Editing Rowan County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507966|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Rowan County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|524|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|523.95|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12.32|sqmi}} (2.36%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The county's eastern border is formed by the [[Yadkin River]]. North of Ellis Crossroads, the [[South Yadkin River]] meets the Yadkin. The South Yadkin forms the county's northern border with Davie County. The southern border is an east–west line that bisects the city of [[Kannapolis]].

===State and local protected areas/sites===
* [[Bell Tower Green]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2023 |title=Bell Tower Green - Cultivating Community - Salisbury, NC |url=https://belltowergreen.com/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Bell Tower Green – Salisbury, NC |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Eagle Point Nature Preserve]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagle Point Nature Preserve |url=https://www.rowancountync.gov/457/Eagle-Point-Nature-Preserve |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=www.rowancountync.gov}}</ref>
* [[Gold Hill Mines Historic Park]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold History is on display in this restored mining town |url=https://historicgoldhill.org/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=Historic Gold Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Lake Corriher Wilderness Park]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lake Corriher Wilderness Park |url=https://www.visitrowancountync.com/listing/lake-corriher-wilderness-park/490/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=www.visitrowancountync.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[North Carolina Transportation Museum]]
* [[Second Creek Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Yadkin River Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Cold Water Creek (Irish Buffalo Creek tributary)|Cold Water Creek]]
* [[Dutch Buffalo Creek]]
* [[High Rock Lake]]
* [[Irish Buffalo Creek]]
* [[Kannapolis Lake (North Carolina)|Kannapolis Lake]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fishing in Kannapolis Lake |url=https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/56_iSGMq/kannapolis-lake |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=Fishbrain |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Lake Corriher (North Carolina)|Lake Corriher]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Lake Fisher (North Carolina)|Lake Fisher]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Fisher |url=https://concordnc.gov/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Lake-Fisher |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=concordnc.gov}}</ref>
* [[Lake Wright (North Carolina)|Lake Wright]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Wright (in Rowan County, NC) |url=https://northcarolina.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,997662,n,lake%20wright.cfm |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=northcarolina.hometownlocator.com}}</ref>
* [[South Yadkin River]]
* [[Tuckertown Reservoir]]
* [[Yadkin River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus County]] – south
* [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson County]] – east
* [[Davie County, North Carolina|Davie County]] – north
* [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]] – west
* [[Stanly County, North Carolina|Stanly County]] – southeast

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I|85}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|29}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|52}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|601}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|8}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|49}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|150}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|152}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|153}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|801}}
{{div col end}}

[[Interstate 85]] passes through the county from southwest to northeast. In the early 2000s, I-85 was widened<ref>{{cite web|url= http://wwwapps.rowancountync.gov/es/I85/i-85.htm|title= Rowan Emergency Services|access-date= April 12, 2010|date= November 16, 2009|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721062432/http://wwwapps.rowancountync.gov/es/I85/i-85.htm|archive-date= July 21, 2011}}</ref> in the central and northern part of the county, from exit 68, [[US 29 Connector]], north almost to the Davidson County line. A new bridge over the Yadkin River was also built.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governor.state.nc.us/eTownhall/Blog/post/2009/03/12/Yadkin-River-Bridge-Replacement.aspx|title= Office of the Governor of North Carolina|access-date= April 12, 2010|date= March 12, 2009}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 70 in North Carolina|U.S. Route 70]] enters the northwestern part of Rowan County, west of Cleveland. It runs southeast into Salisbury, where it follows Jake Alexander Boulevard to the southeast and joins US 29 North as Main Street. US 70 continues northeast as Main Street; it is called Salisbury Avenue in Spencer before crossing into Davidson County.

[[U.S. Route 29]] forms Main Street in Kannapolis, China Grove, and Landis in the southern part of the county. It joins US 70 as Main Street through Salisbury, and as Salisbury Avenue in Spencer.

[[U.S. Route 52]] is the main artery for the southeastern part of the county, serving the towns of Gold Hill, Rockwell, and Granite Quarry. Just before reaching downtown Salisbury, US-52 joins Interstate 85, which it follows into Davidson county.

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Mid-Carolina Regional Airport]], near Salisbury
* [[Salisbury station (North Carolina)|Salisbury Station]]