabarrus County. This improvement will bring Interstate 485 to within 13 miles of the 

county line on the NC 24/27 corridor. Other improvements will improve access to the north and 

south as well. 

Together these internal and external transportation projects will place Stanly County closer to 

the juncture of regional growth from the Charlotte metropolitan region. As the completion of 

these nears in the second-half of this decade, Stanly County and its communities will need to be 

ready to address the growth pressures that will come with these improvements. 

Utilities Analysis 

Water 

As with transportation infrastructure, the provision of utility service determines to a large extent 

where the future growth of Stanly County will occur. The expansion of public utilities, especially 

water and sewer systems, contributes significantly in predicting how and where the county will 

develop. This portion of Section 4 will examine public utilities—water, sanitary sewers, electricity, 

and natural gas systems—serving Stanly County. Public utilities and services are analyzed for 

the County including existing areas being served, treatment capacities, along with current 

demand. 

Stanly County residents receive water service from public water or private wells. The analysis 

contained in this section of the report focuses on public utility systems serving primarily 

unincorporated areas of Stanly County. Figure 4-5 illustrates existing water lines serving the 

county. 

Stanly County obtains its water from the City of Albemarle. The county has 16 years left on a 40year 

contract with the City of Albemarle for the provision of 3 million gallons per day (mgd) of 

water. Presently the county only uses around 1.5 mgd. As a result, the county has a large 

potential for expanding its current system. Water is provided by the Stanly County Utilities 

Department to unincorporated areas as well as the Towns of Locust and Stanfield. Stanly 

County also owns, and operates the water system for the Town of Badin through the Greater 


Legend 

Existing Water Lines 

STANFIELD 

LOCUST 

NC 200 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 

2 0 2 4 Miles 


Swift Rd. 


RED CROSS 

NC 205 

OAKBORO 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 

RICHFIELD 


NC 138 

NEW LONDON 

Austin Rd. 


NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 


ALBEMARLE 


School Rd. 

US 52 

NC 740 

Airport Rd. 

NC 740 

Stony Gap Rd. 

Valley Dr. 


BADIN 

NC 73 

NORWOOD 

NC 731 

Figure 4-5 

Existing Water 

Service Areas 



STANLY COUNTY 

Badin Water and Sewer Authority. The Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers provide the water source for 

all systems in the county. 

Future water lines that are funded are as follows: 

A county line that will go west from the city limits of Albemarle along NC 73 to Millingport, 

turn south on Millingport Road, then south onto Ridgecrest Road ending at NC 24/27. 

A line that will run along St. Martin Road to the Town of Oakboro, paid for by the City of 

Oakboro. 

The City of Albemarle is considering running a line that will run west along NC 49 from Richfield 

into Cabarrus County to Concord to help alleviate Concord’s water shortage. 

A separate water system is run by the non-profit Pfeiffer-North Stanly Water District. The District 

serves the northwestern part of the county north of Rogers Road to the west, and west of 

Mountain Creek Road to the east. Source water for the District comes from the City of 

Albemarle. 

The county had been considering an expansion of the county-owned system to cover more of 

the unincorporated areas of Stanly County. Presently, however, there is no definitive plan to 

expand water services, funding mechanisms, and the phased expansion of the present system. 

Norwood maintains a water system serving areas within its corporate limits. The Piney Point 

Water District serves an area in northern Stanly County. The district purchases water form the 

county. The system is maintained by the county through a utility service district local tax. 

Sanitary Sewer 

Stanly County is served mainly by private septic systems with a few areas being served by 

municipal sanitary sewer systems. Figure 4-6 illustrates existing sanitary sewer lines serving the 

county. 

The sewer treatment plant is an activated sludge/tertiary with a capacity of 16 mgd with the 

potential of doubling. The Towns of Norwood and Oakboro have wastewater treatment plants 

along with the City of Albemarle. Stanly County owns and operates the sewer system for the 

Town of Badin through the Greater Badin Water and Sewer Authority. The Town of Richfield has 

a sewer line that extends to it from the City of Albemarle along Town Creek. Currently the 

western portion of Stanly County is not served by sewer lines, nor is the southern area of the 

county near Aquadale. Sewer systems throughout the county use gravity flow but most systems 

have to be pumped because of the terrain that consists of rolling hills. 

New sewer lines that are funded by State grants and loans to serve Stanly County schools are 

as follows: 

A line along NC 73 from the Albemarle city limits to Millingport and the Millingport School. 

A line along NC 24/27 from Albemarle city limits to Endy Road and Endy School. 

A line running along Stanly School Road from Cottonville Road and South Stanly High 

School to Aquadale Road and Aquadale School. 

A line that is funded by a School Bond and Federal EPA Grant runs along Ridgecrest Road 

going south from Ridgecrest School, than following NC 24/27 west to Bethel Church Road to 

a new K-8 school site at the intersection of Bethel Church Road and Branton Road. 


Legend 

Existing Sewer Lines 

STANFIELD 

LOCUST 

2 0 2 4 Miles 

NC 200 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 


Swift Rd. 


RED CROSS 

NC 205 

OAKBORO 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 

RICHFIELD 


NC 138 

NEW LONDON 

Austin Rd. 


NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 


ALBEMARLE 


School Rd. 

Airport Rd. 

NC 740 

Stony Gap Rd. 

US 52 

NC 740 

Valley Dr. 


BADIN 

NC 73 

NORWOOD 

NC 731 

Figure 4-6 

Existing Sanitary 

Sewer Service Areas 



Electric and Natural Gas 

Conclusion 

STANLY COUNTY 

The provision of electrical power and natural gas, though not as critical a determining factor in 

the pattern of development as water and sanitary sewer service, is critical to the future of any 

area. All of Stanly County is served by electricity. Providers include Duke Power, the North 

Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, and the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency #1. 

The City of Albemarle, Carolina Power & Light, Duke Power, and Union EMC all distribute power 

in Stanly County. 

Natural gas can be a critical factor in determining where certain types of industries that are 

dependent on natural gas can and cannot locate. Natural Gas is provided to Stanly County by 

the North Carolina Natural Gas Company, which is owned by Carolina Power and Light, to 

limited areas of the county. A 16-inch transmission line serves the southwestern portion of 

Stanly County south of Stanfield. Natural gas is not provided in the western part of the county 

including Locust and extending northward to New London and Richfield. Also not served by 

natural gas are the southeastern part of the county, south of Aquadale and Norwood. A six-inch 

transmission line comes in from Anson County just east of Hills-View Road and continues north 

along Aquadale Road. The line then serves the Albemarle area as well as the airport and Badin. 

A three-inch transmission line also serves the Aquadale and the Norwood area. 

Water, sewer, and natural gas do not serve a large portion of the county. Where extensions of 

lines occur will greatly affect how development takes place throughout the county, and therefore 

should be planned carefully. Areas that already have higher densities as well as those with 

contaminated wells should be prioritized first, while less desirable development areas should be 

avoided. 

For natural gas areas that are close to existing lines it should be analyzed to locate a large 

industry that could pay for extending the lines and in turn would bring the lines closer to other 

potential smaller industries that could locate next to the larger one. Or possibly the cost could be 

shared between several industries that locate together. 

Community Facilities Analysis 

Education 

In 1996 Stanly County Schools and Albemarle City Schools merged together to form Stanly 

County School District. In 1999 there was 19 schools with 521 teachers and 9,955 students 

enrolled (see Table 4-3). Two new K-8 elementary schools—Kendall Valley School northwest of 

Albemarle and Runny Creek School east of Locust—were completed in 2002 both with capacity. 

Table 4-3. Stanly County School District Enrollment, 1999. 

Number Number 

Number 

Type of Schools of Teachers Grades of Students 

Elementary 14 332 K-8, K-5 6,532 

Middle 1 33 6-8 556 

High School 4 156 9-12 2,867 

Total 19 521 9,955 

Source: Stanly County Economic Development Commission. 

Note: Does not include statistics for recently completed Kendall Valley and Running 

Creek Schools. 


Legend 

Ñ 

ÊÚ 

Fire Districts 

Hospitals 

Schools 

ALBEMARLE 

AQUADALE 

BADIN 

BETHANY 

CENTER 

ENDY 

ESIDE 

LOCUST 

MILLINGPORT 

MORROW MOUNTAIN 

NEW LONDON 

OAKBORO 

RICH MISE 

RIDGECREST 

ROCKY RIVER 

SSIDE 

STANFIELD 

ÊÚÊÚÊÚ 

2 0 2 4 Miles 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

RUNNING CREEK 

SCHOOL 

LOCUST 

STANFIELD SCHOOL 

NC 200 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ 

ÊÚ Ñ ALBEMARLE 

ÊÚÊÚ ÊÚ 

MILLINGPORT SCHOOL ALBEMARLE CITY SCHOOLS 

Stanly Memorial Hospital 

Running Creek 

Church Rd. 


RIDGECREST SCHOOL 

Swift Rd. 


ENDY SCHOOL 

RICHFIELD 

RICHFIELD SCHOOL 

ALBEMARLE CITY SCHOOLS 

WEST STANLY MIDDLE SCHOOL 

RED CROSS 

NEW LONDON 

NEW LONDON SCHOOL 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 

OAKBORO SCHOOL ÊÚ ÊÚ 

ÊÚ ÊÚ 

OAKBORO 

NC 205 

US 52 

NC 73 


NC 24/27 


NC 138 

Austin Rd. 


KENDALL VALLEY SCHOOL 

NC 49 

NC 8 

NC 138 

NORTH STANLY HIGH SCHOOL 

SOUTH STANLY 


School Rd. 

Airport Rd. 

AIRPORT 

NC 740 

KINGVILLE SCHOOL 

Stony Gap Rd. 

ÊÚ 

BADIN SCHOOL 

SOUTH STANLY HIGH SCHOOL 

AQUADALE SCHOOL 

NORWOOD 


US 52 

NC 740 

ÊÚ 

NORWOOD SCHOOL 

BADIN 

Valley Dr. 


NC 73 

NC 731 

Figure 4-7 

Community Facilities 



STANLY COUNTY 

The four High Schools are dispersed throughout the county: North Stanly High School just south 

of New London, Albemarle High School, South Stanly High School just east of Norwood, and 

West Stanly High School in Red Cross (see Figure 4-7). Presently the four high schools are 

experiencing problems with capacity due to growth in western Stanly County. West Stanly High 

School is presently very crowded, and South Stanly High School has plenty of room to 

expansion. The county school system is undergoing redistricting to help redistribute the 

enrollment population. School location has been identified as a problem in the past. Water and 

sanitary sewer availability need to be considered along with roadway infrastructure when 

choosing a location for a new school. 

Higher/Continuing Education 

Stanly County is home to two institutions of higher learning: Stanly Community College and 

Pfeiffer University. Stanly Community College is located in the City of Albemarle and is 

accredited community college offering associate degrees. Degrees offered vary from industrial 

to technological and allied health areas. Pfeiffer University, founded in 1855, is located in 

Misenheimer. Pfeiffer University offers both Undergraduate and Graduate Degree programs 

including an MBA program. 

Safety Services 

Fire Districts 

There are 16 fire districts and departments within Stanly County (see Figure 4-7). Each 

departments—with the exception of Albemarle’s—are volunteer departments. Albemarle’s and 

Norwood’s departments are municipally-operated. Funding for all but one of the non-municipal 

departments is provided through countywide property taxes. 

Emergency Medical Services 

Hospitals 

Stanly County Emergency Medical Services provides emergency treatment and transport prior to 

hospital arrival as well as patient transfer between hospitals and convalescent transport. The 

service is sponsored by the Stanly Memorial Hospital. There are three locations of operation that 

include Albemarle, Locust, and north of Norwood. Four units are manned 24 hours a day, seven 

days a week. Currently there are eight ambulances along with one staff vehicle. Five vehicles 

are on the road each day while three are reserved for use during maintenance. The fire 

departments provide Medical First Responder Program countywide and are trained to provide 

care until the ambulance arrives. Plans are currently underway to relocate the Locust facility to 

Red Cross on the NC 24/27 corridor at the NC 205 intersection. 

