:Piedmont Triad

{{short description|Region in North Carolina}}

{{About|the north-central Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point region of North Carolina|the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill region of North Carolina|Research Triangle}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Piedmont Triad

| nickname = The Triad, PT, The 336

| image_skyline = {{Photomontage

| photo1a = Greensboro Skyline.jpg

| photo2a = Winston-Salem skyline.jpg

| photo3a = HighPoint,NC.jpg

| size = 200

| border = 0

| color =

}}

| image_caption = Images from top to bottom
Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|zoom=8|frame-coord={{coord|36.0500|-80.0500}}

| type1=shape|id1=Q502257|title1=Guilford County|stroke-color1=#00FF40|stroke-width1=0.5|fill1=#00FF40|fill-opacity1=0.4

| type2=shape|id2=Q507943|title2=Randolph County|stroke-color2=#00FF40|stroke-width2=0.5|fill2=#00FF40|fill-opacity2=0.4

| type3=shape|id3=Q505422|title3=Rockingham County|stroke-color3=#00FF40|stroke-width3=0.5|fill3=#00FF40|fill-opacity3=0.4

| type4=shape|id4=Q511713|title4=Davidson County|stroke-color4=#00BCE4|stroke-width4=0.5|fill4=#00BCE4|fill-opacity4=0.4

| type5=shape|id5=Q509786|title5=Davie County|stroke-color5=#00BCE4|stroke-width5=0.5|fill5=#00BCE4|fill-opacity5=0.4

| type6=shape|id6=Q509926|title6=Forsyth County|stroke-color6=#00BCE4|stroke-width6=0.5|fill6=#00BCE4|fill-opacity6=0.4

| type7=shape|id7=Q506682|title7=Stokes County|stroke-color7=#00BCE4|stroke-width7=0.5|fill7=#00BCE4|fill-opacity7=0.4

| type8=shape|id8=Q497284|title8=Yadkin County|stroke-color8=#00BCE4|stroke-width8=0.5|fill8=#00BCE4|fill-opacity8=0.4

| type9=shape|id9=Q504397|title9=Alamance County|stroke-color9=#FF9200|stroke-width9=0.5|fill9=#FF9200|fill-opacity9=0.4

| type10=shape|id10=Q507881|title10=Surry County|stroke-color10=#FBBF00|stroke-width10=0.5|fill10=#FFFF00|fill-opacity10=0.4

| type11=shape|id11=Q49238|title11=City of Greensboro|stroke-color11=#007272|stroke-width11=0.5|fill11=#007272|fill-opacity11=0.4

| type12=shape|id12=Q49227|title12=City of Winston-Salem|stroke-color12=#6740AA|stroke-width12=0.5|fill12=#6740AA|fill-opacity12=0.4

| type13=shape|id13=Q631194|title13=City of High Point|stroke-color13=#FF00FF|stroke-width13=0.5|fill13=#FF00FF|fill-opacity13=0.4

| type14=shape|id14=Q1016633|title14=City of Burlington|stroke-color14=#964B00|stroke-width14=0.5|fill14=#964B00|fill-opacity14=0.4

}}

| map_alt = Map of The Piedmont Triad

| map_caption = Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, NC CSA

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

{{leftlegend|#00FF40|Greensboro–High Point MSA}}

{{leftlegend|#00BCE4|Winston-Salem MSA}}

{{leftlegend|#FF9200|Burlington MSA}}

{{leftlegend|#FFFF00|Mount Airy µSA}}

{{leftlegend|#007272|City of Greensboro}}

{{leftlegend|#6740AA|City of Winston-Salem}}

{{leftlegend|#FF00FF|City of High Point}}

{{leftlegend|#964B00|City of Burlington}}

{{Col-end}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = File:Flag of United States.svg United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = File:Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina

| subdivision_type2 = Largest city

| subdivision_name2 = Greensboro

| subdivision_type3 = Counties

| subdivision_name3 = Alamance
Caswell
Davidson
Davie
Forsyth
Guilford
Montgomery
Randolph
Rockingham
Stokes
Surry
Yadkin

