About Guilford County, North Carolina

Guilford County is nestled in the north central Piedmont of North Carolina. Originally settled by Scotch Irish and Quakers in the 17th Century, it remains an area committed to the quality of life and strong work ethic brought here by its early settlers.

Ideally located three and a half hours from the beach and two and a half hours from the mountains, Guilford County provides optimum convenience to the Triad and the entire state. Residents appreciate short commutes and easy access to an impressive transportation network, which is a vital part of the county's premier location. Coupled with the close proximity of the communities in the Triad, residents find their housing options and opportunities reflect both diversity and quality. Commuter friendly, easy to get around, and easy to get to know, Guilford County provides a great environment in which to live, work, and play.

Guilford County's population is currently 421,048. Greensboro, the county seat, accounts for about half the population with 224,000 residents. Bordering Greensboro is "The Furniture Capital of the World," High Point, NC. High Point's 86,000 residents are joined twice a year by an additional 83,000 members of the furniture industry for International Home Furnishings Market (commonly known as "Market"). Hotel rooms and restaurants are at overflow capacity and the buzz in downtown High Point can be heard throughout the Triad. Though not the best time for personal furniture shopping, people from across the country take every opportunity to capitalize on furniture savings heard round the world during the Show.

The bedroom community of Jamestown, home to about 3,100, offers the best of small town life within a 10-15 minute drive of both Greensboro and High Point. Rich in history, Jamestown was major player in the operations of the Underground Railroad. In fact, historic Mendenhall Plantation often used as a refuge for escaping slaves, features one of two remaining false-bottomed wagons so crucial to smuggling slaves to freedom. The town's oldest business, Oakdale Cotton Mill - operating since 1865 - is on the national register of historic places. In Jamestown, the old and the new blend well together with new homes and neighborhoods alongside old farms.

The Guilford County Public School system, which serves more than 62,000 students, includes 3 primary, 58 elementary, 18 middle, and 15 high school, and 2 special schools. Students may apply to a number of Magnet Schools featuring specialized curricula. The GCPS is proud of its numerous progressive educational programs, including the Paideia teaching Method, International Baccalaureate Programs, Workforce Preparedness initiatives, and an extensive Character Education program. In addition to the public school system, Guilford County children can attend one of over 100 independent or private schools in the Triad, including several different religious schools. Greensboro Day School, established in 1970, is one the Triad's oldest private schools. And the new American Hebrew Academy is the only residential Jewish high school in the country. Guilford County is also home to half a dozen colleges and universities.

Healthcare systems in Guilford County can meet practically any and every need. The High Point Regional Health System features a 368-bed, 225 physician medical center offering numerous specialized care options. Greensboro is home to the Moses Cone Health System, which is comprised of 5 hospitals of varying specialties, such as the Women's Hospital and the Moses Cone Behavioral Health Center. The centerpiece is Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, which has grown from 51 beds upon its opening in 1953 to a 508-bed state-of-the-art teaching hospital. The Kindred Hospital Greensboro provides specialized care in the rehabilitation of ventilator-dependent patients and patients with catastrophic illnesses. Patients must be referred to the hospital, which serves not only the state of North Carolina, but Southern Virginia and South Carolina ,as well.

Greensboro and High Point along with a number of once slumbering communities in outlying areas across the County bustle with significant growth in new housing construction. This ongoing boom in development has afforded residents a breadth of home styles and prices. Guilford County's excellent quality of life and beautiful neighborhoods offer residents an area graced with a rich heritage and classical southern beauty.