Stanly County Memorial Hospital is a 119-bed facility that is currently expanding and is expected 

to increase its capacity by 50 percent when additions are complete. The hospital is located in the 

City of Albemarle. Some of the services that the hospital provides include but are not limited to, 

cardiac care unit, intensive care unit, behavioral health unit, outpatient center, radiology 

department, cardiac catheterizations for heart patients, Occupational Health Services, and a 

physical rehabilitation unit. 

Albemarle-Stanly County Airport 

Albemarle-Stanly County Airport is located northeast of Albemarle near Palestine. The airport, 

which was dedicated in 1979, is a transport category facility that can accommodate Boeing 737- 

300 class aircraft. The airport contains two runways—a primary 5,500-foot runway and 


Conclusion 

STANLY COUNTY 

secondary 3,500-foot runway. In addition to general aviation activities, the airport is home to a 

number of units of the North Carolina Air National Guard including elements of the 145th Airlift 

Wing based at Charlotte/Douglas Regional Airport. FEMA is also planning to construct a forward 

storage facility at the airport. 

Increasingly the airport has been identified as an important economic development asset to the 

county. Executive jet usage at the airport has increased in recent years as well. To 

accommodate this growth and to further enhance countywide economic development activity, 

the airport has identified a number of improvements to enhance services to both civilian and 

military aircraft. A new state-of-the art air traffic control tower was completed in May 2001, and a 

1,000-foot extension of the runway is planned to allow for fully-loaded take-off of 737-300 aircraft 

from the principal runway. 

Other improvements include a new eight-acre aircraft parking apron that will accommodate C- 

130 and C-17 military airlift aircraft, relocation of the fuel farm, construction of a new passenger 

terminal, as well as additional corporate and t-hangars. Field police, crash, fire and rescue 

equipment, and facilities are also planned for the airport. 

The airport is protected through county zoning by an Airport Overlay District. The overlay 

protects against the construction of tall structures within the runway approaches and other 

critical aircraft operations areas. 

The airport also contains a 30-acre commercial/industrial park for aircraft-related development. 

Presently the airport is planning to expand the commercial/industrial park by another 40 acres. 

When considering where new and what types of development should occur it is important to 

consider what community facilities are within the vicinity. It is critical to consider whether school 

capacity in the area can handle more residential construction or if an industry needs easy 

access to the airport. Also to be considered is whether fire and emergency services can provide 

adequate protection for an area. 


STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 5: ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

Introduction 

In order to identify and define development opportunities, as well as goals and objectives for the 

Land Use Plan, it is first necessary to examine all the issues impacting Stanly County and its 

citizens. The identified planning issues fall into three categories—development issues, 

infrastructure issues, and community image issues—and form the basis of the development 

opportunities for the county. Development issues and opportunities in turn serve as the 

justification for the plan’s goals and objectives. 

Citizen Participation Process 

After the Phase I report has been reviewed by the Land Use Plan Steering Committee at its July 

2001 meeting, a series of four public input meeting are planned to take place in mid-August 

2001. The meetings, which will take place throughout the county, will allow residents to review 

the findings of the existing conditions analysis and preliminary issues identified here. At the 

conclusion of the public meetings, the issues identified in this section of the report will be 

updated. 

Issue Identification 

Critical issues concerning development in Stanly County were identified by using the elements 

identified during analysis of existing conditions and from the March 2001 Land Use Plan 

Steering Committee meeting. This information was summarized into the following three 

categories: development issues, infrastructure issues covering transportation, utility, and 

community facilities, and community image issues. Figure 5-1 provides a summary of issues 

and opportunities facing the future of the county. 

Development Issues 

Stanly County lies at the edge of the growing Charlotte metropolitan region, a region that already 

encompasses much of Cabarrus and Union Counties. As indicated in Section 2, some census 

tracts in Stanly County have experienced population growth rates in excess of 20 percent. 

Specific development issues to be addressed in the Land Use Plan include the following: 

Growth from the Charlotte metropolitan region is already impacting parts of the county, 

particularly western Stanly County near Locust, Red Cross, Stanfield, and Oakboro. New 

growth needs to be managed so that it does not overwhelm the ability of the county and its 

communities to provide needed services. 

Stanly County is just as likely to suffer from the effects of rural sprawl, as it is urban sprawl 

from its towns to its rural areas. While parts of western Stanly County are definitely at the 

frontier of the Charlotte metropolitan region, parts of rural Stanly County are experiencing 

from scattered, unsystematic growth away from its historical population centers. 

Agriculture is a legitimate land use and it should be planned for and supported by adjacent 

land uses. Farmland is a valuable natural resource in Stanly County, and measures are 

needed to protect and preserve prime farmland from development. 

The county needs to work to identify, prioritize, and protect its most valuable land assets. 

The “rolling Kansas” of west-central Stanly County, the Pee Dee River Drive corridor, and 

land along Tillery Reservoir and Narrows Reservoir areas have all been identified as 

valuable countywide assets worthy of preservation. Intensive development—while it should 

be encouraged in certain areas of the county—need to be discouraged in places. 


Growth pressure 

from Charlotte 

Metropolitan 

Region 

Completion of 

Interstate 485 

in Mecklenburg County 

will bring Charlotte 

bypass within 13 

miles of county 

Flood-Prone Areas 

Prime Farmland Soils 

Major Roadways 

Scenic Byways 

Incorporated Municipality 

Locust 

RR enn eeeFF oorrddRRd. 

RR eenn eeF oordRdd. 

NCC2244// 227 

NNC224// 277 

LL oovvee Mii llll R dd.. 

Need to improve 

access to regional 

markets, Interstates 

85, 485 

LL oovvee Mii llll R dd. 

NNCC 2 000 

NNC 22 00 

Stanfield 

NNC 22000 

NNCC 200 

MM is ssi h 

onnCC urr cchh 

Rd.. 

MM iiss sii oo nnCC h urr cchh 

RR dd.. 

Ruu nnnni nggCCrreeeek 

ChhuurrchhRRd.. Ru nnnni nngCCreeeekk 

CC hhurrcchhRRdd.. 

4 0 4 Miles 

NC 200 

Widening US 52 

and NC 49 

Uwharrie State 

Scenic Byway 


State Scenic 

Byway 

Red 

Cross 

Mil li nggpp 

orrtt Rd.. 

Mil llii nnggpp 

oorrtt RRdd.. 

SS wif tt RRdd.. 

SS wwiiff t RRdd. 

Preservation of 


Agricultural Area 

in Western Stanly 


RR 

iiddggeeccrreest RRdd. 

RR 

iiddgeecrest Rdd.. 

NC 205 

NNCC 220 55 

N C 200 55 

Oakboro 

NC 138 

NN CC22005 

NN CC22005 

LLi bberr tt yy MMi l 

C hh uu rrc hhRRd.. 

Lii bberr tt y Mi l 

CC hh u rr c hhRR dd. 

Pfeiffer 

University 

Millingport 

NNCC 77 44 2 

NN CC 7744 22 

UUS55 22 

NCC 73 

US52 

NC 7733 

M ii ll iingpporr tRRd .. 

MM ii ll iinngppoor ttRRdd . 

NC 2 44 / 2277 

NCC 2 44 // 27 

Recent increased development 

activity in New London, London, Richfield 

areas of Northern Stanly County 

SStt.. Ma rr ttii nnRdd.. 

Stt.. MMa rr ttii nRdd.. 

Increased development 

activity in Western 

Stanly County in Locust, 

Oakboro, and Stanfield 

NC 742 

Rocky River provides 

excellent regional greenway 

opportunity with links to 

Union, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg 

counties 

Misenheimer 

NC 24, 27 

Richfield 

NC 73 

NN 

CC 1388 

NN 

CC 113388 

AAuus ttii nnRR Aus ttii dd.. 

nRR d.. 

PPeennnii nggttoonn RRdd. 

Peennnii nngtoon RRdd.. 

Stanly 

Community 

Community 

College 

NC 49 

NN CC 44 99 

N C 4 99 

US 52 

New 

London 

Oll ddSSaallssbuuryyRRdd.. 

Oll ddSSalsburryRRdd.. 

Widening of NC 24/27 24/27 

to four lanes to 

Albemarle Albemarle 

NN CC8 

NN C8 

ALBEMARLE 

NC 138 

Aquadale 

NC 8 

NN C11388 

NN CC113388 

USS 552 

UUSS 522 

P ll aa nn kk Rd .. 

PP ll aa n kk Rd . 

Issues and Opportunities 



NN CC113388 

NN CC11338 

Tie future development to 

road, utility infrastructure 

SSoouut hhSSt aann 

ly 

SScchhoooo lR dd. 

SSooutt hhStt aan 

ly 

Scchoooo llRR dd.. 

C o t oon vviill leR dd .. 

CC o tttt oonvil lleRR dd .. 

MM ouu nn tt aa iinnCCrree ek RRdd .. 

M oouu n tt aaiinCCrree eekk Rdd . 

CCartteerrAA ccreess 

RRdd .. 

CCaarrtteerrAA ccres 

RRdd .. 

UU SS55 22 

UU SS5 22 

NN C77 400 

NNC7 4400 

Albemarle-Stanly County 

Regional Airport 

US 52 

AAiirr p oort RRdd. 

AAiirr pp oorrtt Rd. 

Sandhills State 

Scenic Byway 

Tuckertown 

Dam 

NC 740 

Alcoa 

Badin Works 

NN CC 7440 

S t onnyG aapp RRd.. 

N CC 740 

SS tt onnyyGG aapp RRdd. 

Increased 

development 

activity along 

lake shorelines 

Norwood 

Encourage new 

development adjacent 

to Stanly County's 

cities and towns 

Rocky 

NC 740 

Improve recreational 

access to Rocky River 

Tuckertown Reservoir 

US 52 

Morrow Mountain 

State Park 

River 

I nnddi aa nMoo undRRd. 

VV al lleeyyD rr .. 

I nnddi a nnMo unnddRRdd.. 

VV aall lleeyDD rr .. 

Increased development 

activity along lake 

shorelines 

NC 24, 27, 73 

Badin 

NNCC 7733 

NCC 733 

NN C731 

Pee Dee Valley 

State Scenic 

Byway 

NC 731 

NN C77311 

Narrows 

Reservoir 

Narrows 

Dam 

Falls Reservoir 

Falls 

Dam Dam 

Reservoir 

Tillery 

Norwood 

Dam 

Site of 

Battle Of Colson's 

Ordinary (1780) 

Figure 5-1

Infrastructure Issues 

STANLY COUNTY 

New development in the county should be focused adjacent to existing population centers 

where utilities infrastructure and other services exist. As development occurs, the county 

needs to plan and be ready to provide public facilities and services. Until now, Stanly 

County’s compact development pattern did not necessitate the provision of considerable 

services outside of the existing population centers within the county. Eventually community 

facilities such as parkland and open space will need to provided to accommodate future 

citizens as the county grows. 

Stanly County needs to continue to provide a healthy supply of land for commercial and 

industrial development. Presently the county is experiencing residential growth, however 

commercial and industrial development will help ensure that the tax burden to pay for 

necessary infrastructure to support the growth is not placed completely on residential 

taxpayers. Further, specialized infrastructure in support of commercial and industrial 

ventures—including natural gas lines, rail lines, and other infrastructure—need to be 

provided for these important developments. 

As the county continues to grown outside its incorporated areas, consideration will need to 

be given to the establishment of parklands serving this growing population. 

Infrastructure issues for Stanly County focus on transportation, utilities, and community facilities 

that serve the people of Stanly County: 

The need to improve Stanly County’s transportation linkage to the remainder of central North 

Carolina and outside markets has consistently been identified as an issue of concern for the 

county. Planned transportation improvements such as the extension of Interstate 485, the 

widening of NC 24/27, NC 49, and U.S. 52, as well as other major Stanly County roadways 

will bring Stanly County closer to the outside world. The county will need to embark on a 

program of access management, as well as other measures, to protect these investments 

from congestion. In addition, improvements to the second- and third-tier roadway system will 

also be needed to provide access to individual sites throughout the county. 