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 1705315

| demographics_type2 = GDP

| demographics2_footnotes = {{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Greensboro-High Point, NC (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP24660|work=Federal Reserve Economic Data |publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}{{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Winston-Salem, NC (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP49180|work=Federal Reserve Economic Data |publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}

|demographics2_title1 = MSA

|demographics2_info1 = $89.968 billion (2022)

| timezone1 = EST

| utc_offset1 = -5

| timezone1_DST = EDT

| utc_offset1_DST = -4

| area_land_sq_mi = 5954

| area_codes = 336, 443

}}

The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the United States and forms the basis of the Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, NC Combined Statistical Area (CSA). As of 2012, the Piedmont Triad has an estimated population of 1,611,243 making it the 33rd largest combined statistical area in the United States.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/index.html |title=Population Estimates 2012 Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2013-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317045641/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/index.html |archive-date=March 17, 2013 }}

The metropolitan area is connected by Interstates 40, 85, 73, and 74 and is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport. Long known as one of the primary manufacturing and transportation hubs of the southeastern United States, the Triad is also an important educational, healthcare, and cultural region and occupies a prominent place in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/the-greensboro-sit-in|title=Greensboro Sit-In|website=HISTORY|language=en|access-date=2020-04-10}}

The Piedmont Triad is sometimes confused with the Research Triangle, an adjacent urbanized region of North Carolina that includes the cities of Raleigh, Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, among others. Both of them are part of the Piedmont Crescent, a heavily urbanized region of the state that includes the city of Charlotte.

Counties

As part of a redefining of metropolitan areas by the US Census Bureau, the old Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point Metropolitan Statistical Area was broken up in 2003 into five separate areas—three Metropolitan Statistical Areas and two Micropolitan Areas. In some ways, however, the region still functions as a single metropolitan area.{{cite web |last1=Catanoso |first1=Justin |title=Commute patterns 'rescue' Triad MSA |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2002/09/30/tidbits.html |website=Triad Business Journal |publisher=The Business Journals |access-date=23 November 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! County

! 2021 Estimate

! 2020 Census

! Change

Guilford County{{Cite web|url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/guilford-county-1771/|title=Guilford County (1771)|publisher=North Carolina History Project|access-date=June 3, 2020}}

| {{change|invert=on|542410|541299|date=July 1, 2021}}

Forsyth County{{Cite web|url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/forsyth-county-1849/|title=Forsyth County (1849)|publisher=North Carolina History Project|access-date=June 3, 2020}}

| {{change|invert=on|385523|382590|date=July 1, 2021}}

Alamance County

| {{change|invert=on|173877|171415|date=July 1, 2021}}

Davidson County

| {{change|invert=on|170637|168930|date=July 1, 2021}}

Randolph County

| {{change|invert=on|145172|144171|date=July 1, 2021}}

Rockingham County{{Cite web|url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/rockingham-county-1785/|title=Rockingham County (1785)|publisher=North Carolina History Project|access-date=June 3, 2020}}

| {{change|invert=on|91266|91096|date=July 1, 2021}}

Surry County

| {{change|invert=on|71152|71359|date=July 1, 2021}}

Stokes County

| {{change|invert=on|44553|44520|date=July 1, 2021}}

Davie County

| {{change|invert=on|43533|42712|date=July 1, 2021}}

Yadkin County

| {{change|invert=on|37192|37214|date=July 1, 2021}}

class=sortbottom

| align=right | Total

| {{change|invert=on|1705315|1699123|bold=on|date=July 1, 2021}}

Municipalities

[[File:Piedmonttriadarea whitebackground.png|thumb|right|300px|Definitions of the Piedmont Triad:

{{legend|#FF0000|Census statistical area}}

{{legend|#FF7C24|Additional included area according to Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments and Piedmont Triad Partnership}}

]]

:The name in italics is the county in which the city is located.

= Primary cities =

  • Greensboro Guilford – 299,035{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/|title=Greensboro, NC Homepage|website=Greensboro-nc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Winston-Salem Forsyth – 249,545{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofws.org/|title=City of Winston-Salem, NC Official Website|website=cityofws.org|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • High Point Guilford, Forsyth, Davidson & Randolph – 114,059{{cite web|url=https://www.highpointnc.gov/|title=High Point, NC Official Website|website=highpointnc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}

