Moving to King, North Carolina

by btobers · Published June 30, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

King, North Carolina is a small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains located in Stokes County. It is situated between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, two larger cities within the state. With a population of around 6,000 people, King is a friendly and welcoming community that offers its residents plenty of opportunity to enjoy small-town life while still having access to larger cities nearby.

The town itself was established in 1786 and was named after Revolutionary War hero General William Rufus King. The downtown area has many historic buildings that date back to the late 1800s, making it a great place for those interested in local history. There are also plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes to explore, as well as various parks and recreation areas for outdoor activities like hiking or biking.

The school system in King is highly rated and provides students with excellent educational opportunities. There are three public schools: Central Elementary, North Stokes Middle School and South Stokes High School which serve over 2,000 students within the district boundaries. The area also has four private schools: Westfield Academy (K-8), Piedmont Baptist College (9-12), Forsyth Country Day School (PK-12) and Wilkes Community College (2 year).

King is home to many churches which offer an array of religious services for the community including Catholic churches such as St. Thomas More Catholic Church and Protestant congregations like First United Methodist Church. The area also has several parks including King City Park which features a playground and walking trails as well as picnic areas for families to enjoy during their visit.

In addition to its recreational opportunities, King offers its residents plenty of employment options with major employers such as Novant Health and Lowes Foods located nearby. The town also provides easy access to other cities via I-40 making it an ideal place for those who commute regularly or need quick access to larger urban centers like Winston Salem or Greensboro which are both only about 30 minutes away by car.

Overall King is a wonderful small town that combines all of the advantages of living in a rural setting with close proximity to larger cities nearby while still allowing residents to enjoy all the benefits that come with living in a tight knit community environment. Whether you’re looking for historical sites or recreational activities there’s something here for everyone.

Population: 5,952. Estimated population in July 2024: 6,353 (+6.7% change)
Males: 2,789 (46.9%), Females: 3,163 (53.1%)

Stokes County

Zip code: 27021

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.5 years
Median household income: $48,897
Median house value: $112,000

Population by Race

Races in King:

White Non-Hispanic (95.0%)
Hispanic (2.0%)
Black (1.7%)
Two or more races (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (18.5%), German (14.7%), English (9.1%), Irish (9.1%), Scotch-Irish (3.4%), Polish (2.1%).

Elevation: 1100 feet

Land area: 5.2 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in King

High school or higher: 83.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.1%
Unemployed: 4.8%
Mean travel time to work: 28.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in King city

Never married: 11.3%
Now married: 68.8%
Separated: 2.1%
Widowed: 7.3%
Divorced: 10.5%

2.4% Foreign born (1.3% Latin America, 0.8% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +1,480 (+33.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near King:

AMOS COTTAGE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC)
FORSYTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; WINSTON-SALEM, NC)
MEDICAL PARK HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; WINSTON-SALEM, NC)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to King:

SMITH REYNOLDS (about 14 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Abbreviation: INT)
PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL (about 32 miles; GREENSBORO, NC; Abbreviation: GSO)
DANVILLE REGIONAL (about 74 miles; DANVILLE, VA; Abbreviation: DAN)

Other public-use airports nearest to King:

MEADOW BROOK FIELD (about 16 miles; WALNUT COVE, NC; Abbreviation: N63)
MOUNT AIRY/SURRY COUNTY (about 19 miles; MOUNT AIRY, NC; Abbreviation: MWK)
SUGAR VALLEY (about 23 miles; MOCKSVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: 31A)

Amtrak station near King:

15 miles: WINSTON-SALEM (127 S. CHERRY ST.) – Bus Station. Services: fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to King:

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY (about 11 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 5,944)
FORSYTH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 15 miles; WINSTON SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 3,271)
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY (about 20 miles; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,508)
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL ST UNIV (about 27 miles; Greensboro, NC; Full-time enrollment: 6,970)
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY (about 32 miles; HIGH POINT, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,564)
GUILFORD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 35 miles; JAMESTOWN, NC; Full-time enrollment: 4,810)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO (about 41 miles; GREENSBORO, NC; Full-time enrollment: 10,868)

Schools

Public high school in King:

WEST STOKES HIGH (Students: 1,024; Location: 1400 PRIDDY ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in King:

CALVARY CHR SCHOOL (Students: 144; Location: P O BOX 136; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in King:

CHESTNUT GROVE MIDDLE (Students: 848; Location: 2185 CHESTNUT GROVE SCH ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
MOUNT OLIVE ELEMENTARY (Students: 729; Location: 2145 CHESTNUT GROVE SCH ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)
KING ELEMENTARY (Students: 661; Location: 152 EAST SCHOOL STREET; Grades: PK – 05)
MEADOWBROOK SCHOOL (Students: 57; Location: 817 MEADOWBROOK DRIVE; Grades: 06 – 12)