North Carolina State Highway 8
Encyclopedia
NC 8 is a north/south state highway
in north-central North Carolina
; it travels mostly through the Piedmont Triad
. The route is approximately 100 miles (161 km) in length.
and travels northward in Stanley County where it becomes cosigned with NC 49. Traveling northeast (NC 8 signed north), the two routes cross the Yadkin River
between Badin Lake
and High Rock Lake
, entering Davidson County
.
. NC 8 continues north crossing Flat Swamp Creek, Abbotts Creek (part of High Rock Lake
), and NC 47 into the community of Southmont
. From there, the route continues due north into the city of Lexington
as Cotton Grove Road. After an interchange with I-85 in Lexington's southern commercial district, NC 8 turns right onto Talbert Boulevard into uptown Lexington. After turning left on Raleigh Road, the route's northbound and southbound routes split between 5th Street and 6th Street. Rejoining as Winston Road at an interchange with Business I-85/US 29/US 70/US 64, NC exits Lexington as Old U.S. Highway 52. Before entering Welcome
, NC 8 joins the US 52 freeway (exit 92) through Midway
and into Forsyth County.
. At the Germanton Road exit, NC 8 separates from US 52 and continues north to Germanton
just across the Stokes County line.
are cosigned. NC 8 splits to the north to join NC 89 into Danbury
. Splitting near Lawsonville
, NC 8 continues north crossing NC 704 before ending at North Carolina
/Virginia
line. At that point, Virginia's State Route 8 begins and travels north into Stuart, Virginia
.
. This makes it unique among the 1940 renumberings in that a concerted effort was made to actually connect the two highway "8"s rather than just dump the old NC route and completely reroute it.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in north-central North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
; it travels mostly through the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
. The route is approximately 100 miles (161 km) in length.
Stanly County
NC 8 begins at its southern terminus in New London, North CarolinaNew London, North Carolina
New London is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 326 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New London is located at ....
and travels northward in Stanley County where it becomes cosigned with NC 49. Traveling northeast (NC 8 signed north), the two routes cross the Yadkin River
Yadkin River
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee...
between Badin Lake
Badin Lake
Badin Lake is one of a series of lakes created by the damming of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River in the Uwharrie Lakes Region of the United States. It was created in 1917 by the Aluminum Company of America. It is contained by Narrows Dam at the town of Badin, North Carolina. Sitting within a valley, the...
and High Rock Lake
High Rock Lake
High Rock Lake is the northernmost of the Uwharrie Lakes and the second largest lake in North Carolina behind Lake Norman. Its water surface covers and there are of shoreline. It begins at the confluence of the Yadkin River and the South Yadkin River. The lake's name is derived from neighboring...
, entering Davidson County
Davidson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 267 people per square mile . There were 62,432 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile...
.
Davidson County
The routes NC 8 and NC 49 split outside of Denton, North CarolinaDenton, North Carolina
Denton is a town in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,450 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denton is located at .The highest elevation In Davidson county...
. NC 8 continues north crossing Flat Swamp Creek, Abbotts Creek (part of High Rock Lake
High Rock Lake
High Rock Lake is the northernmost of the Uwharrie Lakes and the second largest lake in North Carolina behind Lake Norman. Its water surface covers and there are of shoreline. It begins at the confluence of the Yadkin River and the South Yadkin River. The lake's name is derived from neighboring...
), and NC 47 into the community of Southmont
Southmont, North Carolina
Southmont is an unincorporated community in Davidson County, North Carolina. It is located along North Carolina State Highway 8 on the northern shores of High Rock Lake. There is an organized effort underway to Incorporate Southmont as The Village of Southmont....
. From there, the route continues due north into the city of Lexington
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
as Cotton Grove Road. After an interchange with I-85 in Lexington's southern commercial district, NC 8 turns right onto Talbert Boulevard into uptown Lexington. After turning left on Raleigh Road, the route's northbound and southbound routes split between 5th Street and 6th Street. Rejoining as Winston Road at an interchange with Business I-85/US 29/US 70/US 64, NC exits Lexington as Old U.S. Highway 52. Before entering Welcome
Welcome, North Carolina
Welcome is a census-designated place in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,538 at the 2000 census. It is nationally known as the home of NASCAR's Richard Childress. The town motto is "Welcome to Welcome, A Friendly Place," as posted on the welcoming sign...
, NC 8 joins the US 52 freeway (exit 92) through Midway
Midway, North Carolina
Midway is an incorporated town in Davidson County, North Carolina located within a township of the same name. The town is where rapper slash producer 9th wonder is from. Midway is situated approximately above sea level, and as of 2006, has a population of 4,399. Midway is part of the Piedmont...
and into Forsyth County.
Forsyth County
US 311 joins US 52 and NC 8 for a short segment in Winston-SalemWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. At the Germanton Road exit, NC 8 separates from US 52 and continues north to Germanton
Germanton, North Carolina
Germanton is a small community in Forsyth and Stokes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, primarily in Stokes County. It is located approximately ten miles south-southwest of the Stokes County seat of Danbury, on North Carolina State Highways 8 and 65 at an altitude of 662 feet...
just across the Stokes County line.
Stokes County
In Germanton for a one mile (1.6 km) segment, NC 8 and NC 65North Carolina Highway 65
North Carolina Highway 65 is an east-west highway in North Carolina north of Winston-Salem and Greensboro.N.C. 65's eastern terminus is Reidsville. Heading west, the highway passes through Stokesdale, Walnut Cove, Germanton, and to its western terminus just south of Rural Hall....
are cosigned. NC 8 splits to the north to join NC 89 into Danbury
Danbury, North Carolina
Danbury is a town located in Danbury Township, Stokes County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 108. It is the county seat of Stokes County....
. Splitting near Lawsonville
Lawsonville, North Carolina
Lawsonville is an unincorporated community in Stokes County, North Carolina, United States, approximately ten miles north-northwest of the county seat of Danbury, on North Carolina State Highway 8....
, NC 8 continues north crossing NC 704 before ending at North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
/Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
line. At that point, Virginia's State Route 8 begins and travels north into Stuart, Virginia
Stuart, Virginia
Stuart is a town in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 961 at the 2000 census. Due to recent boundary expansion, the town of Stuart has an estimated population of nearly 1,700 residents. The town of Stuart was named after Confederate Gen. J.E.B...
.
History
NC 8 was established in 1930 as a spur of NC 10, extending just south of Lexington. It was extended southward several times during the 1930s. In 1940, as part of a state-wide renumbering to match Virginia State Highways, it was extended northward along US 52 and replaced old NC 109North Carolina Highway 109
North Carolina Highway 109 is a north–south state highway in North Carolina. It primarily connects small towns in the central Piedmont region of the state. The route is a two-lane road for most of its length, but the segment between Winston-Salem and Thomasville is being upgraded to a...
. This makes it unique among the 1940 renumberings in that a concerted effort was made to actually connect the two highway "8"s rather than just dump the old NC route and completely reroute it.