Lewisville is a residential community of more than 13,000 in western Forsyth County, North Carolina. While the town incorporated in 1991, we have a long history as a township dating back to the 1700s. One of the reasons the residents decided to incorporate was to preserve Lewisville's small town feel, and a great deal of time and effort have gone into planning for future growth and development. Our town square is the focal point of our downtown, setting the tone for that growth. Shallowford Square is the setting for many of our family-oriented activities and it continues to foster a real sense of community here in Lewisville.
In the mid-1770s, settlers moving westward following the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania down into Virginia and then North Carolina frequently stopped over night on the banks of the Yadkin River before crossing the Shallow Ford. A town was born in the 19th century when Moravian settlers blazed a wagon trail across the pastures and established a community here.
Lewisville was named after one of those settlers, Lewis Laugenour, a benefactor who donated lands for development in the central area of town. His home, constructed in the late 1850’s, still stands.
Another landmark in the community is the Roller Mill, built in 1910 and operated until 1984. While no longer an operating mill, the building still stands, now housing other businesses and serving as an anchor for downtown development.
Lewisville officially incorporated in 1991 and today is one of the fastest growing communities in Forsyth County with almost 13,000 residents. One of the motivations in moving toward incorporation was to preserve the small town ambience that existed in 1991. Much attention and planning has gone into preserving the community’s pedestrian-friendly environment in the downtown, and community spirit is fostered through events and activities at the town’s Shallowford Square.
The town square was the vision of Lewisville’s interim manager in 1991, Kent Matthewson. It was Matthewson, an experienced and much respected city manager and planner with national and international experience, who envisioned a town square as a focal point for downtown and a way to set the tone for future development. The Town Council was able to obtain a $250,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to help build the square.
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