= Secondary cities over 10,000 in population =

  • Burlington Alamance & Guilford 55,481{{cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonnc.gov/|title=Burlington, NC Webpage|website=Burlingtonnc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Thomasville Davidson 27,183{{cite web|url=https://www.thomasville-nc.gov/|title=Thomasville, NC Homepage|website=Thomasville-nc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Asheboro Randolph 27,156{{cite web|url=https://www.asheboronc.gov/|title=Asheboro, NC webpage|website=Asheboronc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Kernersville Forsyth & Guilford 26,449{{cite web|url=https://toknc.com/|title=Town of Kernersville – The Heart of the Triad|website=tokc.com|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Clemmons Forsyth 21,163{{cite web|url=https://www.clemmons.org/|title=Clemmons, NC Official Website|website=clemmons.org|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Lexington Davidson – 19,632{{cite web|url=https://www.lexingtonnc.gov/|title=Lexington, NC Homepage|website=Lexingtonnc.gov|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Eden Rockingham 15,527{{cite web|url=https://www.edennc.us/|title=City of Eden, NC Homepage|website=edennc.us|access-date=May 23, 2023}}
  • Reidsville Rockingham 14,520{{cite web|url=https://www.reidsvillenc.gov/|title=City of Reidsville, NC Homepage|website=reidsvillenc.gov|access-date=September 16, 2023}}
  • Graham Alamance 14,153{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofgraham.com/|title=City of Graham, NC Official website|website=cityofgraham.com|access-date=September 16, 2023}}
  • Lewisville Forsyth 12,639{{cite web|url=https://lewisvillenc.net/|title=Town of Lewisville, NC|website=lewisvillenc.net|access-date=September 16, 2023}}
  • Archdale Randolph & Guilford 11,415{{cite web|url=https://www.archdale-nc.gov/|title=Archdale, NC Homepage|website=archdale-nc.gov|access-date=September 16, 2023}}
  • Mebane Alamance & Orange 11,393{{cite web|url=https://cityofmebanenc.gov/|title=City of Mebane, NC|website=cityofmebanenc.gov|access-date=September 16, 2023}}
  • Mount Airy Surry 10,388
  • Summerfield Guilford 10,232

= Other municipalities under 10,000 in population =

{{colbegin|colwidth=25em}}

{{colend}}

† Indicates municipalities in Montgomery and Caswell (counties usually locally included as part of Piedmont Triad)

Education

= K–12 education =

The area is served by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Rockingham County Schools, Alamance-Burlington School System, Caswell County Schools, Davidson County Schools, Randolph County School System, Stokes County Schools, Surry County Schools, Yadkin County Schools, and Guilford County Schools. The area is home to a number of religious schools, as well as a number of independent schools including Wesleyan Christian Academy,{{cite web|url=https://www.wcatrojans.org/|title=Wesleyan Christian Academy Homepage|website=wcatrojans.org|access-date=May 22, 2023}} Westchester Country Day School, High Point Friends School, and High Point Christian Academy{{cite web|url=https://www.hpcacougars.org/|title=High Point Christian Academy Homepage|website=hpcacougars.org|access-date=May 22, 2023}} in High Point, Summit School{{cite web|url=https://www.summitschool.com/|title=Summit School Homepage|website=summitschool.com|access-date=May 22, 2023}} in Winston-Salem, Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School and Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, Greensboro Day School, New Garden Friends School, Caldwell Academy, Vandalia Christian School, B'nai Shalom Day School, and Greensboro Montessori School in Greensboro.{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboroday.org/|title=Homepage – Greensboro Day School|website=Greensboroday.org|access-date=May 22, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gms.org/|title=Greensboro Montessori School website|website=gms.org|access-date=May 22, 2023}}

= Educational institutions =

More than 20 institutions of higher education are located within the Triad, including:

File:Deese Clock Tower.jpg at North Carolina A&T State University ]]

File:Cottrell Hall at High Point University.jpg ]]

File:WakeWaitChapel.jpg ]]

  • Alamance Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.alamancecc.edu/|title=Alamance Community College Homepage|website=alamancecc.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Bennett College{{cite web|url=https://www.bennett.edu/|title=Bennett College Homepage|website=bennett.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Bridges Christian College
  • Carolina University{{cite web|url=https://carolinau.edu/|title=Welcome to Carolina University|website=Carolinau.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Davidson-Davie Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.davidsondavie.edu/|title=Davison-Davie Community College Homepage|website=davidsondavie.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Elon University{{cite web|url=https://www.elon.edu/|title=Elon University Homepage|website=elon.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Forsyth Technical Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.forsythtech.edu/|title=Forsyth Tech Community College Homepage|website=forsythtech.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Greensboro College{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.edu/|title=Greensboro College Homepage|website=greensboro.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Guilford College{{cite web|url=https://www.guilford.edu/|title=Welcome to Guilford College|website=guilford.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}
  • Guilford Technical Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.gtcc.edu/|title=GTCC: Homepage|website=gtcc.edu|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
  • High Point University{{cite web|url=https://www.highpoint.edu/|title=High Point University: The Premier Life Skills University|website=highpoint.edu|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncat.edu/|title=North Carolina A&T State University|website=ncat.edu|access-date=June 3, 2020}}
  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts{{cite web|url=https://www.uncsa.edu/about/index.aspx|title=About UNCSA|website=uncsa.edu|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
  • Randolph Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.randolph.edu/|title=Welcome to Randolph Community College|website=Randolph.edu|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
  • Rockingham Community College{{cite web|url=https://www.rockinghamcc.edu/|title=Rockingham Community College Homepage|website=Rockinghamcc.edu|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
  • Salem College
  • Surry Community College
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro{{Cite web|url=http://www.uncg.edu/|title=UNC Greensboro|website=uncg.edu|access-date=June 3, 2020}}
  • Wake Forest University{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfu.edu/|title=Wake Forest University|website=wfu.edu|access-date=June 3, 2020}}
  • Winston-Salem State University{{Cite web|url=https://www.wssu.edu/|title=Winston-Salem State University|website=wssu.edu|access-date=July 19, 2022}}

