Centralina Regional Council is proud to welcome the Town of Rockwell, North Carolina, as our newest member of the organization! Rockwell is in the southeast corner of Rowan County, within an easy drive of High Rock Lake and Uwharrie National Forest, and is situated directly on U.S. Route 52. This unique community is scenic, historical and worth a visit.
In 1953, the Salisbury Post set out to uncover the origins of the community’s name and the exact date of its establishment. An intrepid reporter had set out to interview the elders of the community, who had seen the town in its earliest days in the late 1800s, inquiring about their experiences and recollections of the community’s name. It was discovered that the town’s name sprung from a rock well located next to a shady camping spot that was reported to have “a pleasant taste.” The pleasant nature clung to the name itself, so much so that when the opportunity to come up with a new name was presented, it was rejected: the Town of Rockwell held onto its identity and was proud to do so.
To learn more about the colorful history of Rockwell, the Rockwell Museum continues to “preserve and display the records, memorabilia and artifacts of Rockwell’s early years.” The Rockwell American Legion Building is active and serves as a vital source of community for the veterans of the area along with a Civic Center for everyone to utilize as needed.
For those wanting to stop in and get a taste of the local charm, Rockwell has several must-try restaurants. The two most popular ones are Darrell’s Bar-B-Q and the Rockwell Café. Darrell’s Bar-B-Q is a main staple of the cuisine, with reviewers noting the inexpensive prices, large quantities of food and strongly recommending that you order the flounder and hushpuppies. The Rockwell Café is renowned for its atmosphere, high-quality food and its wallet-friendly options. You cannot go wrong visiting either of the two.
Centralina Regional Council is ecstatic and thrilled to welcome Rockwell to our regional organization! We look forward to working with you and the amazing community you have built and continue to build upon.
Photo courtesy of Visit Rowan County.
