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Originally settled in 1759, Bethania is one of three Moravian communities in Forsyth County and the only one that has been incorporated. The town is in the process of establishing itself as a tourist site and has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
Bethania maintains strong ties with its Moravian past -- some of the 370 residents have ancestors who were original residents. It was incorporated in 1839, but at some point, the town government ceased to operate. In the mid-1980s, state legislators, who voted to end the charters of "paper towns," municipalities that had inactive or nonexistent governments, revoked Bethania's charter. Because of efforts of residents when faced with the possibility of annexation by Winston-Salem, Bethania's charter was revived in 1995.
Bethania now offers guided tours of the c. 1959 Bethania National Historic Landmark District. Call 922-0434 for more information.
Bethania is located a half a mile north of the city limits off US Highway 52.
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