"Mayberry like" towns? (Clayton, Hillsborough: vacation home, live in, shops)

[SunnyKayak]

The show was actually filmed in California. The lake or pond at the beginning is located in San Fernando Valley CA.

[thebigr]

Originally Posted by lidersan

I am with you! I currenty live in Ohio and we are looking to retire early and looking for a small Mayberry like town. We are looking to get away from the fast paced commercial world....we were looking at Hickory NC, planning a visit later this summer... have you been there???

We lived in Hickory for 7 years(95 - 01) and we really miss it. Would move back but my occupation prevents us from.
As you are retiring that is an excelent choice. The weather is great and we found the people very friendly. We did not bring our ways to the area we just tried to fit in. We have good friends that were born and raised there and they use to call us the Yankee's from H**l. If you don't take it personal you will be fine. They after all are just joking.
Hickory is a nice sized city with everything you need. Plus Charlotte is close.
And the best part we liked is it is located in the foothills of the mountains. So you are not right in the mountains but we were able to see them from our house.
Hickory grows slowly which I believe is a good thing.
I really miss that place!!

[Sheila2]

We are looking at maybe moving to Mount Airy. It sounds really nice, but is there a problem with outsiders moving in? We moved down here to Roxboro from Michigan a year and a half ago and find that people are not to friendly, because we are "Yankees" and was not born and raised here. I would also like to find out some more info. about the population, the schools and the housing. Can anyone tell me a site that I can go on to find that info. out? Thanks in advance for your help.

[SunnyKayak]

You can find alot about demographics of any city at the top of the forums where it says city-data.com in white upper right corner.
It includes Demographics, type of people moving there, income, crime, age brackets etc

Mount Airy, North Carolina (NC) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Another mayberry type town to consider nearby is Elkin.

[gatornmayberry]

Mt Airy is doing fine. The schools are terrific test score wise and crime low. Come see yourself!

[avannoppen]

Mount Airy, NC, is one of the finest small towns in the country. It is vibrant, it is accessible, it is convenient. As Andy Griffith's birthplace, it is the town Mayberry is based on.

[arquenleaf]

Well I live in Mt, Airy now, originally from Las Vegas ( yep city of sin) and have never faced any nastiness due to not being born in the area. There are jokes, but take them with a grain of salt and you'll do fine. In my experience of the three years that I have lived here if you are not one of the my sh** don't stink "yankees" you should do fine. I have worked with many transplants that love it here and have never even heard a mention of the word "yankee".

best of luck

[roanoker 4]

There are many small towns here in SW VA. Many of these hamlets haven't changed in generations. I had a pal who invited me to the town of Buchanan, VA and yes the people are friendly. But don't be fooled!! The local townspeople are usually friendly to each other, NOT outsiders! Yes, they greet each other on the street, visit elderly neighbors(rare in urban areas) and as long as you go to church and aren't different you will be welcomed.
I visited the real Mayberry, Mt. Airy NC and although I was a tourist I found the local shopkeepers to be extremely rude. I walked in a store and friendly asked a clerk where "The Diner" was and the gal practically yelled at me.
I get the impression from Mt. Airy townsfolk that maybe they aren't that comfortable with "outsiders" coming into their town.

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

There are many small towns here in SW VA. Many of these hamlets haven't changed in generations. I had a pal who invited me to the town of Buchanan, VA and yes the people are friendly. But don't be fooled!! The local townspeople are usually friendly to each other, NOT outsiders! Yes, they greet each other on the street, visit elderly neighbors(rare in urban areas) and as long as you go to church and aren't different you will be welcomed.
I visited the real Mayberry, Mt. Airy NC and although I was a tourist I found the local shopkeepers to be extremely rude. I walked in a store and friendly asked a clerk where "The Diner" was and the gal practically yelled at me.
I get the impression from Mt. Airy townsfolk that maybe they aren't that comfortable with "outsiders" coming into their town.

Please allow be to respectfully disagree with your comments about our friendliness. We tend to give back what we get, and perhaps you were a bit condescending in your tone??? Don't be offended as that is not my intent here...just take another look from above at that situation...I mean the folks in "Mayberry" make a good living on tourists so I can't understand why one would yell at you. If she did then her business must be terrible!

Try looking at this link to a place that actually does exist here in rural NC.
http://www.ibiblio.org/hollerin/

I sure hope your next trip to Nc is better that the last...Happy New Year y'all

[TCK]

I was watching an entertainment show today and Andy Griffith was on. Showed him sitting with Ron Howard at one point and also in his latest role on Waitress. Near the end, I thought I heard them say he lives in Mt. Airy.
Did I hear wrong?