People travel from all over to walk through Kernersville's Korner's Folly, the personal home of the grandson of the town's founder. Because the home was built piecemeal over several years, the home is a maze of different ceiling heights on seven levels. More than a dozen fireplaces fill the 22 rooms of the home.
Just nine miles east of Winston-Salem, Kernersville is perfectly situated within the Piedmont Triad metro of Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem. Its tobacco farming history is still an integral part of its present, although the town has kept up with the times with plenty of retail, restaurants and infrastructure to keep its residents happy and content without having to drive up the road to the bigger cities on either side. Town founder Joseph Kerner bought the land in 1817 and named it Kerners Crossroads. When it was incorporated in 1873, the name was changed to Kernersville. The town has seen several presidents pass through, starting with George Washington, who enjoyed breakfast at Dobson's Tavern. About 200 years later, another George -- George W. Bush -- gave a speech on economy at the Deere-Hitachi plant. Just a few years after that speech, Bill Clinton gave another speech at a local high school while on his wife's presidential campaign trail.
Moving to Kernersville
Searching for house rentals in Kernersville is somewhat easier than elsewhere because it does retains that small-town feel where people make business decisions based on more than just your credit history. Present yourself well -- a few well-placed ma'am's, thank you's and please's will go a long way -- and be prepared to meet people in person. While you can conduct everything from your present location over the internet -- this isn't a third-world place -- waiting until you're in Kernersville can make your house rentals search go much smoother. Keep in mind, though, that Kernersville is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people who work in Winston-Salem or Greensboro and are tired of the massive overgrowth happening in those two cities. You'll be competing against them for properties, so make sure you have all your documentation gathered and in order.
When you are ready to make the move, you'll be greeted by a town committed to keeping up with its growing population of just more than 23,000. Several construction projects around major roadways like Hastings Hill Road and Bodenheimer Street are in the works. When completed, the roads will be straighter and less congested, making the commute to neighboring cities via I-40, Business 40 or Hwy 421 even easier.
Kernersville Neighborhoods
While Kernersville has plenty of subdivisions, it doesn't have many distinct neighborhoods. A few stand outs, though, are described below.
Historic District: If you're looking for the perfect mixture of old and new, look no further than the homes located in the Historic District in Kernersville. This area around Salisbury Street recently began a huge renovation project that includes a new bridge, repaved roads, light posts, sidewalks and stone side walls. The homes were also ordered to undergo renovations to match these updates. As a result, rental apartments here are top-of-the-line while retaining their historic charm. Besides, wouldn't you want to count Korner's Folly and the historic Harmon House as neighbors?
Downtown: Main Street in Kernersville is about as picturesque as you would expect in a small Southern town. Sidewalks, flowering trees, old-fashioned light posts -- they're all here. So are charming ice cream shops, actual record stores and hole-in-the-wall cafes. You can find rental properties here, mostly smaller one-bedroom apartments, although larger units aren't out of the question.
Guthrie: The far west side of town is ideal if you need to drive into Winston-Salem on a regular basis since it's located along Business 40. You can happily rent an apartment at one of the larger apartment complexes located here.
Horneytown: Don't get too excited, this little stretch of land in the southernmost part of town is decidedly less scandalous than its name would suggest. But how fun would it be to shock people when they ask where you live?
Living in Kernersville
Spend time in Century Park fishing, jogging or just enjoying the sunshine. The town recently completed a rebuilding project at the park, so the lake is now fully stocked with fish and has brand-spankin' new picnic tables. The Fourth of July Park hosts the annual Honeybee Festival every fall, but it's also a great place for recreation during the other three seasons.
Tour the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in the historical district, and while you're there, stop by and walk through Korner's Folly (you'll need to stoop in some rooms!). The house also presents plays and even has the distinction of being the first private Little Theatre in the U.S.
Drive into Winston-Salem to the west or Greensboro to the east for even more shopping, dining and recreation. And if you ever get tired of all the excitement of being in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, hop onto a plane at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in nearby Greensboro.
