A14 Nc 42 Highway Holly Springs, NC 27540

Shaded by centuries-old holly trees and filled with a small-town spirit, Holly Springs is a rapidly growing town located southwest of Raleigh. This community is a regular recipient of awards and accolades for its charming qualities and family-oriented feel.

Real Estate

Due to the town’s rapid population growth, there are numerous new construction homes for sale in Holly Springs. Additionally, Holly Springs has maintained its heritage and charm with a variety of restored properties and historic homes. The pristine neighborhoods in Holly Springs are shaded by lush holly trees and mature landscaping. In March 2014, financial advice website NerdWallet.com named the best place in North Carolina for homeownership.

Lifestyle and Attractions

Holly Springs is a rapidly growing family-oriented town in the central part of North Carolina within the Triangle region. It is situated about 17 miles from Raleigh, putting a variety of employment opportunities, dining destinations, shops, restaurants and other big city conveniences within reach. Holly Springs was once titled the “Fastest Growing Town in the Carolinas”, as it has grown more than 4,000 percent since 1980, and now has a population around 30,000. The town has managed to maintain its desirable small-town feel, and a focus on families despite this rapid growth. In fact, it was voted the “Best Place to Raise Kids in North Carolina”, prompting the mayor to say “If it’s good for the kids, it’s good for Holly Springs”.

Holly Springs has two large golf communities, Sunset Ridge and 12 Oaks, which provide a desirable country club lifestyle for its residents. Bass Lake Park hosts a walking trail, nature center, picnic shelter, and boat rentals for the 54-acre Bass Lake, a popular fishing hole in town. The Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Department maintains several parks of all shapes and sizes in town, providing a variety of places for recreation and relaxation. The popular Holly Springs Cultural Center is a $5 million complex hosting a performing arts center, outdoor stage, conference center and library. The community hosts a few annual events and festivals, including HollyFest, the Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade and more.

Nearby Schools and Higher Education

Holly Springs is part of the Wake County Public School System, the largest public school district in the state and the 16th-largest in the country. In Holly Springs, there are three public elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Additionally, there are 79 private schools located in Wake County, although none are located directly in Holly Springs. Due to the town’s location within the Triangle, there are a number of higher learning opportunities within reach, including Duke University in Durham, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

History

Holly Springs has a rich and long history, much like many small Southern towns. The Tuscarora Indians used the area around Holly Springs as a hunting ground prior to Colonial settlement, and the tribe fled North Carolina around the year 1720 to escape the influx of Europeans. The town of Holly Springs grew around fresh water springs, which are believed to be the original “holly springs”. By 1800, the crossroads evolved into a village, which included a general store, church and Masonic Lodge, and eventually a sawmill and cotton gin. The community was poised to be a bustling town, but the Civil War left it economically devastated and many families moved away. This exodus was encouraged by the introduction of the Chatham Railroad running through the nearby village of Apex, which was now more attractive, as it was more connected to the outside world.

In 1875, George Benton Alford relocated his successful mercantile business from Middle Creek Township to Holly Springs, which was instrumental in the economic revival of the community. After both World Wars, Holly Springs suffered economically once again, but the population stabilized by the early 1960s.

In 1985, Holly Springs installed streetlights and constructed a public water system. A sewer plant was completed in 1985, which attracted textile giant Warp Technologies to Holly Springs. With this addition, the town saw substantial economic growth, as the tax base doubled from $8 to $16 million. The town used this boost in revenue to expand utilities, in turn attracting further development and economic prosperity, which continues to this day.

Approximate Distance to:

Raleigh: 17 Miles

Raleigh-Durham International Airport: 21.5 Miles

Hospitals:

• Rex Hospital: 17 Miles

• WakeMed Raleigh Hospital: 21 Miles

• Duke Raleigh Hospital: 21 Miles

Major Highway:

• US-1: 4.5 Miles