Salisbury, North Carolina Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 30, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Salisbury, North Carolina is located in Rowan County and is a city of about 33,000 people. It is situated in the heart of the Piedmont region and is known for its rich history and its many attractions.

The city was founded in 1753 as part of a land grant from King George II to William Salisbury. Today, Salisbury is home to many historic sites that tell the story of its past. Notable landmarks include the Old Stone House, which is one of the oldest surviving residences in North Carolina; the Dr. Josephus Hall House, an 18th-century Georgian-style home; and St. John’s Lutheran Church, which was built in 1755 and is still active today.

Salisbury has a thriving downtown area with plenty of shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural activities to enjoy. The main street features numerous specialty shops selling antiques, artworks and locally made products such as pottery, jewelry and clothing. There are also plenty of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines from around the world as well as local favorites like Southern barbecue or fried chicken. For entertainment, visitors can take in a show at Salisbury Community Theater or attend one of several annual festivals such as National Night Out or Festival on Main Street that celebrate Salisbury’s rich heritage with live music, food vendors and more.

The city also offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing on High Rock Lake or biking along one of several trails that weave through town including the Yadkin River Greenway Trail which stretches for more than two miles along the banks of the Yadkin River connecting downtown to nearby parks and green spaces.

In addition to its many attractions, Salisbury offers quality education options at both public schools such as North Rowan High School and private institutions like Catawba College which offers undergraduate degrees in business administration among other majors.

Salisbury boasts a vibrant arts scene with several galleries showcasing works by local artists such as Waterworks Visual Arts Center located near downtown Salisbury or Rail Walk Studios & Gallery located just outside town near Spencer where visitors can view sculptures made from recycled materials on display outdoors year-round.

Overall, Salisbury is a charming small city with something for everyone—from history buffs visiting its many historic sites to outdoor enthusiasts exploring nearby trails—making it an ideal destination for those looking to explore all that North Carolina has to offer.

Population: 26,462. Estimated population in July 2024: 27,563 (+4.2% change)
Males: 12,548 (47.4%), Females: 13,914 (52.6%)

Rowan County

Zip codes: 28144, 28146, 28147.

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.1 years
Median household income: $32,923
Median house value: $93,800

Population by Race

Races in Salisbury:

White Non-Hispanic (55.4%)
Black (37.6%)
Hispanic (4.3%)
Other race (1.9%)
Two or more races (1.5%)
American Indian (0.7%)
Asian Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: United States (12.8%), German (9.6%), English (7.4%), Irish (3.8%), Scotch-Irish (2.7%), Subsaharan African (1.8%).

Elevation: 746 feet

Land area: 17.8 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Salisbury

High school or higher: 75.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.5%
Unemployed: 15.5%
Mean travel time to work: 19.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Salisbury city

Never married: 26.5%
Now married: 50.2%
Separated: 3.4%
Widowed: 10.7%
Divorced: 9.1%

5.0% Foreign born (2.9% Latin America, 1.0% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +1,996 (+8.2%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Salisbury:

ROWAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (612 MOCKSVILLE AVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Salisbury:

DAVIE COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; MOCKSVILLE, NC)
NORTHEAST MEDICAL CENTER (about 20 miles; CONCORD, NC)
LEXINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC (about 21 miles; LEXINGTON, NC)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Salisbury:

SMITH REYNOLDS (about 37 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Abbreviation: INT)
CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL (about 45 miles; CHARLOTTE, NC; Abbreviation: CLT)
PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL (about 48 miles; GREENSBORO, NC; Abbreviation: GSO)

Other public-use airports nearest to Salisbury:

ROWAN COUNTY (about 4 miles; SALISBURY, NC; Abbreviation: RUQ)
DAVIDSON COUNTY (about 15 miles; LEXINGTON, NC; Abbreviation: EXX)
TWIN LAKES (about 17 miles; MOCKSVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: 8A7)

Amtrak station:
SALISBURY (DEPOT & LIBERTY STS.). Services: partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Salisbury:

ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,499; Location: BOX 1595; Public; Website: www.rccc.cc.nc.us)
CATAWBA COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 1,309; Location: 2300 W INNES ST; Private, not-for-profit; Offers Master’s degree)
LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 979; Location: 701 W MONROE ST; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.livingstone.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
CAROLINA BEAUTY COLLEGE 15 (Full-time enrollment: 62; Location: 1902 S MAIN ST; Private, for-profit)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Salisbury:

FORSYTH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 30 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 3,271)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE (about 31 miles; CHARLOTTE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 13,706)
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY (about 31 miles; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,508)
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY (about 35 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 5,944)
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 36 miles; CHARLOTTE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 7,967)
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY (about 38 miles; HIGH POINT, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,564)
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL ST UNIV (about 43 miles; Greensboro, NC; Full-time enrollment: 6,970)

Schools

Public high schools in Salisbury:

EAST ROWAN HIGH (Students: 1,394; Location: 175 ST LUKE’S CHURCH RD; Grades: 09 – 12)
SALISBURY HIGH (Students: 920; Location: 500 LINCOLNTON RD; Grades: 09 – 12)
HENDERSON INDEPENDENT HIGH (Students: 178; Location: 1215 N MAIN STREET; Grades: 08 – 12)

Private high schools in Salisbury:

NORTH HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 396; Location: 2970 WEST INNES ST; Grades: PK – 12)
SALISBURY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 14; Location: PO BOX 1666; Grades: 2 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Salisbury:

CHARLES C ERWIN MIDDLE (Students: 906; Location: 170 ST LUKE’S CHURCH RD; Grades: 06 – 08)
WEST ROWAN MIDDLE (Students: 830; Location: 5925 STATESVILLE BLVD; Grades: 06 – 08)
KNOLLWOOD ELEMENTARY (Students: 791; Location: 3075 SHUE RD; Grades: KG – 05)
SOUTHEAST MIDDLE (Students: 731; Location: 1570 PEELER ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
KNOX MIDDLE (Students: 637; Location: 1625 PARK RD W; Grades: 06 – 08)
HURLEY ELEMENTARY (Students: 622; Location: 625 HURLEY SCHOOL RD; Grades: PK – 05)
E HANFORD DOLE ELEMENTARY (Students: 569; Location: 465 CHOATE ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
CARROLL T OVERTON ELEMENTARY (Students: 443; Location: 1825 PARK RD W; Grades: PK – 05)
H D ISENBERG ELEMENTARY (Students: 397; Location: 2800 JAKE ALEXANDER BLVD N; Grades: KG – 05)
ROWAN ACADEMY (Students: 72; Location: 1010 AIRPORT ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Salisbury:

SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 265; Location: 123 NORTH ELLIS STREET; Grades: PK – 8)
ST JOHNS KINDERGARTEN (Students: 43; Location: 200 W INNES STREET; Grades: PK – KG)
SALISBURY ADVENTIST SCHOOL (Students: 29; Location: 305 RUDOLPH RD; Grades: KG – 9)

Libraries

Library in Salisbury:

ROWAN PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $2,229,462; Location: 201 W. FISHER ST; 189,779 books; 5,596 audio materials; 7,017 video materials; 420 serial subscriptions)