Living in ACo

Located in the central Piedmont of North Carolina, just 40 miles from uptown Charlotte, Anson County is rapidly gaining a reputation as a refuge for city dwellers who want the amenities of a major metro area -- professional sports, museums, live theatre, concerts, shopping -- without the daily hassles of traffic, noise and high prices. With a population density of 51 people per square mile and affordable real estate, there's plenty of room to stretch out at prices almost anyone can afford. Or, if the Main Street lifestyle is more appealing to you, the Town of Wadesboro offers the quintessential small-town Americana experience built around a central business district that includes a locally-owned hardware store, pharmacy, grocery, and theater. 

For the outdoor enthusiast, the Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers form the northern and eastern boundaries of the county, providing more than 30 miles of wild river paddling and fishing, while the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge offers 8,500 pristine acres of hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching and special permit hunting. 

Anson County has a temperate four-season climate with warm, humid summers and cool, generally snow-free winters. The average high temperature is 90 degrees F in July and 50 degrees F in January. 

The area receives between 40 and 50 inches of rain each year, with August the wettest month and April the driest. On average, Anson County gets less than 5 inches of snow each year with little to no lasting accumulation.  

More than 100 miles inland, the county is rarely impacted significantly by Atlantic hurricanes, although the area occasionally sees moderate rain and wind from those storms.

Anson County offers a variety of shopping and dining options typical for a rural area. The majority of retail establishments are located on the U.S. 74 "Strip" between Polkton and Lilesville, and in the historic Uptown Wadesboro central business district. 

Dining choices include multiple fast food outlets, sit-down "home cooking" restaurants and fine dining establishments. Although a variety of different types of food are represented, like most of North Carolina the area is especially well-known for its barbecue and "fish camp" dishes.

The largest retail store in the county is Roses, located on the U.S. 74 Strip in Wadesboro. TSC, Family Dollar, CVS and Dollar General are also located on the Strip along with several smaller specialty stores. In Uptown Wadesboro, a locally-owned hardware store, pharmacy, gift shop, and florist serve the historic business district.

A Food Lion and IGA provide diverse grocery choices from popular national brands to regional favorites like livermush, Cheerwine and collard greens.