This article was produced in partnership with
WRAL Digital Solutions.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from
downtown Raleigh—10 minutes to
be exact—sits the town of Garner,
North Carolina, a community of
over 33,000 residents that is the
13th-fastest-growing municipality
in the state.
Originally established as a stop between
Goldsboro and Charlotte along the North
Carolina Railroad in the 1850s, Garner has
come a long way from its days of cotton and
tobacco. The town reflects the innovative
culture of the Triangle region while maintaining
its idyllic charm, setting itself apart from other
municipalities with its hometown allure and
stunning community amenities.
From its humble, yet picturesque downtown
to its expansive outdoor recreation spaces,
Garner truly is a “great place to be,” as the
town slogan goes. Factor in its proximity to
Raleigh as a “doorstep to downtown,” its ease
of access, and the enticing cost of living, and
you get a community that its residents are
proud to call home.
Garner transplant Jihan Hodges has lived in
the town for the past seven years. Originally
from Eastern North Carolina, she knew after
completing her graduate degree at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that she did not
want to be east of the Triangle. After living and
working in Raleigh for several years, she and her
husband decided to purchase a home in Garner.
“Your money in Garner goes a long way. Overall,
it’s one of the most affordable places you can live
in the area and there’s housing that’s available
to people with different kinds of income levels—
that’s important,” she said.
“We’ve actually had friends move here on our
recommendation—we have no desire to move
from this area. We’ve planted our roots here
and because we like it so much, several years
ago I decided to get involved with the town,”
continued
Hodges, who
serves on the
board for the
Downtown
Garner
Association.
“Garner has
so much to
offer and is a
beautiful place
to live.”
Hodges noted
the prevalence
of parks and natural areas in town and Garner’s
proximity to regional amenities as some of the
reasons why she loves living in town.
“You don’t have to travel far to get to things,
which was important to us,” she said. “We
wanted to live somewhere that had more of the
hometown feel, but without living somewhere
very rural.”
Garner is becoming increasingly connected to
downtown Raleigh given recent development
patterns, and GoTriangle’s eventual bus rapid
transit service will offer better transit options
for those going back and forth between the
neighboring municipalities.
“If I had to describe
Garner with just one
word, it would be
‘love.’ Everybody’s
willing to share it.”
Garner also has its own dynamic downtown,
which is home to several tech and “creativeclass”
businesses, a hip café and a new,
$9 million recreation center that’s slated to
open in 2020. The downtown district also
includes Garner Performing Arts Center, which
has shows ranging from local community theater
to nationally touring acts throughout the year.
garnernc.gov
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