Being a newcomer to Alamance County, and to North Carolina in general, I thought I would make it my mission to learn as much as possible about the area I'm calling home nowadays.

So this past Sunday morning I set out to do some exploring.  And the treasures I found ... well, let's just say that they are a very pleasant surprise.

From my front door I have to go 1.1 miles to the first actual road that will take you somewhere besides in a circle.  Once I got to that road I took a right turn and just drove.  Little did I realize that within 3.5 miles I would encounter an interesting little place called Saxapahaw.

This quaint little village is just chock full of history.  Who would have thought that a place on the map that consumes only 5.5 square miles and has a population of 1,418 people (2000 census) could have such stories to tell.

Saxapahaw was established by the Sissipahaw indians in the late 1600s/early 1700s, and was thought to be the most fertile land in the region.  The Haw River is thought to have gotten its' name from the Sissipahaws, and is the chief head stream of the Cape Fear river.  For more info on the Haw River, visit Haw River Assembly.

One of the things that will strike you about this sleepy little village is the old cotton mill that has been lovingly restored and renovated to be made into some beautiful apartments and townhomes.  The Rivermill Apartments are really quite pretty, albeit unique. 

The mill was originally built in 1844 as a wooden structure.  Eventually it was demolished and rebuilt as a brick structure.  In 1994 the mill was partially destroyed by a tornado and Dixie Yarns, the owner/operator of the mill at the time, decided not to reopen in that area. 

When Dixie Yarns decided to close the mill in Saxapahaw the Jordan family(who had owned it since the 1930s) bought it back and has spent the last decade giving the mill a facelift to the tune of $10 million.  B. Everett Jordan (Senator from North Carolina) bought the mill in the late 1930s and the family sold it to Dixie Yarns in 1978.

In the newly renovated mill there is now a pottery center, a wellness center, the New Century Charter School and the Haw River Canoe & Kayak Company.  There is also a small market with a small grill area and an Alamance County Sheriff's Office substation.

Another wonderful aspect of this village is the Farmer's Market and Outdoor Concert series that takes place every Saturday from May through September.  The market opens at 5:00 PM and the concerts begin at 6:00 PM.  What better way to spend a sultry summer evening!  I can't wait!