Coordinate utility infrastructure planning with land use planning objectives to be developed 

later in the Land Use Plan development process. There has been considerable discussion 

on future utility infrastructure needs. 

Center future development on community facilities such as new schools, fire stations, and 

similar assets. Such facilities—particularly schools—offer an excellent focus around which to 

building residential neighborhoods. This will encourage less vehicle miles traveled by 

bringing school-age populations nearer to their school. 

Continue to invest in the Albemarle-Stanly County Airport. This asset—which is playing an 

increasingly important role in the economic development activities of the county—is unique 

among rural regional airports in North Carolina for the high level of services to its civilian and 

military aircraft base. Approximately $50 million in new investment has been completed for 

the airport or is planned. The county needs to continue to protect the airport through its 

existing airport overlay district. 

Community Image Issues 

Community image issues were identified in the context of “what makes Stanly County a good 

place to live, work, and play.” Most comments centered around the attributes associated with the 

county and individual areas within it. The preservation of these attributes will require the 

management of future growth. The following observations were made with respect to community 

image: 


STANLY COUNTY 

Small-town, rural atmosphere of Stanly County is one of its most-attractive features. When 

asked, most people said they would like to see this character maintained through the 

preservation of farmland, open space, and natural resources. Other characteristics 

discussed included the perception of safety in the county, family values, and low residential 

development densities. Countywide assets to protect include the Yadkin Pee Dee Lakes, the 

Uwharrie Mountains, Morrow Mountain State Park, and the “rolling Kansas” agricultural area 

in west-central Stanly County. 

Stanly County, though it is remains mostly rural in terms of overall land use, offers its 

citizens a great variety of lifestyle choices, whether it’s living on a farm, in the growing 

suburban areas of western Stanly County, or in a city such as Albemarle. The proximity to 

the Charlotte metropolitan region provides access to jobs, goods, and services. At the same 

time, Stanly County is distant enough that is not negatively influenced by the impact of the 

Charlotte region. 

A strong plan is needed to ensure orderly growth in Stanly County. Growth is bound to 

occur, particularly in western Stanly County, therefore the county needs to be pro-active in 

its long-range planning. Further, the county and the municipalities of Stanly County need to 

work together to minimize the negative effects of sprawl on the countryside. 


STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 6: LAND USE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS 

This section of the report discusses recommendations that address the issues summarized in 

Section 5 of this report. Section 6 contains the following information: 

Principles to guide long-range land use planning on a countywide basis; 

Descriptions of the Land Use Categories proposed for the Stanly County Land Use Plan; 

and 

A summary of growth management and implementation strategies and tools identified to 

support the Land Use Plan recommendations. 

Section 7 provides an implementation plan to guide the achievement of the plan goals and 

recommendations and is included at the end of this report. 

Introduction 

The Land Use Plan Recommendations are intended to guide the direction and character of longrange 

development in Stanly County over the next 20 years. It is a tool to be used by both public 

and private decision-makers that take part in the process of managing growth and development 

of Stanly County. These recommendations take into consideration a wide range of current and 

future development patterns. The plan will directly serve as a framework for land use and zoning 

decision-making for the study area identified in Figure 1-2 by elected and appointed 

commissions and boards as well as county staff. Figure 6-1 illustrates the long-range Land Use 

Plan Recommendations for Stanly County. 

The Stanly County Land Use Plan was developed through an evaluation of the existing physical 

and socioeconomic environment, current development trends, and public input. The constraints 

and opportunities presented earlier in this report have been addressed in the plan 

recommendations. The plan attempts to balance the reality between existing conditions and the 

possibilities of future development patterns. The Land Use Plan for Stanly County is illustrated in 

Figure 6-1. 

Principles of the County Land Use Plan 

The County Land Use Plan responds to a series of issues and opportunities that were defined 

though both the analysis of existing conditions and the extensive community input that was 

completed earlier in the planning process. 

Countless residents expressed concern that future development in Stanly County will continue to 

encroach upon open areas and farmland. Many others were fearful of Stanly County becoming 

another Charlotte/Mecklenburg County with its accompanying traffic, sprawl, higher housing 

costs, and other negative manifestations of urban development. 

Although residents generally agreed that it would be impossible and undesirable to stop 

development in the county, the question remained: How can new development be managed so 

that the unique physical and social qualities that define the rural areas of Stanly County as well 

as the collection of cities and towns could be preserved? 

Through a series of nine basic planning principles, the Land Use Plan addresses the proposed 

transition from medium to relative dense development patterns in Stanly County’s eight cities 

and other population centers to the rural, farming landscape of much of the rest of the county. 


LEGEND 

Primary Growth Area 

Secondary Growth Area 

Agricultural Conservation Area 

Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction 

Incorporated Area 

Locust: 

10-Year and 20-Year 

Growth Areas Extend Into 

Cabarrus County 

Locust 

Stanfield 

NC 200 

4 0 4 Miles 

Finger 

Red 

Cross 

Oakboro 

NC 205 

Millingport 

Frog 

Pond 

NC 742 

Misenheimer 

NC 49 

Richfield 

Plyler 

Endy 

NC 73 

NC 24/27 

US 52 

New 

London 

NC 8 

ALBEMARLE 

St. Martin 

Rocky River Greenway 

Protection Area 

NC 138 

Aquadale 

NC 740 

Airport 

Protection 

Area 

Albemarle-Stanly 

County Airport 

US 52 

Norwood 

Rocky 

Tuckertown 

Lake 

Tuckertown 

Dam 

Badin 

NC 73/24/27 

NC 731 

Figure 6-1 

Long-Range Plan 

Recommendations 

River 

Badin 

Lake 


State Park 

Narrows 

Dam 

Falls Lake 

Falls 

Dam 

Morrow 

Mountain 

State Park 

Protection 

Area 

Lake Tillery 

Norwood 

Dam 



STANLY COUNTY 

The Land Use Plan is designed to guide future development so that Stanly County’s character is 

not lost to the gradual and insidious effects of rural sprawl. The plan attempts to lay out a 

program to preserve the county’s natural attributes, quality of life, and productive agricultural 

land. The Land Use Plan attempts, through a series of general principles and specific 

recommendations, to promote and retain Stanly County’s assets through the logical location of 

intensive land uses, the recognition of agriculture as an essential element of the overall 

community, and the conservation of open spaces and sensitive lands. 

The Land Use Plan also recommends a close association between land use decision-making 

and public infrastructure investment. While the Land Use Plan does not make specific 

recommendations for future roadway improvements, specific recommendations for utility capital 

improvements, or specific recommendations for community facility investment, it does seek to 

coordinate these endeavors within an overall program guided by the Land Use Plan. 

Table 6-1 provides a summary of the nine land use principles guiding the land use plan 

recommendations. Each principle is described in detail below: 

Table 6-1. Stanly County Land Use Plan Principles. 

Number Principle 

1 Future growth and development in Stanly County should be directed to the 

county’s existing cities, towns, and other, established population centers. 

2 Protect farming as an essential element of Stanly County’s future in terms of 

culture, economy, and land use. 

3 Focus development to areas of the county where the physical conditions of the 

land can naturally support and are appropriate for non-agricultural land uses. 

4 Protect Stanly County’s unique natural and cultural resources 

5 Use long-range planning for public infrastructure investments—public utilities, 

road infrastructure, and emergency/safety service—as an opportunity for 

community building in the county. 

6 Encourage land use patterns that provide a compact mix of land uses at a higher 

intensity of development. 

7 The provision of parks, recreation, and open space needs to be an element of 

future land use planning in Stanly County. 

8 Use the Land Use Plan recommendations to promote the economic development 

of Stanly County through a balance of traditional economic development practices, 

and the recommendations of the North Carolina Central Park concept. 

9 Cooperation between the county, communities, and other entities offers the best 

solution to future land use planning in Stanly County. 

Source: Woolpert LLP, 2002. 

1. Future growth and development in Stanly County should be directed to the 

county’s existing cities, towns, and to other established population centers. 

Historically Stanly County’s development pattern focused on the small cities and towns located 

in every corner of the county. Regardless of the emergence of the industrial economy through 

the “cotton mills in the cotton fields” initiative a century ago, or the arrival of the railroad, or the 

improvement of roadways linking Stanly County to outlying markets, the majority of the 

population living in the county lived what are today’s nine incorporated municipalities: Albemarle, 

Badin, Locust, New London, Norwood, Oakboro, Red Cross, Richfield, and Stanfield. Other, 

much smaller population centers include unincorporated towns and crossroad settlements such 

as Aquadale, Endy, Millingport, and Misenheimer. 

A central recommendation of the Stanly County Land Use Plan is to encourage development in 

the eight cities first, then to areas adjacent to them. Where utilities and good roadway access is 

available, development should be focused toward the larger towns—Aquadale, Endy, Finger, 

Frog Pond, Millingport, Misenheimer, Plyler, and St. Martin—as well. This recommendation is 

based on the reasoning that all these communities are the portions of the county that are most 


STANLY COUNTY 

likely to be capable of absorbing and sustaining new development with the least amount of 

public investment. 

A look at any map of the county tells this story. Fifteen of Stanly County’s schools are located 

within the corporate boundaries of the county’s eight municipalities, or within one mile of them. 

Four more—schools in Aquadale, Endy, and Millingport, and West Stanly High School—are 

located within an unincorporated town. Stanly County’s institutions of higher learning—Pfeiffer 

University in Misenheimer, and Stanly County Community College in Albemarle—are also 

located within established population centers. Most post offices are located within a city or town, 

and all but one of Stanly County’s 12 fire stations are located within or near a city or 

unincorporated town. 

The cities and towns of Stanly County also contain the most extensive road systems. Generally 

these roads are designed to provide a higher level of service than the farm-to-market roads in 

rural areas. Since many of the road systems in these communities are based on a grid system, 

they are easily expandable and can accommodate greater influxes of traffic, particularly during 

peak times. 

Expanding existing utility systems in communities throughout the county offers the best solution 

to providing affordable drinking water distribution and sewage treatment services to existing and 

new citizens in Stanly County. Stanly County’s water and sewer distribution and collection 

infrastructure are centered on distribution systems located within these communities. 

In support of this principle, strip commercial development along major highway corridors such as 

NC 24/27, NC 73, NC 49, and US 52 will need to be avoided. Presently an excellent model for 

this already exists in the study area since historically small-scale commercial activity has 

centered on smaller towns and crossroad settlements at major intersections along these 

corridors. Examples on the NC 24/27 corridor southwest of Albemarle include Red Cross and 

Endy. On NC 73 west of Albemarle, they include Plyler, Millingport, and Finger. Many other 

examples can be found in the county. While each one of these examples may not be able to 

support commercial activity—in some cases these towns and settlements will be undesirable 

places to develop—they do present a good model for future consideration. 

Focusing development to cities and towns also provides a means to help achieve the second 

major Land Use Plan principle, protecting Stanly County’s farmlands. 

2. Protect farming as an essential element of Stanly County’s 

future in terms of culture, economy, and land use. 

Stanly County’s history and culture is bound to the legacy of a farm economy. Farming continues 

to play an important role in the county’s economy, and is the second-largest single land use in 

the Land Use Plan study area. That role is slowly being threatened by the sprawling effects of 

low- to moderate-density residential development in all parts of the study area. 

Stanly County is not being threatened by urban sprawl like in Cabarrus and Union Counties. 

Stanly County’s sprawl problem is more tied to rural sprawl wherein farmland is increasingly 

interspersed by large-lot single-family residential properties as well as limited commercial and 

public/semi-public development. On many terms farming is as incompatible with residential 

development as an industrial activity such as a foundry or a mill. Farms produce noises, smells, 

dust, and other potentially unpleasant effects as a normal course of their operation. 

