Winston quickly established itself as a major producer of textiles, furniture and tobacco products. In 1875, Richard Joshua Reynolds moved here from Virginia to start a tobacco factory, and the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was born. Winston-Salem, located in Forsyth County , is part of the Piedmont Triad, an area which also encompasses Greensboro to the east and High Point to the south. The city continues to accommodate increasing demands for municipal services while maintaining a strong financial condition. Winston-Salem joins only a handful of cities in the U.S. with a AAA rating.
Career opportunities are bright here.
Winston-Salem actively recruits business and industry through an aggressive economic development program. A community development plan called Common Vision is spearheaded by a very involved group of government and business leaders. Today Winston-Salem is home to an impressive array of major corporations, all of which lend to the city's reputation as a regional commercial leader. One of North Carolina's three largest banks, Wachovia is also ranked 20th in the nation. Its N.C. corporate headquarters, located in downtown Winston-Salem, towers more than 460 feet from the ground level, making it the Triad's tallest building.