February… the month we celebrate the people and things we love. And we love Stallings!
So, let's celebrate the original visionary for the Town of Stallings!
Stallings may be a young town relative to other municipalities based on its incorporation date (1975) but its roots in Union County go back over 120 years. Matthew Thomas Stallings came to Union County in 1903 and purchased 200 acres about one mile from Indian Trail. Lead by Mr. Stallings’ entrepreneurial spirit, the area began a school, the Seaboard Air Line (railroad) opened a regular stop called “Stallings”, and Mr. Stallings himself opened a large general store.
Mr. Stallings aimed to “encourage enterprise and industry in his vicinity” and he did just that. He offered incentives to manufacturers who were willing to start plants and permanent housing where “all prospects bid fair to make this locality of much future importance.” Today, Stallings is a thriving community with over 6500 homes, a new hospital, numerous successful companies and manufacturers, and generous, award-winning parks for all to enjoy.
If it wasn’t for Mr. Matthew Thomas Stallings’ bravery and love for the area, our hometown would not be what it is today. Mr. Stallings knew this was “fine land” and we couldn’t agree more. We love his vision to build up “an important settlement” and our Stallings roots… and that’s definitely something to celebrate! We love it!
Note: A special thank you to the Enquirer-Journal for providing the original newspaper clipping about Mr. Stallings from the Historical Section of the Monroe Enquirer on Thursday, February 1, 1912.
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