Three prominent boarding schools also call the Triad home: Salem Academy, Oak Ridge Military Academy, and the American Hebrew Academy.

= Museums =

Major art and historical museums contribute to the cultural climate of the region, including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), The Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Old Salem, High Point Historical Museum, Mendenhall Plantation, the Weatherspoon Museum of Modern Art (located on the campus of UNCG), Blandwood Mansion and Gardens, the Greensboro Historical Museum, Guilford Battleground National Military Park, and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown State Museum. The area also has its fair share of scientific museums, such as SciWorks, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, the Wake Forest Museum of Anthropology, and the Greensboro Science Center. The North Carolina Zoo, the world's largest open-air natural habitat zoo, is located just outside the Randolph County city of Asheboro.

Economy

The economy in the Piedmont Triad is a mixed economy.{{Cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-and-triad-mirror-nations-mixed-economy-with-a-positive-outlook/article_5f0e9eba-6338-11ec-b8a9-b34965f037ca.html|title=Greensboro and Triad mirror nation's mixed economy, with a positive outlook|last=Barron|first=Richard|date=December 30, 2021|website=Greensboro News & Record|access-date=July 19, 2022}}

= Industry and manufacturing =

The Triad area is notable for large textile, tobacco, and furniture corporations. The Triad remains a national center for textile manufacturing, represented by corporations including Hanes based in Winston-Salem, Glen Raven, Inc. based in Glen Raven, and International Textile Group, based in Greensboro. Tobacco remains a prominent crop in the Triad's rural areas and many tobacco companies like Lorillard Tobacco Company of Greensboro and Reynolds American, based in Winston-Salem, call the Piedmont Triad home. Numerous furniture manufacturers are also headquartered in the Triad area, especially in the cities of High Point (deemed the "Furniture Capital of the World"), Thomasville (known as the "Chair City"), and Lexington. The furniture and textile industries have in turn spawned large trucking, logistics, and warehousing businesses in the area. Popular brands like "Thomasville" and "Lexington" are derived from the names of these cities. Recently, however, many furniture and tobacco factories have been closing and/or laying off workers across the region in response to escalating industrial globalization.

= Technology and biotechnology =

After many of the old industries in the area began to die out, many Piedmont Triad cities began encouraging technological businesses to move into the Triad. Winston-Salem, for instance, founded within its downtown the Piedmont Triad Research Park, now known as Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, a highly interactive, 200-acre, master-planned innovation community developed to support life science and information technology research and development. Dell, Inc., in the early 2000s struck a deal with local officials allowing for the construction of a new computer assembly plant near the Triad city of Kernersville. Dell pulled out of its contract with the city, however, and left after only a few years. Additionally, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the largest institution of higher learning in the region, and North Carolina A&T State University have joined forces to establish the Gateway University Research Park, a technology-based entity that will focus its efforts on a host of biological, life, and environmental science research projects. Upon full build out of the project, it is expected to be housed by two {{convert|75|acre|m2|adj=on}} campuses, employ approximately 2,000 people, and generate $50 million per year to the Triad economy. LabCorp, one of the largest clinical laboratories in the world, has its corporate headquarters and several of its testing facilities in Burlington.

