Rutherfordton and its two neighbors, Spindale and Forest City are
as distinctly individual as cities could be. Rutherfordton is,
and looks like, an old town if you never get out of the downtown
area. But it has a beautiful residential area north of downtown.
One could call it the town of seven hills because it is very
hilly.
Spindale, right next door to Rutherfordton, is flat. Driving
through the old downtown of Spindale is like visiting an old
railroad town. The track, with strips of green on each side,
goes right through the middle of the old downtown. US-74
business is Main Street. There is, of couorse, another US-74,
US-74 Alternate that comes in from the western part of the
county. From Rutherfordton to the US-74 freeway (which is like
an Interstate highway), US-74-A is a four-lane, divided highway.
And, as usually happens, shopping centers and office parks and
myriad other business now adorn both sides of US-74-A. Ah, yes,
Spindale has a new 'downtown' and about as modern as any. No
covered malls (yet) but you can bet that's coming, too.
Lest we forget, the US-74-A freeway has one other adornment which
is vital to the area: Isothermal Community College which, by the
way, is also the cultural center of the eastern part of the
county. There is something about an environment well sprinkled
with college students that puts a special glow on a community.
(continued in column 2) |
(continued from column 1)
Coming back to US-74 Business, continuing east (actually southeast)
we enter Forest City. It is almost impossible to know when you
leave one town and enter another. Someone told me the Forest
City line is around Fairhope Street. And, yes, there is a little
sign - but who really cares except the tax man?
Forest City is a town on vitamins. They have
created a very ambitious renewal plan and are actually doing
something about it. Whereas in the old downtown of Spindale the
railroad track runs right down the center of US-74 Business, by
the time its gets to Forest City it is a few hundred feet to the
southwest. But downtown Forest City has the green center strip
running down the center of Main Street - just without the
railroad track.
A review of the local real estate listings reveals that real estate here
is less costly than many of the other mountain counties. The
weather is mild both summer and winter and the entire area is
very ecologically clean. Asheville will probably be your launch
point in your search for a new home. You'll undoubtedly find it
well worth while to investigate the
Rutherfordton-Spindale-Forest City area with one of the local
real estate agents. Or, fill out our
simple form
and we will contact those agencies we feel may be best staffed
to assist you in your search. |