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Where the Sandhillsâ white-gray soil surrenders to Piedmont clay, Lee County has pulled much of its history from the ground. The process of forming earth into bricks has endured more than 60 years in its county seat, Sanford, which is also known as Brick Capital of the USA. Fields of tobacco and cotton once stretched to the horizon. While it holds tight to those traditions, itâs growing in new directions.
At almost 255 square miles â 89th-largest of North Carolinaâs 100 counties â Lee County is smack in the middle of the state, near Harnett, Moore and Chatham counties. Like its neighbors, itâs busy tending a high-tech economy of advanced manufacturing, food processing, aerospace, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Itâs possible in large part because of workforce training orchestrated and tailored by the local community college, a chamber of commerce dedicated to educating and encouraging entrepreneurs, and expanding health care options.