Whitakers, NC

Whitakers is a quiet community in eastern North Carolina with an interesting quirk: the county line runs straight down the center of the railroad tracks, splitting the town between Nash and Edgecombe counties. Home to around 600 residents, it has the feel of a classic rural railroad hub where life moves at an easy, unhurried pace. You get plenty of open space and country peace, while staying just a short drive from the shopping and dining in nearby Rocky Mount.

ATTRIldar Sagdejev ( Specious ) / CC BY-SA 3.0

The surrounding backroads carry deep roots, with historic farmhouses and 18th-century landmarks scattered throughout the farmland. As the northernmost outpost for both counties, Whitakers mostly draws people who want wide-open property, low-key living, and a friendly community where neighbors look out for one another. It is a simple, down-to-earth crossroads with plenty of small-town charm.