The arrival of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad in 1838 was a key factor in the development of the Henderson area. The town, named in honor of native Chief Justice Leonard Henderson, was incorporated in 1841. Henderson's heritage is evident in places such as the Vance County Courthouse, the Pool Rock Plantation and the Henderson Central Business Historic District, all featured on the National Register for Historic Places. The Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission is a non-profit organization whose objective is to preserve and continue to develop the historical downtown Central Business District. Henderson's downtown shopping area has also been designated as a National Register Historic District and gained status as a North Carolina Main Street city in1986.
Henderson is in close proximity to Kerr Lake, which is located in one of North Carolina's largest state parks. This beautiful man-made lake has 50,000 acres of water and 850 miles of shoreline that stretch across the North Carolina and Virginia borders. While its original purpose was to control the eastern NC flooding, it has since become a major tourist attraction. Visitors to the lake enjoy an abundance of activities such as fishing, boating, skiing and camping. In addition, the community gathers annually to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Labor Day Parade of Lights on the lake.
Henderson serves as the seat of Vance County. It was recently named one of the top ten small towns in America for new commercial and industrial development by Site Selection Magazine. The Peanut Roaster, Robco Manufacturing and Saint-Gobain Containers were three of the fourteen new or expanded businesses that contributed to this ranking. This is the fourth consecutive year that Henderson has had the honor of ranking in the top thirty towns. In the past, Henderson's economy depended on the cotton, tobacco and textile industries. In recent years, the retail market has experienced substantial growth. Henderson is located a short distance from the Research Triangle Park, which serves as an exceptional resource for businesses, universities, and area entrepreneurs in all of North Carolina.
Henderson is centrally located, with access to nearby cities such as Raleigh and Durham. The area, which is 509 feet above sea level, features reasonably priced real estate, a moderate climate and an excellent quality of life. Opportunities for higher learning are numerous. Vance-Granville Community College is located in Henderson. There are several other higher learning institutes within an hour's drive, such as North Carolina Central University and Duke University, both in Durham and North Carolina State University and Shaw University, which are both in Raleigh. The Henderson area also offers updated public schools and two private schools.
With its unparalleled industry growth and thriving economic base, Henderson is an extremely favorable location for new businesses and developers. This prosperous North Carolina community is sure to please the nature lover and businessperson alike.