Winston-Salem (pop. 249,545; met. area pop. 675,966), is a world tobacco center. It produces tobacco products and serves as a leaf-tobacco market. The city is in northwestern North Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains. The metropolitan area consists of Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, and Yadkin counties.
Winston-Salem also produces electronic equipment, fabrics, furniture, hosiery, and men’s and boys’ knitwear. The city is the home of Salem College, Wake Forest University, and Winston-Salem State University.
A group of Moravians founded Salem in 1766. Winston was founded in 1849 and consolidated with Salem in 1913. Winston-Salem is the seat of Forsyth County. It has a council-manager form of government.