Unfortunately the state of North Carolina does not afford its farmers the protection of “right to 

farm” laws like other states. These laws protect farmers from nuisance complaints by residential 

neighbors. Farms are also supported by a road network specifically designed to meet the needs 

of the agricultural economy. Farmers often experience conflicts with drivers as large machinery 

is moved from field to field and from farm to market. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Because of these factors, for farming to continue to be marginally profitable and free of 

nuisances in Stanly County, large areas of farmland need to be conserved to provide a critical 

mass that will reduce the number of farmer-suburbanite and farmer-driver conflicts. While the 

Land Use Plan will encourage the preservation of individual properties, emphasis will also be 

placed on protecting farmland on a holistic basis. 

In many places, farmland is viewed as open space awaiting development for more-intensive 

development such as housing, retail, or other more intensive development activity. This 

viewpoint belies a couple of important facts about farming in Stanly County. First, farming isn’t 

simply an occupation, but an employment and lifestyle that supports the framework of 

communities that exist in Stanly County. In relative terms farming is not a large employer in the 

Stanly County community. While only 2.1 percent of Stanly County workforce counted 

themselves as employed by the agricultural/forestry/fisheries industries in the U.S. Census in 

2000, in 1999 there were 55,000 acres of farmland in Stanly County that produced an estimated 

$61 million in cash receipts (North Carolina Department of Agriculture). 

Second, Stanly County, like most developing rural counties, is more than likely unprepared for 

the ramifications of build-out of all agricultural lands in the study area. According to the Land 

Use Plan Phase 1 Report, approximately 63,542 acres of land is used for farming within the 

Land Use Plan study area, or approximately 36 percent of the study area. This land, along with 

an additional 89,048 acres of wooded land, were they to be fully developed under present 

zoning, would result in an additional 358,567 residents to the Stanly County population over the 

next century. Appendix B provides an explanation of the manner in which this figure was 

calculated. 

Before moving on, it is important to discuss the issue of prime farmland relative to the 

preservation of farmland areas in Stanly County. Section 3 of this report discusses extensively 

the issue of prime farmland in the county. Approximately 20 percent of the county’s land area 

(including municipalities outside of the study area) is defined as those soils that “…are best 

suited to producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops (USDA).” 

The land recommended for farmland protection is not necessarily limited to these areas just as 

farming in Stanly County is not limited to prime farmland. As a matter of fact, using the scientific 

definition of prime farmland would limit the ability of Land Use Plan to meet the first defining 

principle of the plan. A significant percentage of “prime farmland” is located in or near the 

corporation limits or ETJs of several cities and towns in the county particularly on the north side 

of Locust, Millingport, New London, and Richfield. While this land may be worthy of protection 

and preservation, retaining this land for farming could potentially accomplish two unacceptable 

outcomes. First, preserving this land would draw development away from these communities 

where it is most desirable. Urban services such as utilities, schools, and parks could become 

underutilized or underfunded because natural growth areas are preserved. Secondly, preserving 

this land would divert development to areas of the county where it is undesirable. 

3. Focus development to areas of the county where the physical conditions of the 

land can naturally support and are appropriate for non-agricultural land uses. 

Generally natural land conditions in Stanly County do not present a serious limitation to 

development activity from excessively steep terrain, wetlands, floodplains, or other natural 

constraints as in other parts of North Carolina. From a development perspective this makes 

Stanly County an attractive place to build homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

The rolling topography of the county is advantageous to development since existing grades 

naturally encourage good drainage and provide for scenic views and vistas. This in turn limits 

the amount of wetland regulated by the Federal government. Those that do exist are fairly 

limited to small-scale land areas that do not constraint development activity on a wholesale 

basis. As indicated in Section 4 of this report, floodplains in the county are limited to the valleys 

of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River and Rocky River as well as their tributaries. As the topography of 

the county is rolling to steep in nature, there are not the wide floodplains typically associated with 


STANLY COUNTY 

portions of North Carolina to the east. As certain areas of the county experience more intensive 

development activity, areas subject to flooding may expand. 

4. Protect Stanly County’s unique natural and cultural resources. 

In addition to the county’s inventory of farmlands, Stanly County is home to several natural and 

cultural resources that present unique county, state, and national preservation opportunities. 

Among these resources is the Uhwarrie Mountains of eastern Stanly County, and in particular 

Morrow Mountain State Park. While the state park has been protected since its creation in the 

1930s, the vicinity of the park also needs protection to not only enhance the experience of 

visiting the park, but also to preserve potential natural habitats from permanent destruction. 

Some of these habitats are documented, however a comprehensive countywide natural 

resources inventory will need to be completed in the future to identify lands of Botanical 

Significance and worthy of protection. 

Historic and cultural resources in the county also need to be protected in conjunction with the 

Land Use Plan. Resources such as the land associated with the Battle of Colson’s Ordinary, 

pre-historic settlements associated with the Badin, Mountain, Pee Dee, and Stanly people, as 

well as other historic and cultural resources. 

5. Use long-range planning for public infrastructure investments— 

public utilities, road infrastructure, and emergency/safety service 

—as an opportunity for community building in the county. 

Along with zoning and land use planning, community decision-making on road, utility, and 

community facility infrastructure investment plays the most significant role in defining where and 

when development will occur within a given area. This is one of the strongest tools counties and 

cities collectively have in promoting or discouraging development in one area of the jurisdiction, 

and/or discouraging it in another. While this principle is a corollary to a previous Land Use Plan 

principle, this principle proposes that community investment in roads, public utilities, schools, 

parks and recreation, and emergency services focus on using these investments to building 

communities in Stanly County. 

As for roads, Stanly County needs a road system that supports the objectives of the Land Use 

Plan as well as improving access to outlying areas of the central North Carolina region. Several 

major road improvement projects are planned or programmed that will improve linkages to the 

region in virtually all directions on the compass. Among the most important is the widening of NC 

24/27, a project that will more closely link Stanly County to the eastern portion of the Charlotte 

metropolitan region. Improvements to NC 49, U.S. 52, and NC 24/27/73 east of Albemarle. 

Another potential roadway project, the widening of NC 73 west of Albemarle to four lanes has 

not been formally included in the NCDOT project list. This project needs to be seriously 

considered in light of the fact that NC 73 crosses through the heart of the Millingport “rolling 

Kansas” farmlands of west-central Stanly County. This roadway project will greatly improve 

access from Stanly County to Interstate 85 in Concord. 

Schools play an important role in the lives of Stanly County families each and every day. Present 

enrollment in the county school systems is 10,150 student. Trends for building permit activity 

indicate that 573.5 new housing permits are issued in Stanly County annually. If this rate 

continues, Stanly County will be looking for the need to construct several new schools over the 

20-year planning period. While this phenomenon may present serious issues for the Stanly 

County School System in terms of construction and operation costs, this also offers the 

opportunity to use new school construction as a centerpiece for new community development 

according to the Land Use Plan objectives. 


STANLY COUNTY 

6. Encourage land use patterns that provide a compact 

mix of land uses at a higher intensity of development. 

The first five Land Use Plan principles provided general recommendations for development 

patterns in Stanly County. This principle addresses the character of development within those 

areas of Stanly County where development is desired. For these areas a pattern that 

encourages a mixed-use land use strategy is encouraged. In the last 50 years, communities 

have developed in a homogeneous pattern of residential neighborhoods physically separated 

from commercial districts, industrial areas, and other land uses. It should be pointed out that this 

pattern is a fairly recent phenomenon that bears little resemblance to the traditional manner in 

which Stanly County developed. 

Visit any city or town in Stanly County and central North Carolina and the traditional pattern is 

visible, be it a larger community such as Albemarle, or a smaller town such as Norwood. 

Residential neighborhoods are located in close proximity of older commercial areas. Schools are 

truly neighborhood entities and are the focus of the community. 

Using this type of development pattern is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, mixed-use 

development activity encourages pedestrian circulation for routine daily activities. While the 

vehicle will never be replaced as the primary choice for mobility in the county, promoting mixed 

uses could conceivably reduce vehicle trips associated with the school-age population, to parks 

and recreation facilities, daily retail shopping needs, and services. 

Second, a mixed-use development pattern can influence the long-range potential for transit 

services in the county. Generally transit systems do not flourish where development is sprawled 

over long distances. More compact development increases the potential for better serving the 

transportation needs of citizens as they go to work. 

7. The provision of parks, recreation, and open space needs 

to be an element of future land use planning in Stanly County. 

In a similar vein to those community services identified in a previous Land Use Plan principle, 

parks and recreation facilities can play a role in defining the future of the county. Presently most 

parks and recreation facilities are focused on the city of Albemarle. 

A needs assessment contained in a countywide Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan 

completed in 1999 indicated that substantial investment is needed to meet projected population 

increases in the county over the next 20 years. The needs assessment identifies priorities for 

parks and recreation development for community parks, recreational complexes, and special 

purpose facilities for park and recreation subdistricts within the county. One interesting pattern 

identified in the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan is that most new facilities will be 

constructed in or near existing population centers. Other facilities will be sited at existing school 

facilities including major recreation centers located at high schools within the county. In this 

manner the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan recommendations support the principles of 

the Land Use Plan. Figure 6-2 illustrates the recommendations of the Comprehensive 

Recreation Master Plan. 

In addition to the recommendations of the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan, the Land 

Use Plan recommends a series of park and recreation facilities will also be needed to meet the 

needs of a growing Stanly County population. One recommendation is to provide public access 

to the growing Tillery Reservoir area in southeastern Stanly County. Another recreation 

opportunity that needs to be examined in Stanly County is the provision of greenways. 

Greenways are multi-purpose parklands that serve the following purposes: 

They can help conserve and protect natural environments from intensive development 

activity, 


Legend 

3 

Community Parks 

District Recreation Complex 

Civic Park 

Regional Park 

Special Purpose Park 

Subdistrict Boundaries 

Locust 

Stanfield 

NC 200 

4 0 4 Miles 

SOURCE: LS3P Accociates Ltd. 

4 

Red 

Cross 

Oakboro 

NC 205 

3 

NC 742 

NC 49 

1 

Millingport 

Misenheimer 

NC 24/27 

Richfield 

NC 73 

Endy 

US 52 

New 

London 

NC 8 

ALBEMARLE 

Aquadale 

NC 138 

NC 740 

US 52 

5 

Badin 

2 

Norwood 

1 

NC 73/24/27 

NC 731 

Figure 6-2 

Comprehensive Recreation 

Master Plan 

Rocky 

River 


State Park 



STANLY COUNTY 

They can provide recreational opportunities such as trails for bicycling or walking, canoeing, 

nature viewing, or horseback riding, 

They can provide a linkage between parks, natural areas, schools, residential 

neighborhoods, and shopping area, and 

They can help educate people as living classrooms in the community. 

8. Use the Land Use Plan recommendations to promote the economic development 

of Stanly County through a balance of traditional economic development practices, 

and the recommendations of the North Carolina Central Park Plan concept. 

Economic development practices in Stanly County were discussed extensively through this point 

in the course of the development of the Land Use Plan. Regardless of the approach, the longrange 

economic health and stability of Stanly County is a central purpose of the Land Use Plan. 

Because of this, the Land Use Plan seeks a balance between ongoing efforts to promote 

economic development in the county alongside the eco- and enviro-tourism initiatives included in 

the Central Park Plan. 

First our attention will turn toward the traditional model of economic development. Simply stated, 

the recommendations of the Land Use Plan do not conflict with this model. Growth of all kinds— 

residential, commercial, and industrial—is encouraged in all cities in Stanly County. Ample land 

has been identified for growth in these areas in both the short-range (ten-year growth area) and 

long-range (20-year growth area). These areas represent the areas that are the most 

advantageous to industrial development due to transportation infrastructure, utility capacity, and 

a nearby workforce. 

One exception to this principal is the promotion of economic development opportunities in the 

vicinity of Albemarle-Stanly County Airport. This facility, which lies outside the 10- and 20-year 

growth areas for Albemarle and Badin, has the potential to play a major role as an economic 

development engine for the county. From a land use perspective, industrial development is 

compatible with the operation of the airport and it’s long-range plans. 