=Other companies with a significant presence in the region=

  • Biscuitville{{cite web|url= https://biscuitville.com/our-story/|title=The Biscuitville Story: Home of the Biscuit Window since 1966|website=Biscuitville.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
  • Cook Out{{cite web|url=https://cookout.com/company/|title=The History of Cook Out|website=Cookout.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
  • Columbia Forest Products
  • FedEx{{cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/news/local/fedex-honda-now-boom-pti-is-quietly-becoming-a-true-cluster-of-aerospace/article_1a431158-8822-11ec-b78d-db9fe146b425.html|title=FedEx, Honda, Now Boom; PTI is quietly becoming a true cluster of aerospace|last=Stradling|first=Richard|date=February 7, 2022|website=Greensboro News & Record|access-date=December 17, 2023}}
  • HanesBrands
  • Honda Aircraft Company
  • Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
  • Kontoor Brands
  • K&W Cafeterias{{cite web|url=https://www.kwcafeterias.com/locations|title=K&W Locations|website=kwcafeterias.com|access-date=December 17, 2023}}
  • Lowes Foods{{cite web|url=https://www.lowesfoods.com/about-us/company-history|title=Company History|publisher=Lowes Foods|access-date=December 17, 2023}}
  • The Fresh Market{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreshmarket.com/contact-us|title=Contact Us|website=The Fresh Market|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
  • Texas Pete
  • Toyota Motor North America{{cite web|url=https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-selects-north-carolina-greensboro-randolph-site-for-new-u-s-automotive-battery-plant/|title=Toyota Selects North Carolina Greensboro-Randolph Site for New U.S. Automotive Battery Plant|date=December 6, 2021|website=Toyota|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
  • Volvo Trucks of North America{{cite web|url=https://www.volvogroup.com/en/about-us/organization/our-global-presence/volvo-group-north-america.html|title=Volvo Group North America|website=Volvogroup.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/greensboro/volvo-north-america-reportedly-to-announce-expansion-in-greensboro/|title=Volvo bringing worldwide financial HQ to expanded facility in Greensboro|last=Doyle|first=Steve|date=February 21, 2022|website=MyFox8.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
  • Wrangler

= Shopping =

The following are the most prominent regional shopping centers/malls in the Piedmont Triad region:

  • Four Seasons Town Centre, Greensboro{{Cite web|url=https://www.shopfourseasons.com/en.html|title=Four Seasons Town Centre: Shopping Mall in Greensboro, NC|website=shopfourseasons.com|access-date=July 19, 2022}}
  • Friendly Center, Greensboro{{Cite web|url=https://www.friendlycenter.com/|title=Friendly Center – Greensboro|website=friendlycenter.com|access-date=July 19, 2022}}
  • Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem{{Cite web|url=https://www.shophanesmall.com/|title=Hanes Mall|website=shophanesmall.com|access-date=July 19, 2022}}
  • Alamance Crossing, Burlington
  • Burlington Outlet Village, Burlington
  • Holly Hill Mall, Burlington
  • Tanger Outlets, Mebane
  • Marketplace Mall, Winston-Salem
  • Randolph Mall, Asheboro{{Cite web|url=https://www.shopasheboromall.com/|title=Asheboro Mall|website=shopasheboromall.com|access-date=July 19, 2022}}

Transportation

= Primary highways =

{{further|North Carolina Highway System}}

The Triad is home to an extensive freeway network, which is in the process of undergoing a major expansion. Four major Interstate highways and numerous secondary Interstate routes and US routes serve the region:

;Interstate highways

  • 20px I-40, the primary east–west route across the region. In the eastern Triad, it is conjoined with I-85. The two routes split in Greensboro.
  • 25px I-840 (Painter Boulevard), part of the Greensboro Urban Loop, currently under construction. When complete, I-840 will form the northern half of the loop.
  • 20px I-73, the primary north–south route across the region, much of which has yet to be constructed. The route mostly carries portions of US 220 along it, with the exception of the portion along Bryan Boulevard, and another segment that shares the southwestern portion of the Greensboro Outer Loop, and was briefly designated as I-40 before its opening in February, 2008. This portion was originally designated as I-40, with the current and original I-40 being re-designated as Business 40.
  • 20px I-74, running across the region from southeast to northwest. Like I-73, much of the route has yet to be constructed, but several disjointed segments are currently open and signed as either I-74 or "FUTURE I-74". The route enters the region from the south conjoined with I-73, and diverges from there north of Asheboro toward High Point. The southern segment presently terminates at an intersection with I-40 east of Winston-Salem; new freeway is being built that will form the eastern segment of the Winston-Salem Beltway. The northern segment leaves US 52 in Mount Airy, heading northwest out of the region.
  • 25px I-274, currently only in the planning stages, is the proposed designation for the western half of the Winston-Salem Beltway.
  • 20px I-85, connects the region to Charlotte and points southwest. Enters from the east conjoined with I-40, and splits from that route in Greensboro.
  • 20px I-85 Business (Green-85), a business route between Lexington and Greensboro, consists of a former temporary alignment of I-85 that is a partial-controlled access highway. A former northern segment, which received its designation when a new I-85 was opened as part of the Greensboro Urban Loop, is entirely freeway.
  • 25px I-285, connecting Winston-Salem to Lexington, is currently part of the US 52 freeway being upgraded to Interstate standards.
  • 25px I-785, connecting Greensboro to Danville, Virginia, the route is under development. It is currently part of US 29, much of which is not Interstate standard.

