Garland, NC

Garland is a quiet, close-knit town of about 600 people in southwestern Sampson County. It started out in the late 1800s as a railroad stop called Sloan's Crossing, and that relaxed, small-town atmosphere still defines the community today. Surrounded by farmland and quiet country roads, it offers an easygoing pace for anyone looking to step away from busy suburban life.

The town also has an interesting claim to fame, as a local clinic here helped pioneer the modern physician assistant profession in the 1960s. Day to day, life revolves around neighborhood routines, local churches, and familiar faces. For major grocery runs, shopping, and specialized healthcare, residents take a short drive to nearby hubs like Clinton or Elizabethtown, keeping Garland itself peaceful and unhurried.