Lexington, North Carolina is a furniture and textile center also known for its famous "Lexington Style" barbecue. Located in the heart of the Piedmont, it is 21 miles south of Winston Salem and 32 miles west of Greensboro in one of the most beautiful counties in the state. Tradition has it that Lexington got its name when express riders carrying the news of the American colonists’ victory at the Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts rode though what is now Lexington, N.C. in 1775. The heretofore unnamed village had become home to settlers who began arriving about 1750. Newcomers to this backwater area of the state found it to be heavily wooded and exceptionally well watered by Abbotts Creek and the Yadkin River 10 miles west. The Native Americans in the area, the Sauras, had left the area by 1700, although various other tribes moved through on the "Trading Path" along the Yadkin.

Although many buildings have undergone street level facade changes, most of the second floor facades remain unaltered. The district is comprised of brick detailed with various classical architectural elements executed in granite, wood, metal, terracotta and brick. By 1858 a second courthouse whose scale and design were considered quite ambitious for such a small community had been built.

Hotels, newspaper offices, livery stables, and a wide variety of stores and offices were built of wood in close proximity to the courthouse on the square, providing quite a contrast between wooden storefronts and Corinthian columns! By 1885 the first of the brick structures appeared just south of the courthouse and during the next few decades all the original wooden buildings were overbuilt with the brick structures which exist today .

Records indicate that in a few instances, current buildings dating back as early as 1900 may be the third or even fourth structure to occupy the site.

Historic Uptown Lexington hosts several special events during the year . The Barbecue Festival is held in late October . Voted as one of the top ten food festivals in the nation this event brings more than 100,000 people to uptown each year . The Uptown Christmas Open House is a seasonal celebration held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving each year . This event features carriage rides, visitors from the North Pole, Victorian carolers, and an Old Fashioned Business Open House.

The residential neighborhoods adjacent to uptown also tell the story of the history of Lexington. There is a lovely 1920’ s neighborhood just west of South Main Street accessible by West 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues. There is a 1930’ s and 1940’ s neighborhood primarily made up of bungalows on West 4th and 5th Avenues; and Hillcrest neighborhood is just west of North Main Street easily accessible by West 2nd Street; and don’ t miss the walking track and soccer fields located adjacent to Historic Grimes School, a National Register of Historic Places property , also in the Hillcrest neighborhood. We encourage you to explore! For your convenience, please note that "streets" cross Main Street north of Center Street and "avenues" cross Main Street south of Center Street.

In addition, make sure you try the Lexington style barbecue and visit the Bob Timberlake Gallery while you are here. It’ s worth the visit.