Siler City (Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham: hair salon, chapel, house)

[Kathy & Allen]

We are moving there soon. Any tips? We are from N.J. and know nothing about Siler City, just what our realtor told us. Locals please help.

[courtcourt]

Siler City is very small. Population around 7,000. There is not much to do in town. A lot of local stores and the downtown area have shut down due to Walmart. There is not much to do around town. Hispanics are the majority, which is quit interesting. I was raised there, but as a 20 something with an education, I would never live there by choice.

[PlantGeek]

Siler City is a small town in Chatham County. It has more restaurant choices than the other towns in the county. It has a huge Hispanic population because there are several chicken plants in Chatham county. There is very little to do in the town itself. In high school we would just go sit in the Walmart parking lot and hang out, just because there was little to do. Its a quiet town for the most part and that can be wonderful. The schools are very overcrowded and most have many trailers. The school board seems unwilling to spend the money to expand these schools, rather they concentrate on the northern part of Chatham county.

Nearby Pittsboro may have more in the way of culture and festivals. Its the county seat and has many arts and crafts shows, an art gallery, antique shops, and few restaurant choices. It also has Jordan Lake (east on Highway 64) if you're an outdoors type. There are very few "bars" in Chatham county as a whole. Even at those places, you cannot buy liquor drinks (except at Ferrington in the norther part of the county).

If you want to drive a little further for entertainment, Asheboro is within a 30 minute drive (probably, I'm just guessing). There's a small mall there with a movie theatre and the zoo. Asheboro is in Randolph county, which is a dry county.

Raleigh is probably an 1hr and 15 min drive. Similar for Chapel Hill and Durham.

[VaNC]

I would be interested to hear what your realtor told you.

[courtcourt]

i forgot to mention the drug problem, but i guess that is anywhere.

[spagglewags]

Originally Posted by Kathy & Allen

We are moving there soon. Any tips? We are from N.J. and know nothing about Siler City, just what our realtor told us. Locals please help.

My husband and I relocated here to the Siler City area from MI. (Staley) in April 2007. My husband took a job in Cary, and I researched property moving my search farther and farther out till we found what we were looking for. We purchased a huge house on almost 11 acres and are very pleased with our move. Yes Siler City is a quaint small community, but the people are so friendly. The weather is amazing. Restaurants are plentiful especially once you get to know your way around. 1/2-3/4 hour in either direction will get you any store or food your little heart desires. I do not regret my move here, and do not mind the Hispanic community. Jordan lake which is 60 miles long and amazing is only 25 minutes away, and free for most of the year to visit. It is a sanctuary for Bald Eagle's and we have seen our share gliding by the side of the bridge as you drive by. Where else can you find that kind of beauty. This fall the colors are so bright and held their own for some time. The air is fresh and always reminds you of camping or fresh cut lawn. I think you will be very happy with your choice. We feel now is the time to invest in property here because Pittsboro is running out of space and the new Chatham County Hosp. is going up as we speak on I-64 which will bring in alot of new comers. I hope this is helpful.

[what?!]

Very sad attitude towards Hispanics spagglewags. "don't mind the Hispanic community" translates into "I tolerate them living here." Nice, very nice. I work at a Law Office in Siler City. You'd better believe Hispanics aren't the only ones coming in there.

Moving on to answering the question posted...

I moved down here from up north not too long ago. You WILL feel the culture shock. No sidewalks except for the tiny, mini "downtown" area, which is actually pretty nice (a few restaurants, an ice cream shop, one pastry shop, one cafe (nice), a couple of galleries, several banks, law offices, a couple of hair salons, a library...) Not a lot of variety as far as entertainment, but you're close enough to bigger towns to be able to make an escape if you need to go to the movies, Books a Million (Barnes and Noble-type bookstore), stores, restaurants, etc. (Asheboro (this town is pretty nice), Burlington, Greensboro...)

People are simple and live simple lives. Most are polite. Most are very religious (some can be a little self-righteous and judgmental -eg. "If you don't look like me, sound like, think like me... there must be something wrong with you.") Whattiyougonnado?!

Anyhow, the weather is pretty mild, even the winter. There's not much traffic.

Hope that helped a little.
Good luck to you!

[orionmx1]

Considering a move to Cattail Creek near Silk Hope. Does anyone have opinions of these two places, near Siler City?

[J_Lurk]

The only thing I know about Silk Hope is that the Shakori Hills festival is near there ( Shakori Hills » Directions ). I believe in that area of Chatham County you tend to have more of the farming and arts community. Celebrity Dairy is also near there (@The Inn at Celebrity Dairy - (919) 742-5176 -Chatham County, North Carolina) and a couple of other B&Bs.

[spagglewags]

AS SEEN IN THE POST BELOW, MY COMMENT WAS TAKEN OUT OF TEXT. I WAS JUST STATING THAT THIS IS A MIXED COMMUNITY OF FRIENDLY PEOPLE. I HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS AN UNFRIENDLY PERSON YET, NO MATTER THEIR RACE OR COLOR. WE ARE ALL CONSIDERED ONE AND DON'T NEED TO THINK SMALL MINDED. TO THOSE WHO ARE THINKING OF MOVING HERE, SILER CITY IS AN UP-COMING TOWN. THE CHATHAM HOSPITAL IS UP AND RUNNING AND PROPERTY ALL AROUND IS BEING SNATCHED UP FOR DEVELOPMENT. YES IT IS A RURAL TOWN, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING UP AND THE COMMUNITY IS TAKING PRIDE IN ITSELF. EVERYONE HERE SMILES AND SAYS HELLO, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND IN SILER CITY!! GOD BLESS FROM A HAPPY COUPLE NEW TO THE AREA!! COME , ENJOY!! RELAX!! TAKE IN THE ATMOSPHERE!!

Originally Posted by spagglewags

My husband and I relocated here to the Siler City area from MI. (Staley) in April 2007. My husband took a job in Cary, and I researched property moving my search farther and farther out till we found what we were looking for. We purchased a huge house on almost 11 acres and are very pleased with our move. Yes Siler City is a quaint small community, but the people are so friendly. The weather is amazing. Restaurants are plentiful especially once you get to know your way around. 1/2-3/4 hour in either direction will get you any store or food your little heart desires. I do not regret my move here, and do not mind the Hispanic community. Jordan lake which is 60 miles long and amazing is only 25 minutes away, and free for most of the year to visit. It is a sanctuary for Bald Eagle's and we have seen our share gliding by the side of the bridge as you drive by. Where else can you find that kind of beauty. This fall the colors are so bright and held their own for some time. The air is fresh and always reminds you of camping or fresh cut lawn. I think you will be very happy with your choice. We feel now is the time to invest in property here because Pittsboro is running out of space and the new Chatham County Hosp. is going up as we speak on I-64 which will bring in alot of new comers. I hope this is helpful.