Winston-Salem is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020, the population was 249,545 making it the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the fifth most populous city in North Carolina, the third largest urban area in North Carolina, and the 89th most populous city in the United States. With a metropolitan population of 679,948 it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. Winston-Salem is home to the tallest office building in the region, 100 North Main Street, formerly known as the Wachovia Building and now known locally as the Wells Fargo Center.
In 2003, the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point metropolitan statistical area was redefined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The region was separated into two major metropolitan areas of Winston-Salem and Greensboro-High Point. The population of the Winston-Salem metropolitan area in 2020 was 679,948. The metro area covers over 2,000 square miles and spans over the five counties of Forsyth, Davidson, Stokes, Davie, and Yadkin.
Winston-Salem is called the “Twin City” for its dual heritage. “Camel City” is a reference to the city’s historic involvement in the tobacco industry related to locally based R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Camel cigarettes. Many natives of the city and North Carolina refer to the city as “Winston” in informal speech. Winston-Salem is also home to six colleges and institutions, most notably Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts which ranks as one of the best film schools in America. In 2021, the city ranked No. 46 out of 150 cities on the “Best Places to Live” list from U.S. News & World Report. In April 2021, a study from Lendingtree’s Magnify Money blog ranked Winston-Salem as the second-best tech market for women.