The goal of the Central Park Plan concept is to provide a sustainable local economy for the 

seven-county Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project Region. In addition to Stanly County, the Region 

includes Anson, Davidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, and Rowan Counties. The 

mission of the Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project, which is based on Badin, is “to promote and 

support efforts that balance economic development and environmental management in the 

Uwharrie Lakes Region (Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project).” 

The Central Park Plan identifies many priorities to guide both local and regional decision-making 

to promote the concept. Many of these priorities, if not all, parallel those of the Stanly County 

Land Use Plan. They include the following: 

Create communities rather than ‘developments,’ 

Ensure the economic vitality of existing small communities before allowing stand alone or 

strip commercial or residential development, 

Set aside monies for public open space, and 

Support master planning and creation of definitive town images and boundaries (Yadkin-Pee 

Dee Lakes Project). 


STANLY COUNTY 

9. Cooperation between the county, communities, and other entities 

offers the best solution to future land use planning in Stanly County. 

Stanly County, as mentioned throughout the Land Use Plan process, is not alone among North 

Carolina counties in feeling the pressure of growth and development seemingly beyond their 

control. What could make Stanly County unique is the manner in which future county 

development is tied to the needs and desires of its member communities. 

Simply stated, the objectives of the Land Use Plan cannot be met without the involvement and 

cooperation of all the political jurisdictions represented in the county. For example, preserving 

farmland will not be possible without the cooperation of Stanly County’s cities and towns in 

avoiding expansion of utilities and other urban services through the farm country. Conversely, to 

achieve the same goal, Stanly County will need to remain firm on accepting only compatible 

development in the farmland preservation area. Other institutions such as those that are 

responsible for road and school construction, as well as park and recreation development will 

also need to continue to be engaged in the long-range land use planning process. 

To a large extend this process of constructive dialog on the future of Stanly County is already in 

place. As part of the process to develop these draft recommendations the cities of Stanly County 

were all invited to provide an estimation of where they would see themselves 10 and 20 years 

down the road. Representatives from nearly all the city have participated in the public 

involvement process through this point in the planning process. These developments are 

extremely positive in fostering a long-lasting and constructive relationship for the future of Stanly 

County. 

Land Use Categories 

The categories used for the Land Use Plan for Stanly County (see Figure 6-1) are described 

below. As indicated in Table 6-2, the land use categories proposed for the Land Use Plan 

present general land use recommendations for different areas of the study area. Specific land 

uses are not indicated for each of these categories (see Table 6-2). The purpose of these 

general recommendations is to identify areas of Stanly County where development is and is not 

encouraged over the next 20 years 

Primary Growth Areas 

The primary growth areas identified on Figure 6-1 represents those areas of Stanly County 

where growth and development is encouraged over the next 10 years. Primary growth areas are 

identified for each of the eight cities located within Stanly County and surrounding some 

unincorporated towns. 

Within the primary growth area, development densities are encouraged from a minimum density 

of four dwelling units per acre. For those portions of the primary growth area located nearer the 

city center, higher development densities are to be expected and encouraged. 

Each primary growth area will include land uses in addition to residential development. 

Commercial development is encouraged as is industrial development. New community facilities 

such as schools, libraries, and post offices are also encourage as are churches, neighborhood 

and community parks, and other activities that support safe and pleasant residential 

neighborhoods. Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) is encouraged as a solution to promote 

good community design for developments at the density of four dwelling unit per acre or higher. 

Although the principles and philosophy behind TND are discussed later in the report, TND 

promotes a mix of land uses that in turn encourages walkability. TND is compatible with the 

primary growth area since most existing communities in Stanly County, most of which were 

designed and built prior to World War II, were developed using TND principles as a fundamental 

matter of design. To promote use of the TND development model, density bonuses should be 


STANLY COUNTY 

Table 6-2. Summary of Generalized Land Use Categories. 

Generalized Land 

Use Category Characteristics 

Primary Growth Area Includes existing municipal boundaries, ETJs, and development area 

outside of these areas. 

Growth encouraged in 10-year period after adoption of plan. 

Majority of future growth in county encouraged for this area. 

Highest residential development density recommended for the county: 

overall rate of four dwelling units per acre or higher. 

Mixed land use pattern encouraged. 

Traditional neighborhood design (TND) recommended, particularly 

adjacent to existing cities and in close proximity to smaller towns and 

crossroads settlements. 

Full array of urban services provided to residents with the potential for 

expansion. 

Schools, libraries, post offices, and other community facilities serve as 

the focus of the towns, or for residential neighborhoods in larger cities. 

Secondary Growth Area Growth appropriate only after 75 percent of primary growth area is 

developed for each individual city or town. 

Generally development activity lies outside present ETJs. 

Low density-residential development encouraged at rate of two to four 

dwelling units per acre. 

Mixed-use development pattern encouraged, however at a lower 

intensity. 

Urban services are generally provided, but their distribution may not be 

universal. 

Conservation development model encouraged to protect sensitive 

natural areas and historic/cultural resources at periphery of these 

areas. 

Conservation Area Includes majority of study area. 

Farmland protection highest priority for this area. 

Low-density residential development encouraged at rate of one 

dwelling unit per acre. 

Non-agricultural/residential development activity discouraged. 

Utility infrastructure and other urban services discouraged. 

Conservation development model encouraged in limited instances. 

Transfer of development rights and purchase of development rights 

available as resources to protect farmland in the agricultural 

Special Protection 

Areas 

conservation area. 

Albemarle-Stanly County Airport: 

Encourage industrial and other development compatible with longrange 

development of airport complex. 

Investigate expanding jurisdiction of the Airport Overlay District within 

the Stanly County Zoning Ordinance to exclude potentially 

incompatible land uses. 

Morrow Mountain State Park: 

Protect vistas and viewsheds associated with the immediate vicinity of 

the state park. 

Investigate development of overlay district similar to H-O, Highway 

Overlay District for inclusion in Stanly County Zoning Ordinance. 

Rocky River Greenway: 

Protect Rocky River as regional multi-purpose greenway opportunity 

linked to Charlotte/Mecklenburg County as well as Union and Cabarrus 

Counties. 

Provides linkage between southern Stanly County cities and towns. 

Source: Woolpert LLP, 2002. 


STANLY COUNTY 

considered, particularly when a given development includes a healthy mix of land uses and/or 

includes community facilities such as a school. 

Most of the primary growth areas for the nine cities was drawn in cooperation with 

representatives from the cities. As a result, the size of the primary growth areas reflect the 

specific wishes and needs of each community as well as the realities of growth and development 

patterns some of these communities are already experiencing. Although there are some 

exceptions, the position of the boundaries of the primary growth areas corresponds well to the 

existing ETJs exercised by six of the nine incorporated cities. Albemarle and Badin do not 

presently exercise an ETJs. The long-range recommendations were completed before the 

incorporation of the Town of Red Cross. 

In addition to encouraging growth around the nine incorporated cities, primary growth areas are 

also proposed for the following unincorporated towns and crossroad settlements: 

Aquadale 

Endy 

Finger 

Frog Pond 

Millingport 

Misenheimer 

Plyler 

St. Martin 

While the size of the primary growth areas for these towns is considerably smaller than those of 

the incorporated cities, placing primary growth areas in these areas encourages the moderate 

continuation of existing development patterns already found in these places. Also, encouraging 

development in these towns and crossroad settlements, all of which are located major roadway 

corridors in the county (i.e., NC 24/27, NC 73, NC 49, US 52, St. Martin Road) allows for rural 

commercial development at strategic places along these important transportation roads. 

It should be noted here that a portion of the primary growth areas lies within the ETJs. For 

example, most of the primary growth area surrounding Norwood, Oakboro, and Richfield are 

well within their respective ETJs. As such these areas are theoretically outside the Land Use 

Plan study area and the jurisdiction of County Planning Commission and Board of County 

Commissioners. 

Secondary Growth Area 

The secondary growth area includes land expected to be consumed by development in the 

period beginning 10 years after the adoption of the Stanly County Land Use Plan. Development 

within the secondary growth area, while encouraged in the long-range, is discouraged in the zero 

to 10-year period. Once development saturates 75 percent of the land area of the primary 

growth area for a specific city or town, as-of-right development in the secondary growth area 

may proceed. 

While similar to the primary growth area in terms of land use, development densities 

recommended for this portion of the study area are lower than those of the primary growth area. 

Residential development densities recommended for the secondary growth area ranges from 

two to four dwelling units per acre. In some portions of the secondary growth area densities may 

be even lower. This is consistent with the fact that a portion of the secondary growth area may 

not be served by utilities. Further, the secondary growth area, because it is situated farther from 

the center of each respective community, will not be supported by the same level of community 

services as the primary growth area and existing incorporated areas. 

The conservation development model is encouraged to be used in the secondary growth area. 

This recognizes that a portion of the secondary growth area may be located in areas of the 

county where existing natural resources, farms, or other resources are worthy of preservation. 

To encourage use of the conservation development model, density bonuses should be 

investigated. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Secondary growth areas are also identified for the eight towns and crossroad settlements 

discussed above in the primary growth area section. 

As with the portions of the primary growth areas, a percentage of the secondary growth area lies 

within the ETJs of a number of cities. This situation is most dramatically displayed in New 

London and Oakboro. 

Conservation Area 

The conservation area includes the majority of the study area. The chief purpose of the 

conservation area is to protect farmland from rural sprawl today, and from urban sprawl in the 

future. The conservation area is also intended to protect woodland areas as well as open space 

in this portion of the study area. As it is expected that development pressure will extended into 

Stanly County from Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties, it is anticipated that urban 

sprawl will begin to be experienced in the vicinity of Finger, Millingport, and Ridgecrest at the 

end of the 20-year planning period. 

Low-density residential development will be permitted in the conservation area. The present 

permitted development density of the R-A, Residential-Agricultural Zoning District, a zoning 

district that encompasses the majority of the study area, allows single-family residential 

development at the rate of one dwelling unit per acre. 

A development density of one dwelling unit per acre is encouraged for this area. To allow for 

flexibility in applying this density recommendation, the one-acre development density shall be 

expressed as an average development density over a single property. In this way, lot sizes will 

not be required to be a minimum of one acre in size. For example, from an existing 20-acre 

“parent” lot, a total of 20 lots of varying size may be created. These lots may be less than one 

acre in size, or at least the minimum necessary to allow for the safe operation of a well, septic 

system, and back-up septic system on the lot as determined by standards established by the 

Stanly County Environmental Health Department. 

This will allow farmers to continue to operate their farm and sell portions of their property to their 

children or for income. 

In addition to this flexible one-acre zoning requirement, it is encouraged that farm protection and 

preservation programs be encouraged to sustain the rural way of life in Stanly County. Examples 

programs include purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights, and 

conservation easements. Conservation development may be an appropriate model for 

application in the agricultural conservation area when land is located in close proximity to a the 

secondary growth area, such as near a unincorporated town or crossroad settlement. 

Explanations of each of these implementation strategies and tools is provided later in this report. 

Figure 6-3 provides an illustration of the manner in which the flexible development density 

system proposed in the conservation area. 

Special Protection Areas 

The final generalized land use category illustrated in Figure 6-1 is a series of special protection 

areas intended to protect unique assets found in Stanly County. Three such areas are identified 

on the Land Use Plan map: 

Albemarle-Stanly County Airport Protection Area—Land in the vicinity of Albemarle- 

Stanly County Airport is rapidly developing, particularly on the southwest side of the airport 

near Albemarle. Only a small portion of the secondary growth areas for Badin encroaches 

onto airport land. It is recommended that land associated with the airport approaches be 

protected to preserve the long-range sustainability of the airport. In addition to serving the 


Figure 6-3 Images 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the recommendations for the conservation area relative to existing zoning for 

a typical 20-acre lot. In the top illustration, a 20-acre lot is used for farmland along with the original farmstead. The lot 

possesses frontages on all sides. The middle image illustrates the development of the same 20-acre lot under the R- 

A, Residential-Agriculture Zoning. Each lot meets the minimum lot size of approximately one dwelling unit per acre, 

and no farmland is protected. The bottom image illustrates the same development using a one-acre flexible 

development density. Twenty lots are created from the original lot, with the minimum lot size determined by the 

minimum land area necessary to accommodate a well, septic system, and back-up system. Minimum lot sizes may 

be less than the one acre indicated. Under this scenario nine acres of farmland are protected. 

