ANSON COUNTY IS FULL OF
RURAL CHARACTER
L
ocated less than an hour
southeast of Uptown Charlotte
along U.S. Highway 74, Anson
County is the perfect road trip escape
for city-dwellers and suburbanites who
are looking to put a little rural character
in their lives. From the award-winning
Ansonia Theater to acclaimed shooting-
sport venues to world-class birding,
Anson offers an activity for every interest
and a pursuit for every passion.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Find your inner peace hiking more than
30 miles of trails at the Pee Dee National
Wildlife Refuge, home of the famous
Gaddy Bridge and renowned as one of
the best birding spots on the Eastern
Seaboard. The distinct wetland habitats
on the refuge support different suites
of wildlife species. Some species, such
as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and
opossum, range over the entire refuge.
Most waterfowl species only reside in
the refuge’s moist soil vegetation units and the green tree reservoir
during migration. Wood ducks are permanent residents of the
refuge’s flooded forests. Neotropical migratory songbirds breed in
the refuge forests in the spring and migrate to the West Indies and
Central and South America for the winter. Raptors such as hawks,
owls and even eagles hunt the roadsides, crop fields, and filter strips
searching for their prey. Barred owls and great horned owls reside
on the refuge year-round. Great blue herons and green herons nest
in the tops of trees that have been killed by lightning and are located
near open water so they can catch fish close to their nests.
Alternately, explore your wild side kayaking or floating the largely
undeveloped Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers which comprise the
county’s northern and eastern boundaries, or enjoying a day of
shooting at one of the county’s numerous sporting clay and hunting
preserves.
DISTINCTIVE DINING
Whether your taste tends toward chef-inspired farm-to-fork dishes
or down-home comfort food, Anson County has a place for you
at the table. As one of North Carolina’s leading agricultural areas,
Anson farms provide the freshest produce, meat, cheese, fruit, eggs
and fish to our local restaurants. Looking for a light snack or special
treat? Our roadside stands offer a variety of homemade goods like
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boiled peanuts, fudge and, of course, our signature Anson peach ice
cream.
ARTS, HISTORY, AND CULTURE
Thousands of people from all over the country visit Anson County
every year to research their family trees and learn more about their
heritage. As one of the oldest counties in colonial America, Anson
once stretched from the Pee Dee River west to the Mississippi,
and the county seat, Wadesboro, was a major regional center for
commerce and government. Today, our historical society assists
visitors in finding their roots and uncovering interesting facts and
stories about their heritage.
Wadesboro’s budding arts district is anchored by the award-wining
Ansonia Theater, a fully-restored 1930s era movie theater that serves
a a venue for stage productions and live musical shows throughout
the year, and encompasses an art gallery featuring works any local
artists, a working studio where visitors can try their hand at creating
their own masterpieces, and a coffee shop where writers, artists, and
crafters gather to hone their skills and collaborate on projects. One
such collaborative project is the Barn Quilt Wall where more than
50 (and counting!) barn quilts have been created and displayed by
local artists and community groups. When the wall is completed, it
will be one of the largest such art installations in the United States.