High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. It was named High Point because it was located at the highest point of the 1856 North Carolina Railroad between Charlotte and Goldsboro. The population in 2007 was listed at 105,297. It is nicknamed "Furniture and Hosiery Capital of the World", though many of the manufacturing jobs are long gone. High Point still hosts the International Home Furnishings Market twice a year, that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world, though they now have competition for this market from Las Vegas. Some natives of High Point are: Fantasia Barrino, 2004
America Idol winner; Adrian
Wilson, safety for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals; Brian Williams, cornerback for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars;
Bill Davis, owner of
Bill Davis Racing of
NASCAR; and John Coltrane, celebrated saxophonist, was born in Hamlet,
NC and moved to High Point shortly after birth, where he remained through high school. High Point University is a private
college here.
There is not too much to see or do in High Point, as far as attractions go, but there are some good magnet school programs in this area. One of the biggest events for locals is the High Point Andrews vs High Point Central football game. High Point can also be referred to as "the point".