Early history

The city was named for Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the American forces at the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781.   Although the Americans were defeated , Greene’s forces brought upon such heavy casualties on the British Army of Lord Cornwallis that Cornwallis chose to pull his battered army out of North Carolina and into Virginia. This decision allowed a combined force of American and French troops to trap Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, where the British were forced to surrender on October 19, 1781, after a 20-day siege, thus ending the American Revolution. As such, Greene’s successful efforts at weakening the British Army played a important role in securing America’s win over the British.

Greensboro was established near the geographic center of Guilford County, on land that was “an unbroken forest with thick undergrowth of huckleberry bushes, that bore a finely flavored fruit.” Property for the future village was purchased for $98, and three north-south streets (Elm, Greene , Davie) were laid out intersecting with three east-west streets (Gaston, Market, Sycamore). The courthouse stood at the center of the intersection of Elm and Market streets. By 1821, the town was home to 369 residents.

In the early 1840s, Greensboro was selected by the state government at the request of then Governor Morehead (whose estate, Blandwood, is located in Greensboro) for inclusion on a new railroad line . The city grew exponentially in size and soon became known as the “Gate City” because of its role as a transportation hub for the state. The railroads transported goods to and from textile mills, which grew up with their own mill villages around the city. Many of these businesses remained in the city until the 21st century, when most of them went bankrupt, reorganized, and/or merged with other companies. Greensboro remains as a major textile headquarters city with the main offices of International Textile Group (Cone, Burlington Industries), Galey & Lord, Unifi, and VF Corporation (Lee, Wrangler , North Face, Nautica ). The importance of rail traffic continues for the city, as Greensboro serves as a major regional freight hub, and four Amtrak passenger trains stop in Greensboro daily on the main Norfolk Southern line between Washington and New Orleans by way of Atlanta.

Though the city developed slowly, early wealth generated from cotton trade and merchandising led to the construction of several notable buildings.In 1795 the earliest building, later named Blandwood Mansion and Gardens was built. Additions to this residence in 1846 designed by Alexander Jackson Davis of New York City made the house an influential landmark in the nation as America’s earliest Tuscan Villa. Other significant estates followed, including “Dunleith” designed by Samuel Sloan, Bellemeade, and the Bumpass-Troy House (now operating as an inn).

Free Relocation Packages for Greensboro, NC