Cliffside, NC

Tucked along the Second Broad River in southeastern Rutherford County, Cliffside is a quiet North Carolina community of around 500 residents with deep roots in the region's textile past. Founded in 1899 by R. R. Haynes, the village grew around a massive water-powered mill that once stood as the South's largest producer of gingham fabric. The community developed with worker cottages, neighborhood churches, and local schools laid out along the river. Although the mill closed in 2005, Cliffside still carries the distinctive charm and street plan of a classic Southern mill town. Today, it offers a peaceful, rural atmosphere with quick access along Route 221 Alternate to nearby hubs like Forest City and Shelby.