Source: Woolpert LLP, 2002.

STANLY COUNTY 

needs of the airport, this area is also an ideal location for industrial development within the 

study area. 

Presently an overlay zoning district protects the airport from tall structures. It is 

recommended that the existing overlay zoning district be expanded to provide further 

protection to the airport by encouraging compatible land uses (such as industrial 

development) while discouraging others. 

Morrow Mountain State Park Protection Area—Morrow Mountain State Park remains one 

of the most important assets in Stanly County since its creation in 1935. The Morrow 

Mountain State Park Protection Area is recommended to protect and enhance this valuable 

resource from incompatible development at the park boundary. Views and vistas to and 

from the park should be protected, as should the Valley Drive State Scenic Byway that 

passes on the west side of the state park. Ridgelines in the area should be protected. The 

existing H-0, Highway Overlay District that protects important roadway corridors in the 

county could be used as the model for protecting this valuable resources. 

Rocky River Greenway Protection Area—The Rocky River presents a unique opportunity 

to link southern Stanly County with a regional greenway to Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and 

Union Counties and the Charlotte metropolitan area. A multi-purpose greenway is 

recommended for this corridor, a greenway that ultimate would link to the Yadkin-Pee Dee 

River at Norwood. 

The greenway proposed for the Rocky River Protection Area—as discussed in Land Use 

Plan principle #7 above—can serve a multitude of functions and take on a multitude of roles 

for the county. Those functions and roles can define the manner in which the greenway 

develops, be it as an natural conservation area to protect the Rocky River and its sensitive 

habitats, or to serve as a linear park with trails and infrastructure supporting walking, biking, 

canoeing, and other activities. 

Regardless, the concept of developing a greenway along the Rocky River was presented by 

county residents throughout the Public Input Meeting process as a way of preserving this 

important corridor. The greenway concept is a natural outgrowth of the work of Frederic Law 

Olmsted and his “emerald necklace” regional linear park systems in Boston, Massachusetts, 

and Cleveland, Ohio a century ago. Greenways systems have blossomed throughout the 

county in the last quarter century. Many of the more successful systems can be found in 

North Carolina, such as in Raleigh. 

The greenway could also serve as a means to link existing or future recreational areas in 

southern Stanly County. The greenway will pass in close proximity to cities such as 

Norwood, Oakboro, Stanfield, and Locust, as well as the town of Aquadale. The greenway 

could provide a backbone to link all these communities. On a grander scale, the greenway 

could tie into regional parks and recreation facilities in the Charlotte region. 

Growth Management and Implementation Strategies and Tools 

The Land Use Plan and its supporting principles refer to several growth management and 

implementation strategies and tools that are available to Stanly County as a resource for 

realizing the plan goals and objectives. These strategies include the following: 

Agricultural districts, 

Conservation development, 

Conservation easements, 

Transfer of development rights, 

Purchase of development rights, 

Traditional neighborhood design, 

Cost of community services, 


Impact fees, and 

Adequate public facilities ordinance. 

STANLY COUNTY 

A description of each of these strategies is described below. 

Agricultural Districts 

Agricultural districts are voluntary measures that allow farmers and property owners to protect 

themselves from nuisance complaints and lawsuits associated with the normal operation of the 

farm. This “right to farm” measure allows farmers who agree to enter into a 10-year agricultural 

conservation easement between the owner and the county so that non-farming activities are 

prohibited for that period. The creation of not more than three lots that meet the planning and 

zoning laws of the county are permitted under this measure. Only land that is best suited for 

farming (soil conditions, climate, growing season), and actively managed under Soil 

Conservation Service erosion practices for highly erodable land may be entered into this 

program. The property owner may revoke the agricultural conservation easement at any time. 

The Stanly County Farm Preservation Committee has recently presented a recommendation to 

employ the agricultural district in Stanly County to the Stanly County Planning Commission. 

Conservation Development 

How It Works 

Conservation development is a tool and a design process that helps to preserve significant 

natural features of a particular site where growth is expected. In this way it is not necessarily 

compatible with farmland protection, but more a resource protection mechanism for individual 

sites. 

By focusing development within the site in areas where there are minimal natural features, other 

more significant natural features can be retained. As a result, homes are clustered together in 

certain areas which leaves open spaces on the rest of the site. This process allows the existing 

underlying densities of the site to be developed, but preserves valuable natural features. 

Minimum open space requirements for conservation developments can range up to 60 percent 

or higher based on the gross land area of a site. This compares to 20 or 25 percent minimums 

for conventional residential subdivisions. 

The conservation development model was conceived by planners and designers in the 

Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts in the late 1980s. Its proponents noted that 

large percentages of homebuyers in golf course communities, upwards of 30 percent of the 

gross land area, did not necessarily golf, but purchased their home to enjoy the associated open 

space of the golf course. Its most famous practitioner is Randall Arendt of the Natural Lands 

Trust, although a similar program called “The Countryside Program” has been operating 

successfully in Northeastern Ohio since the mid-1990s. 

To encourage conservation development, zoning codes must provide the conservation 

development model as an option to developers and property owners. Typically conservation 

development is encouraged using a basic Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance as a 

foundation. 

After an ordinance is adopted outlining the principles, the design process begins. The design 

process involves four major steps: 


Strengths 

Weaknesses 

STANLY COUNTY 

1. Identify the land that should be permanently protected based on a specific site analysis and 

also the communities’ values. The precise location of features to be preserved such as 

wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes, woodlands, stream corridors, farmland, scenic views, 

etc. should be noted. The balance of the site becomes “potential development areas.” 

2. Identify the specific location for housing sites, within the potential development areas, so as 

to maximize their view of open spaces and natural features. 

3. Layout the streets and informal pedestrian trails that access the developed areas. 

4. Record permanent conservation easements on the open space lands’ title documents (Rural 

by Design). 

The following strengths have been associated with the conservation development model: 

Preserves a high percentage of natural features (e.g., woodlands, steep slopes, viewsheds, 

streams and rivers) and open spaces for the community as valuable features are identified 

and accommodated within the design process. 

Market based pricing for homesites as there is no government regulation of the prices. 

The existing underlying / full densities is retained on the site. The density is clustered within 

smaller areas of the site rather than spread out throughout the entire site. 

Is an efficient use of suitable lands for development as septic fields are located in areas with 

well drained soils rather than spread the drain fields throughout the site including in areas 

with poorly drained soils. 

The design parameters are voluntary, or if the community desires, could become mandatory 

under certain criteria such as sites that are larger than a certain size. 

No public expenditures are needed to preserve lands as developer and homebuyers create 

the open spaces by buying homes that are clustered together. 

The program is simple to implement because only one landowner/developer is needed per 

site. 

The design principles reduce development costs by concentrating development on the site 

and minimizing road and infrastructure costs. 

Reduces possible government review costs by not necessarily crossing wetlands etc. and as 

a result eliminating the need for government review of wetlands crossing/mitigation. 

Site plan review time is not any more stringent of a process than what currently exists for 

subdivision development. 

The following weaknesses have been identified for the conservation development/design model: 

Not necessarily the appropriate model to protect farmland except on a site-by-site basis. 

Could potentially introduce nuisance complaints from homeowners where it is used 

alongside agricultural areas. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Although popular in the northeast, it is a relatively new model and generally unfamiliar to 

developers/landowners, and financial institutions. 

Is dependent on strict enforcement of planning and development objectives. 

Figures 6-4 through 6-6 provide an illustration of the conservation development model. 

Conservation Easements 

How It Works 

Strengths 

Weaknesses 

A conservation easement is a legal agreement or instrument in which the landowner retains 

ownership of private property but conveys certain specified rights in the land (e.g. restriction on 

future use of the land) to a land conservation organization or a public body. Typically these rights 

are transferred to a not-for-profit land trust. 

The transferred interest in the land can be in the form of a restriction, easement, restrictive 

covenant or condition and is outlined in a deed, will, or other legal instrument. The landowner 

initiates any documents that are prepared. By preparing and recording a conservation 

easement, lands can be preserved by the existing landowners while the development rights are 

restricted. 

The following strengths have been associated with the conservation easement: 

Conservation easements are a voluntary program to preserve open space lands as 

landowners can choose whether or not to participate. 

Market based values are utilized for compensation of landowners in exchange for placement 

of a conservation easement. 

Does not require any public expenditures for implementation as private citizens and land 

trusts or other entities may purchase the easements. 

Weaknesses associated with conservation easement programs include the following: 

Landowners may not want to participate in the program. 

Easement terms could include a time limit such as 99 years rather than in perpetuity. This 

could lead to expiration of easements and the land possibly returning as a possible 

development site unless a perpetual easement is arranged. 

Transfer of Development Rights 

The Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) is a tool to focus growth in certain geographic 

areas of a city, county, or region while at the same time, preserving other geographic areas that 

are deemed valuable to preserve as natural, scenic or rural farmlands. As one of several rights 

that are tied to land, development rights can be separated from a parcel and transferred or 

shifted to other sites. The overall amount of development is not restricted but it is shifted to other 

areas, so there is no gross increase in development densities for the city, county, or region. 


Figure 6-4 Illustrates a typical rural site prior to development. 

Source: Charter of the New Urbanism.

Figure 6-5 Using conventional development, open space, forested lands, and other 

features are conserved without general regard for the natural lay of the land. 


Figure 6-6 Using conservation development, development activity is clustered so that 

valuable resources—forests, pastures, etc.—can be preserved. 


How It Works 

Strengths 

Weaknesses 

STANLY COUNTY 

TDRs are similar in concept to cluster site development: where homes are concentrated in one 

area and natural features are preserved, although the TDR model works at a much larger scale. 

Through a community planning process, areas are identified for perpetual preservation as 

natural or rural lands, (these are referred to as “sending areas”), and other areas are identified 

for development at densities greater than the current zonings allows, (these are referred to as 

“receiving areas.” In the sending area, restrictions are placed on what the landowners can 

develop; however, these landowners are assigned transferable development rights which they 

may sell. 

When the development rights are sold, the land in the sending area becomes restricted through 

a permanent conservation easement recorded with the parcel’s title. In the receiving area, the 

acquired development rights permit additional density to be developed that is greater than what 

is permitted under the current zoning. As a result, TDRs preserve certain areas for rural and 

natural lands and focus the development in other areas. 

Strengths of the TDR system include the following points: 

Minimal public expenditures are needed to purchase land because the private sector 

predominantly implements deals to transfer development to different sites 

Market oriented, incentive driven based approach to trades/transactions because the private 

sector buys the development rights and landowner sells the development rights. There is not 

any government involvement in the transaction between a willing buyer and willing seller 

aside from title recording. 

The program could be a voluntary program rather than a government mandated program. 

Landowners and developers can choose whether or not to participate as opposed to zoning 

and other models. 

The program provides a foundation for efficient control of growth and the resulting 

infrastructure investments as resources are focused in the more intensely developed areas 

instead of scattered in a leapfrog pattern of rural sprawl throughout the county. 

Provides for a long-range balance between the economic development needs of the 

community and the need to protect land resources because both needs are met through the 

proactive planning process. 

If a farmer or landowner can still own the land for uses other than on-site development even 

though he may have sold the development rights. 

The following weaknesses have been identified in the implementation of the TDR system: 

TDRs are perceived as a complicated program due to the need to organize the framework 

for the transfer of development rights between sites within the system of title recording. 

Requires staff resources to implement, monitor and maintain, be it a public agency or other 

entity. 


STANLY COUNTY 

Requires planning commitment up front to identify and justify appropriate sending and 

receiving areas within the county. 

Requires political commitment on the part of elected decision-makers to adopt and 

implement the plan and the supporting public policies. 

Can only thrive in situations were receiving areas are capable of absorbing increased 

development activity. 

Requires private sector support to actually utilize and implement the transfer of development 

rights from rural areas to areas designated to receive additional development. 

