Lee County
You'll find communities such as Broadway, Cumnock, Lemon Springs and Tramway in this county founded in 1907, but it is best known for Sanford, the county seat with a population of more than 27,000.
The town is known as a brick manufacturing center, while the county boasts additional manufacturers such as Pilgrim's Pride, a poultry processing plant; Wyeth, which produces pediatric vaccines; Tyson Foods and Caterpillar.
There is a wealth of leisure and cultural activities, including the Lee County Arts Council and the Lee County Community Orchestra. From April to October, the Sanford Farmers' market is held in that town's Depot Park.
Temple Theatre, a downtown performing-arts venue, is the cultural center of Sanford. The theater began in 1925 as a vaudeville house. Its name came from a nearby Masonic Temple. Since its reopening in 1984, Temple Theatre has been staging plays using a mix of amateur and professional talent.
The theater faced a serious budget shortfall this year but managed to raise $150,000 to stay open.
The Sanford Pottery Festival began in 2002 and draws thousands from around the Southeast in early May. Held at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, the festival displays as many as 35,000 pieces of pottery with prices averaging $10 to $50.
Additionally, you'll find some of the finer golf courses in the Sandhills in Lee County, including Carolina Trace, Carolina Lakes, Sanford Municipal and Quail Ridge.