;US highways

  • 20px US 29 runs roughly northeast to southwest across the region. Most of the route is either concurrent with, or parallel to Interstate highways, including I-785 (when completed) and I-85 (parallel).
  • 20px US 52 runs north–south through the region, serving as the main north–south freeway route through Winston-Salem. The entire freeway is planned for upgrade to Interstate standards. North of Winston-Salem most of the route is scheduled to become part of I-74 (until Exit 140 where existing I-74 starts and travels west along its own freeway, and US 52 continues north into town via expressway), while south of the city it is cosigned with I-285.
  • 20px US 64 is an east–west highway through the southern Triad, connecting Asheboro, Lexington, and Mocksville.
  • 20px US 70 is an east–west highway that closely parallels I-85 through the entire region.
  • 25px US 158 runs roughly northeast–southwest across the region, terminating in Mocksville at US 601 and US 64, just south of I-40.
  • 25px US 220 is currently the primary north–south route through Greensboro, and travels nearly symmetrically through the middle of the region; most of the route runs along I-73, except between Greensboro and Summerfield where it is named "Battleground Avenue" .
  • 25px US 311 is a nominally north–south route that runs northeast–southwest between Danville, VA and Winston-Salem. The former alignment south of Winston-Salem has been fully signed as I-74; work has begun on US 311 signage removal on this alignment.
  • 25px US 421 enters the region from the southeast, and joins I-85 in Greensboro. It then takes I-85 South to I-73 North to western Greensboro. The route is then co-signed with I-40 briefly. After leaving Greensboro, it continues westward through Winston-Salem, the rural area of Yakdinville, and continues into Wilkesboro.

;Other routes and highways

= Air =

== Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) ==

{{Main|Piedmont Triad International Airport}}

= Mass transportation =

Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) is the Triad's 10-county regional organization with the goal of enhancing all forms of transportation through regional cooperation. PART Express Bus provides express service to each major Triad city from Piedmont Triad International Airport, while Connections Express connects the Triad to Duke and UNC Medical Centers. PART also has Express Bus service to outlying counties that surround the Triad including Surry, Stokes, Davidson, Yadkin, and Randolph Counties and soon to be Davie County. PART is also administering and developing several rail service studies that include both commuter and intercity rail.{{cite web|url=https://www.partnc.org/239/About-Us|title=About Us – Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation|website=partnc.org|access-date=February 5, 2024}}

Government

The region is served by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC). The PTRC was formed by the merger of the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments and Piedmont Triad Council of Governments on July 1, 2011. The PTRC is a membership organization of the 12 counties and 62 municipalities in the Triad region.{{cite web|url=https://www.ptrc.org/about/who-we-are-and-what-we-do|title=Who We Are And What We Do – Piedmont Triad Regional Council|website=ptrc.org|access-date=February 5, 2024}}

Protected areas

The Piedmont Triad has several protected areas, which lay entirely or partly in the region:

Media

= Newspapers =

The following are prominent newspapers in the Piedmont Triad region and the counties each newspaper covers.

= Other =

  • The Old Gold & Black, a free daily student newspaper at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem

= Television stations =

All of the Piedmont Triad region belongs to the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television designated market area (DMA). The following are stations that broadcast to this DMA. These stations are listed by call letters, virtual channel number, network and city of license.

= Radio =

== FM stations ==

== AM stations ==

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Piedmont Triad}}

{{North Carolina}}

{{coord|35.9557|N|80.0053|W|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:US-NC|display=title}}

Category:Regions of North Carolina

==External links==

  • [https://www.ptrc.org/home/ Piedmont Triad Regional Council]
  • [https://www.piedmonttriadnc.com/ Piedmont Triad Partnership]
  • [https://www.gcsnc.com/ Guilford County Schools]