Holly Springs, North Carolina, is a vibrant town with a population of approximately 20,000. Although known as "the fastest growing town in North Carolina," the community provides a wonderful combination of "southern charm" combined with easy access to urban resources, both within the town and in nearby Raleigh-Durham (a short 15 miles away). Quite literally, the town's residents enjoy the best of both worlds, something clearly demonstrated by their extensive civic pride. Unsurprisingly, the town was ranked one of the best places to live in America, ranking #22 in Money Magazine's 2007 list of 100 Great American Towns.

Economically and demographically, the town continues to prosper. A range of new developments are ongoing within the town, including one of the most notable developments in the entire state: pharmaceutical firm Novartis' first cell culture-derived influenza vaccines manufacturing plant in the United States. This $600M facility equates to hundreds of stable jobs for the town's residents, and serves to illustrate corporate confidence in the community's continued growth. Holly Springs also happens to be an excellent place to reside for those looking for a "bedroom community" -- the town is a short 18 mile commute from Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the United States.

In terms of "the numbers," the median household income is a respectable $81,115, with average home prices affordable at $242,785. The town also happens to be one of the most educated in the country -- nearly 80% of the adult population has some level of college education, with more than half having attained a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Predictably, as a smart, prosperous and affordable community, Holly Springs has much to offer for recreation and entertainment, as well. The true "heart" of the town is located on Main Street, centered by the beautiful brick-construction town hall, itself adjacent to an open plaza that is perfect for gatherings and events. The town boats a Farmers Market every weekend from May through October, as well as a range of family-focused events throughout the year, including Easter Egg hunts. And, given the town's growth, all signs are pointing towards a hospital being constructed in the town in the very near future.

Beautiful parks provide still further possibilities for convenient indoor and outdoor recreation. The centerpiece of the town's park system is the town-owned Bass Lake Park and Retreat Center, offering amenities including environmental education programs, fishing, boating, kids camps, and even Friday night bingo. Bass Lake Park is also home to a Garden Club and Photography Club, providing a beautiful venue for a range of hobbyists. The town also offers a complete range of other recreation facilities, including Veterans Park, a Cultural Center, a Community Center and Gym, and Jones Park (a 24 acre facility with a playground and athletics facilities). In addition, the town's Parrish Womble Park boasts lighted baseball/softball fields, a multi-purpose field, soccer fields, horseshoes pits, a volleyball court and a multi-purpose playground.

Shopping is also convenient in Holly Springs; a key shopping location for the town is a recently-constructed shopping center, anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter. But, even with this "big city" type of service, the town's insistence on retaining it's civic culture is readily apparent: in cooperation with local leaders, Wal-Mart strove to ensure their development would complement, not contrast with, the surrounding shopping district. The result is all the benefits of a "big-box" store combined with architectural beauty: its front facade uses a combination of brick, stone and stucco finishes, combined with colors with metal accents, causing the store to resemble a row of village storefronts. Holly Springs also features a variety of smaller businesses, including a vibrant range of restaurants, and other amenities; for example, over a thousand eating establishments exist within 15 miles of the town, assuring that a culinary experience to suit virtually any craving is only minutes away.

Holly Springs also exists in an area rich with culture and history. As a town practically just a stone's throw from the state Capitol (both Raleigh and Holly Springs are part of Wake County), the entire area is imbued with history spanning back for millennia and figuring in many historical events. To site just one example, the area around the town was a traditional hunting ground for the Tuscarora peoples who lived in the area prior to European contact.

The town also offers a full range of educational opportunities. The local school system is superb, with public school services provided by the Wake County Public School System. This includes three elementary schools, a middle school, two public high schools (one of which was very recently built), as well as a publicly-funded Charter High School. Educational standards at each school are very high, with school children having standardized testing results routinely being above both the state and district averages. Of course, the close proximity to Raleigh-Durham also ensures excellent access to higher education, including Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

In sum, as a rapidly-growing town with a range of business, employment, educational, and recreational opportunities, Holly Springs is a stellar place to live, work, and play, for young and old (and in between) alike -- indeed, it is a place that offers all the amenities of modernity while never sacrificing that all-important, small-town feel and a heaping dose of "southern charm."

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