Purchase of Development Rights 

How It Works 

Strengths 

Weaknesses 

Purchase of Development Rights (PDRs) is a growth management tool to preserve lands that 

are deemed valuable to the community as rural, scenic or natural lands. As one of several rights 

that are tied to land, development rights can be purchased/separated from a parcel and in the 

case of PDRs then permanently retired. As a result, the development potential for that site is 

permanently eliminated and the land is preserved as rural or scenic. 

The development rights are typically purchased by a governmental entity, land conservancy, or 

land trust. Permanent restrictions are placed on the parcel prohibiting further development. The 

development rights are permanently retired. 

The following strengths are associated with the employment of PDRs: 

The ability of public entities and land preservation groups to target specific areas to preserve 

can be an efficient allocation of resources as the most critical lands will most likely be 

preserved first. 

Public money is not necessarily required because land conservancies and land trusts, which 

are private organizations, may employ the PDR system themselves. Public entities are not 

necessarily required to participate in the system. 

The program is voluntary in nature as buyers and sellers can choose whether or not to 

participate. 

The program does not mandate prices for development rights as market based values are 

utilized for the transactions. 

The following weaknesses have been identified with the PDR system: 

Public expenditures may be needed to execute a purchase, although public participation is 

not required. 

Requires public and political support to initiate and implement, if public dollars are used 

Ability to preserve land is limited by the amount of public money available, if public dollars 

are used. 


Traditional Neighborhood Design 

How It Works 

Strengths 

STANLY COUNTY 

Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) is a pattern of development and design that provides 

neighborhoods that are walkable in scale and mixed in use. This walkability is a result of an 

interconnected street network, streets with sidewalks and street trees, and smaller residential 

setbacks; while a mix of uses results from residential uses being located “above the store” on 

the second floor. If this model sounds familiar, it is because it is the model of design for most all 

cities, towns, and other population centers in Stanly County before World War II. 

TND, which is also known as the new urbanism, or neo-traditional design, was popularized by 

Andreas Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk of the firm DPZ in Miami, Florida in the late 1980s 

as a reaction to the unmitigated sprawl development model practiced in the U.S. since the 

1950s. TND-planned communities have been developed throughout the country including 

several in the Charlotte region (Vermillion in Huntersville). The plan for the city of Locust is 

based on TND principles. 

Hamlets in Stanly County are typically focused at the intersection of two major roads and many 

times can be a focal point for the surrounding countryside. Additional growth of a hamlet, based 

on traditional neighborhood principles, can create a regional pattern of growth where pedestrian 

oriented development is focused around the hamlets while the surrounding farmlands or 

countryside is preserved as open space. In these cases the TND model can be combined with 

the conservation development model (discussed above) to provide a smooth transition from 

relatively dense hamlets to medium density residential development to open countryside. 

As part of an overall county plan that outlines the concept, future development could be 

concentrated near, or as part of existing hamlets, instead of sprawling out over the countryside. 

The appropriate implementation mechanisms would be required to be adopted such as a land 

use plan that outlines the traditional neighborhood planning principles, a transfer of development 

rights policy, an updated zoning ordinance, and building design guidelines. The combination of 

these elements provides the framework to guide growth in this manner. 

The following strengths are associated with the TND model: 

TND can be a part of an overall county plan to help concentrate development in the hamlets 

and villages while retaining open spaces in surrounding areas. 

TND is an incentive/market based system as developers and land owners sell development 

rights to transfer development to hamlets based on market values. 

Environmentally friendly by concentrating development in small areas and preserving other 

open spaces rather than spreading development out over the whole county. 

Promotes walkability and non-motorized modes of transportation as land uses are integrated 

on a site-specific basis. 

Is an efficient use of financial resources as road, water, and sewer infrastructure serving 

new development is concentrated in the villages rather than spread out in a haphazard 

pattern throughout the countryside. 


Weaknesses 

STANLY COUNTY 

Weaknesses of the TND model include the following: 

Requires adoption of several planning and implementation policies such as a land use plan, 

design guidelines and transfer of development rights to properly implement the concept. 

Requires political will and private sector support to draft, adopt, and implement each policy 

striving towards this development pattern. 

Although used throughout the U.S., TND is still relatively unfamiliar to developers, lending 

institutions, and other professions and institutions associated with the land development 

process. 

Figures 6-7 and 6-8 provide an illustration of the TND model. 

Cost of Community Services 

How It Works 

Cost of community services (COCS) is the analysis of the revenues generated and costs to a 

municipality, county, or other political jurisdiction associated with the provision of community 

services to various forms of development. Different types of development, for example, office, 

residential, industrial, or public uses generate differing levels of revenue (income, sales or 

property taxes) for the local community and each land use has different needs as far as services 

required (public safety, education, roads etc.) by that particular land use. This type of study 

outlines the differences in revenue and cost of services by land use category. COCS can be 

used as a means to evaluate the practicality of land use strategies such as the conversion of 

farmland to a residential subdivision. It can also be used as a means to justify the imposition of 

impact fees associated with development. 

COCS was developed by the American Farmland Trust (AFT), a non-profit organization devoted 

to the protection of farmland resources throughout the U.S. The first COCS study was 

completed by AFT for Madison Township, Ohio, a township located at the eastern edge of the 

growing Greater Cleveland metropolitan area in the early 1990s. 

COCS as practiced by AFT involves the following steps: 

1. Identifying and defining the appropriate land use categories such as residential, office, 

commercial, industrial, and agricultural uses. 

2. Collecting relevant financial data on revenues (tax receipts, local receipts) and expenditures 

(public safety, health and human services, public works, education, government). 

3. The results of this type of analysis generally show the following: 

For every $1.00 of revenue generated by residential uses the cost of services is $1.10 to 

$1.60. 

For every $1.00 of revenue generated by commercial uses, the cost of services is $0.20 

to $0.30. 

For every $1.00 of revenue generated by farms/forest uses the cost of services is $0.15 

to $0.40. 


Figure 6-7 This image portrays a typical development 

site using conventional development and associated 

travel trips based on this design. The lower image 

portrays a similar site’s travel patterns under TND. 

Source: Charter of the New Urbanism. 

Figure 6-8 A typical neighborhood developed using TND.

Strengths 

Weaknesses 

Impact Fees 

How It Works 

STANLY COUNTY 

These are based on a series of COCS studies performed by the AFT and the New England 

Forest Consortium. Residential uses, because of their high demand on public services, generally 

cost municipalities more than they provide in revenues, while other land uses such as 

commercial and open spaces generate more revenue than they require in public services. 

The following strengths are associated with the performance of a COCS: 

This type of analysis can help prepare the community to strategically manage and or 

quantify growth based on the real financial costs versus real financial benefits of growth. It 

can be used as a preliminary step in the analysis of the feasibility of imposing impact fees to 

finance certain types of community services. 

This type of analysis can help a community appropriately plan infrastructure investments 

based on projected revenues of the individual land uses and to meet future budget 

requirements and 

The following weaknesses are associated with the COCS process: 

Strict use of a COCS may indicate that certain land uses or activities are ideal given the 

fiscal ramifications whether or not they are locally desirable and compatible with a plan. 

COCS is highly controversial to the development community. 

An impact fee is a tool to help a community provide adequate levels of infrastructure for a 

growing community. Monetary fees or in-kind donations are paid by a developer to the 

municipality, city, or authority charged with managing a public utility or service such as water 

distribution or sewer collection and treatment systems. The revenue is then used to pay for 

upgrades to infrastructure that are needed to accommodate the additional demands on roads, 

parks etc. generated by a new development. Impact fees can be utilized to pay for road 

improvements, parkland acquisition, park improvements, utility upgrades, utility line extensions, 

schools, and other similar services. 

Based on the specific population associated with a new development, an analysis (such as a 

COCS as described above) is performed of how roads, parks and schools will be impacted by 

the new development. The questions asked include will the increase in traffic require larger 

roads and additional turn lanes, is more park land need to be acquired to provide open space 

and recreational opportunities, and are new schools required. As these questions are answered, 

the costs associated with each various improvement are noted and the developer is required to 

compensate the community and place funds in the impact fee accounts. As more and more 

development occurs, and the impact fee account balance rises, then the municipality can buy 

land needed for the park or pay for the road widening when it is needed. 


Strengths 

Weaknesses 

STANLY COUNTY 

Strengths associated with impact fees include the following: 

The private sector pays for the enhanced levels of service needed to accommodate new 

development rather than the public sector. Typically these charges are passed on directly to 

the consumer, such as a homebuyers rather than existing taxpayers. 

Infrastructure is in place or has funding when it is needed, rather than waiting years and 

years for funding through state grants etc. 

The following weaknesses are associated with impact fees: 

Impact fees should not be used to discourage development but to finance the services 

resulting from development activity where it is desired. 

If not properly calculated and imposed, impact fees can stifle development and negatively 

effect the tax base. 

Within the state of North Carolina, impact fees designed to finance schools, parks and 

recreation, and open space are not permitted without an act of the state legislature. Other 

public infrastructure may be funded by this mechanism. 

Possible haphazard location of road and other improvements unless a coordinated plan is 

developed in conjunction with use of impact fees. 

Adequate Public Facility Ordinance 

Adequate public facility ordinances provide a means in North Carolina to tie public facility 

funding for schools, roads, parks and recreation facilities, and open space acquisition and 

construction to new home construction. This bypasses the need to request an act of the General 

Assembly to specifically allow impact fees within Stanly County for such facilities. Adequate 

public facility ordinances are employed in several cities and counties in North Carolina. 

Neighboring Cabarrus County employs a basic form of this form of ordinance. Johnston County 

adopted such an ordinance to fund public facilities over a limited time frame. The Johnston 

County ordinance limits the number of housing permits annually within the county. 

The Land Use Plan will provide more information regarding this growth management tool in an 

upcoming update to the plan report. 


STANLY COUNTY 

SECTION 7: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 

Introduction 

The effectiveness of any plan is measured by its ability to guide and affect desired results in land 

use and development patterns. Issues identified during the course of the planning process to 

this point indicated the need for changes in the manner in which land is developed today and in 

the long-range. The following strategies were identified as important steps in the implementation 

of the Stanly County Land Use Plan: 

Update development ordinances to reflect Land Use Plan recommendations. Several 

recommendations contained in the Stanly County Land Use Plan are not presently 

supported by the existing development ordinances that include the Zoning Ordinance. For 

example, the recommendations of the agricultural protection area do not specifically 

correspond to any existing zoning district in the Zoning Ordinance. Implementation 

measures such as the use of the conservation development model also need a place in the 

code. Also the official zoning map, as presently drawn, will more than likely need to be 

revised to enforce the Land Use Plan recommendations As the Land Use Plan 

recommendations become finalized, specific recommendations for amendments to the 

Zoning Ordinance and other development control ordinances for the county will be 

developed in close association with the County Planning & Zoning Department. 

Complete regular reviews and updates of the Land Use Plan. The last countywide land 

use plan for Stanly County was completed in 1977. Although the Land Analysis and 

Development Plan was remarkably accurate in predicting the year 2000 population for the 

county within 11 percent of the actual figure (the 1977 plan predicted 51,600 while the actual 

population was 58,100), many other portions of the plan were well out-of-date by the time 

the present planning process was initiated. We recommend that the Stanly County Planning 

& Zoning Department and Planning Commission regularly monitor the progress of plan 

recommendation implementation process and complete an internal review and update the 

plan annually following the plan’s adoption. In order to keep the plan current we also 

recommend a major revision to the plan once every five to six years. 

Continue to develop the county GIS to track development patterns. Stanly County 

government is blessed to have a well-developed and well-manned Geographical Information 

System (GIS) office. Already the GIS has provided the planning consultant with invaluable 

information associated with existing conditions needed to complete the Phase 1 report of the 

Land Use Plan. The GIS’s greatest potential lies in its ability to track future development 

patterns, such as tracking housing starts and updating existing land use configurations to 

record changes in a more accurate manner. As much of the Land Use Plan is tied to 

channeling growth and development to the primary and secondary growth areas surrounding 

the cities and towns, the GIS will be invaluable in tracking development activity and 

recording the effectiveness of the county in meeting the plan goals. 

