A Moment of Change

HOW COUNTIES ARE FACING THE FUTURE

Few states are growing faster than North Carolina. That brings possibilities and pressures for leaders in six diverse counties.

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If growth is “a double-edge sword,” how can Hoke County shield longtime residents from rising costs?

The Challenge of Change in Six Counties

How can Alleghany County grow without damaging the natural beauty that draws new residents?

What brought Caldwell County back from the economic brink to become a high-tech hub?

As property values rise, how does Union County keep property tax rates at reasonable levels?

While national developers build massive new neighborhoods, how can Currituck County services keep up?

What do rising prices and record population growth mean for infrastructure in Brunswick County?

scenes from “A Moment of Change”

A woman with short, curly gray hair and a light-colored blazer sitting indoors, speaking or listening, with a blurred background.

Currituck County Manager Rebecca Gay

A red combine harvester working in a large wheat field, harvesting and chaff flying into the air, with green trees and hills in the background.

Union County farm during harvest

A woman with reddish-brown hair, wearing a plaid jacket and a green top, stands in front of flags on a wall, looking to the right with a serious expression.

Caldwell County Economic Development Director Ashley Bolick

A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a black jacket sitting on a chair in an indoor setting with large windows.

Hoke County Manager Letitia Edens

Aerial view of rolling green hills and farmland, with lush trees and a few buildings, under a partly cloudy sky.

Alleghany County

An older man with a white beard and blonde hair, wearing a black jacket and light blue shirt, sitting in front of a colorful quilted wall hanging depicting various buildings and landscapes.

Alleghany County Manager William Shepley

A tall lighthouse near the coast with houses and green vegetation around, overlooking marshlands and water bodies.

Bald Head Island in Brunswick County

A man in a black shirt and pink patterned tie sitting in a room with a small horizontal window in the background.

Hoke County Chair James Leach

Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with houses, sidewalks, and parked cars along the streets.

Union County neighborhood under construction

Aerial view of a small downtown area with brick buildings, parking lots, and trees, with a large forested area in the background.

City of Monroe in Union County

Close-up image of an older man with gray hair and beard, wearing a light blue suit and tie, sitting indoors.

Brunswick County Board Chair Mike Forte

A tall lighthouse with a dark exterior standing amid dense green trees near a coastline with houses in the background.

Currituck County