Encourage Stanly County’s cities and towns to adopt comprehensive and/or land use 

plans. Three of Stanly County’s nine municipalities have either completed or are in the 

process of preparing land use planning reports for their respective land areas. Locust 

completed a plan within the last three years. Oakboro just completed their plan, and 

Stanfield is in the process of completing a plan. We recommend that each of the cities 

complete an update to their present land use plan and maintain the plan in a manner similar 

to that described for the upkeep and maintenance of the countywide Land Use Plan. 

Complete review of the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan to assure 

compatibility with the Land Use Plan. Although only recently completed, it is 

recommended that the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan be reviewed and updated to 

reflect the goals and recommendations of the Stanly County Land Use Plan. This task can 

be completed internally without the cost of re-accomplishing the entire parks and recreation 


STANLY COUNTY 

planning process. While generally both plans are compatible, this revision will help assure 

the implementation of both plans. 

Complete a natural resources inventory for Stanly County. The Land Trust of Central 

North Carolina is currently encouraging each of the counties within its jurisdictions to 

complete a natural resources inventory. Local matching funds for the $20,000 inventory 

have not been secured in Stanly County. The two-year process is essential to identifying 

areas of local, regional, state, and national Botanical Significance so that the protection of 

these areas can be prioritized on the local, state, and national level. 

Continue coordinated plan dialog between Stanly County and its cities. Planning & 

Zoning Department staff along with the planning consultant have coordinated with each of 

the eight cities within Stanly County in the course of preparing the Land Use Plan. We firmly 

recommend that this dialog continue as the plan moves from adoption to implementation. 

We also see the Land Use Plan process as a springboard for countywide planning initiatives 

on other important issues and matters, such as, for example, long-range utility planning. 

Continue cooperation among government agencies that impact long-range planning 

and development. The Stanly County government has within its powers and authority the 

power to affect many of the changes recommended in the Land Use Plan. That power 

includes control over zoning for the study area as well as distributing drinking water to a 

number of communities in the county. Other entities, however, will need to be engaged to 

ensure wholesale adoption of the plan. Among these agencies include the North Carolina 

DOT, the city of Albemarle through its water treatment and distribution system, as well as 

adjacent city and counties governments. 


APPENDIX A 

COUNTY TIMELINE

Stanly County North Carolina Timeline 

550-600 Million Years Ago: 

Uwharrie Mountains, oldest mountain range in North America. First land above water after the flood, 

Garden of Eden. 

8000 B.C.: 

Early evidence of hunter gatherer tribes in Piedmont Region. 

1663: 

North Carolina Colony established. 

1789: 

North Carolina becomes 12th state. 

1790: 

Battle at Colson's Ordinary. 

British turned back near present day Norwood. 

1800s: 

North Carolina is largest gold producer after Reed Mine is established in Cabarrus County. 

1813: 

First Randall's Church built. 

1825: 

Gold discovered at Barringer Mine, Misenheimer. 

1826: 

First post office. 

1841: 

Stanly County established. 

Albemarle platted. 

1850s: 

Cottonville incorporated. 

. 1857: 

Albemarle incorporated. 

1860: 

County population 6,000. 

1870s: 

Mineral Springs resort in Misenheimer. 

1880: 

Stanly News & Press founded.

Stanly County North Carolina Timeline, cont. 

1885: 

Norwood Manufacturing Company (now C&A) formed. 

1890s: 

Cottonville businesses convert to steam-powered machinery. 

Whitney Dam project (proceeded Badin Dam). 

1891: 

Southern Railroad reaches Norwood. 

New London created. 

1893: 

County Courthouse built. 

1896: 

Yadkin Railroad make cotton mills in the cotton fields possible as well as aluminum 

production. 

1897: 

First telephone exchange in Albemarle. 

1898: 

Wiscasset, Efied Mills started. 

1900: 


1910: 

Pfeiffer University moves to Misenheimer. 

1913: 

Railroad through Oakboro. 

Badin founded. 

1915: 

Alcoa Badin Works goes on-line. 

Oakboro founded. 

1917: 

First extension agent arrived. 

Badin (Narrows) Dam built, originally the Swift Island Ferry Bridge. 

1918: 

First Hospital (Badin) 

1919: 

Road grading begun by County.


1920s: 

Road Construction Program leads to North Carolina to be known at the "Good Road State". 

Albemarle's first water plant . 

Town fire departments throughout county. 

1923: 

Charlotte Road paved. 

1927: 

Millingport School built. 

Canton Baptist Church build. 

Garrison Bridge completed-first bridge over Pee Dee River; Lowder Ferry closed. 

County Library established. 

1928: 

Lake Tillery created. 

1930: 

Half of agriculture produced in county was cotton. 

WPA/CCC projects began. 

Camp Doughton created for CCC workers. 

Stanfield School built. 

1933: 

Lake Tillery named. 

1935: 

Morrow Mountain State Park created. 

First Stanly County Fair. 

1940s: 

Albemarle American legion (Post 76) wins national championship. 

Farm Bureau formed. 

Young Manufacturing Co.. 

Norwood Little League "World Series Champs". 

1946: 

First airport. 

1947: 

First radio station. 

Richfield regains charter. 

1950: 

County population 37,130.


1951: 

New school districts drawn in the City of Albemarle. 

1955: 

Volunteer Fire Departments formed in Millingport, New London, Richfield. 

Stanfield incorporated. 

1958: 

Norwood Stockyards built. 

1960s: 

School integrated. 

First turkey raised in Stanly County-Tully Farm 

1962: 

City of Albemarle Parks & Recreation Department formed. 

High School consolidated. 

1963: 

Water line extended on U.S. 52 North. 

1964: 

North Stanly High School built. 

1965: 

Norwood Dam automated. 

Tucker Town Dam built. 

1972: 

Present County Courthouse built. 

Stanly County Community College established. 

1973: 

Countywide zoning. 

Historic Preservation Commission formed. 

Locust incorporated. 

1974: 

County Arts Council. 

1976: 

County Museum established. 

New Albemarle Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

1977: 

County Comprehensive Plan completed.


1979: 

Abemarle-Stanly County Airport dedicated. 

Countywide water project. 

5-lane road bypass of Albemarle. 

Bank of Stanly started. 

Large annexation by Albemarle. 

1983: 

Badin, Alcoa Badin Works, Badin (Narrows) Dam, placed on National Register. 

1987: 

Part-time farming exceeds full-time farming. 

1988: 

Agri-Civic Center built. 

Albemarle Northeast Connector completed. 

Stanly County Recreation Committee/Needs Assessment. 

1990: 

Badin incorporated. 

NCANG locates at airport. 

1994: 

Yadkin-Pee Dee Project. 

1996: 

School merger (Albemarle & County). 

2000: 

School bond reference passes. 

College bond passed for funding Western Campus. 

South Stanly Middle opened. 


Albemarle Correctional dedicated. 

2001: 

Two new schools started. 

Land Use Planning Steering Committee begun. 

Tourism Authority formed.

APPENDIX B 

BUILD-OUT SCENARIO POPULATION CALCULATIONS

STANLY COUNTY 

APPENDIX B: BUILD-OUT SCENARIO POPULATION CALCULATIONS 

The following calculations were used to determine the build-out population for Stanly County. 

The build-out population represents the potential population that could inhabit Stanly County if all 

land not presently used for residential, commercial, industrial, parks, or public/semi-public uses 

(i.e., agricultural and wooded areas) were developed as residential areas. 

Steps used in the process to define this calculation include the following: 

1. Table B-1 identifies developable land within the study area for the Land Use Plan. This area 

does not include undeveloped land within municipal corporation lines or ETJs. This 

information is based on an existing land use inventory and analysis completed by Woolpert 

LLP in conjunction with Existing Conditions Analysis of the Land Use Plan (Phase 1 Report). 

Table B-1. Agricultural and Wooded Areas in Stanly County, 2000. 

Land Use Category Acres 

Agriculture 63,542 

Wooded Areas 89,048 

Total Agriculture and Wooded Areas 152,590 

Sources: Stanly County GIS Aerial Photography, April 2000. 

Analysis by Woolpert LLP, 2001. 

2. Table B-2 identifies acreage totals for land that would be developed for non-residential 

purposes. Generally these land uses support residential development patterns and include 

set-asides for transportation and utility rights-of-way and easements, as well as retail 

commercial, office, public (parks and schools), and semi-public (e.g., churches) uses. 

Table B-2. Provisions for Non-Residential Development. 

Land Use Category Acres 

Total Agriculture and Wooded Areas 152,590 

� Less land area for rights-of-way and public easements. 

Based on assumption that 15 percent of all land will be used for rights-ofways 

and utility easements. 

-22,889 

� Less land area for retail/commercial, industrial, community facilities 

and other non-residential development. 

Based on assumption that 5 percent of all land area will be used for these 

land uses. 

-7,630 

� Less set-aside for parks and recreational facilities. 

Based on National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA) standard of 10 

acres of park for every 1,000 person, or 0.0253 acres per household, 

assuming 2.53 persons per household based on 2000 U.S. Census figures 

for Stanly County. Assumes development density in R-A, Residential- 

Agricultural Zoning District, of one dwelling unit/acre, or 0.0253 acres of 

parkland for each acre of residentially-developed land. 

-3,861 

Total Remaining Residential Development Yield 

Sources: Stanly County GIS Aerial Photography, April 2000. 

Analysis by Woolpert LLP, 2001. 

118,210 

Land Use Plan B-1 6/02

STANLY COUNTY 

3. Table B-3 provides an estimate of build-out for Stanly County based on existing zoning, 

prevailing household sizes for the county based on recent Census figures, and estimated 

population growth figures since the completion of the Census in April 2000. 

Table B-3. Build-Out Population Based on Existing Zoning. 

Residential Development Yield (from Table B-2) 118,210 Acres 

Permitted Development Density, R-A, Residential-Agricultural District 

Based on R-A Development Density of one dwelling/40,000 square foot lot. 

Residential Households 

Build-Out Population in Agriculture, Wooded Areas of Study Area 

Assumes 2.53 persons per household based on 2000 U.S. Census figures. 

2002 Estimated Population, Stanly County 

Based on 2000 U.S. Census figure of 58,100 plus 1.1 percent growth rate 

since April 2000. 

Build-Out Population 

Build-out population excludes growth within existing municipal corporate 

boundaries and ETJs. 

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000. 

Woolpert LLP, 2002. 

1 Dwelling Unit/Acre 

118,210 

Dwelling Units 

299,071 Persons 



Land Use Plan B-2 6/02

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

STANLY COUNTY 

American Farmland Trust. Planning and Zoning for Farmland Protection: A Community-Based 

Approach. Washington, D.C.: American Farmland Trust, 1987. 

American Farmland Trust. The Cost of Community Services in Madison Village and Township, 

Lake County, Ohio. Washington, D.C.: American Farmland Trust, 1993. 

American Farmland Trust. Saving American Farmland: What Works. Washington, D.C.: 

American Farmland Trust, 1997. 

Arendt, Randall, et al. Rural by Design. Washington, D.C.: American Planning Association 

Press, 1994. 

Congress for the New Urbanism. Charter of the New Urbanism: Region; Neighborhood, District, 

and Corridor; Block, Street, and Building. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999. 

Conservation Trust for North Carolina. “The Economic Benefits and Costs of Protecting North 

Carolina’s Natural Heritage.” Raleigh: Conservation Trust for North Carolina, 1996. 

Heyer, Fred. “Preserving Rural Character” (American Planning Association Planning Advisory 

Service Report #429). Washington, D.C.: American Planning Association Press, December 

1990. 

Laurien, Phillip, “The Farm Village: An Alternative Concept for Preserving Farmland.” 

Unpublished report, 1995. 

Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project. “A Strategy for North Carolina’s ‘Central Park.’” Badin: Yadkin- 

Pee Dee Lakes Project, 2000. 

Land Use Plan 6/02

Land Use Plan – 2002 - Stanly County, North Carolina

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