SPENCER — The historic Wil-Cox Bridge that spans the Yadkin River, connecting Rowan and Davidson counties, has become a pedestrian bridge surrounded by a park on both sides, but this year, the bridge is celebrating its 100th birthday, harking back to a time when it was a vehicular bridge on the main highway between Greensboro and Charlotte.

The bridge is only one of eight of its design remaining in the country. It is a concrete open-spandrel structure with seven arches. During its lifetime, it has served as a toll bridge, a highway, and now a pedestrian bridge.

Funds for the bridge were appropriated in the N.C. Highway Act of 1921. Construction began immediately and it opened in 1924 with a total cost of $212,000. The bridge was initially part of Central Highway, N.C. 10, which would later become U.S. 29/70 over the river.  The bridge is almost 1,300 feet in length, and its name comes from two highway commissioners from the two regions the bridge connects, W.E. Wilkinson of Charlotte and Elwood Cox of High Point.

By 1951, traffic had increased to such a degree the state built a second road between the Wil-Cox and the railroad to carry the northbound traffic, while Wil-Cox carried southbound. In 1960, I-85 was completed with the fifth and final bridge, and it put the Wil-Cox in jeopardy.

A group of local residents came together and petitioned to save the bridge because of its historic nature, and the state eventually agreed, though initially there was some reluctance on the part of Rowan County Commissioners to accept ownership of the bridge. After Davidson County commissioners agreed, Rowan accepted, and the town of Spencer became actively involved in turning the Rowan side into a park and destination.

In June of 2019, the first part of what has become a full park and part of the Davidson County Greenway System on the Davidson County side opened, with the playground as the most recent addition. Its ribbon cutting was last week. And in January, 2020, a non-profit group funded landscape design and study to get things started on the Rowan side.

The bridge underwent extensive renovations and repairs in 2021 as well, and in September of 2023, the Spencer side of the Yadkin River Trailhead Park officially opened. At the site there are markings of the site where three of the 14 trails throughout North Carolina come together. In addition, the site is a historical marker for both Native Americans and military veterans.

Historic details run from Native Americans who called the land home thousands of years ago, to early Spanish explorers, to the Revolutionary War battle between American General Nathanael Green and British General Charles Cornwallis in 1781, to President George Washington’s visit to Rowan County in 1791, to the last battle of the Civil War in N.C. fought on the land in 1864, to the World War II encampment at Fort York during the war, and the largest textile mill, the North Carolina Finishing Company, in the state.

The future plans for the Spencer side of the bridge include the potential for a mixed-use space where the former finishing plant stood. Along with the playground on the Davidson side are two dog parks, and both sides offer places to picnic and walking trails.

“As ‘Rowan’s Original Gateway,’ Spencer’s identity has always been built around connections to other communities, being in a great location, and welcoming visitors and newcomers,” said Spencer Town Manager Peter Franzese. “Our community has been excited to partner with our friends in Davidson County in recent years to build a beautiful connection to the Wil-Cox Bridge and Yadkin River Park. We believe the park is just the beginning of a transformation that will result in a highly desirable riverside community and economic development. I’ve heard stories that the opening ceremony for the bridge in 1924 included the governor of Florida, because it was seen as a boost to commerce in the entire eastern United States. While the Wil-Cox Bridge centennial harkens back to its history, we believe the bridge will be just as important for the next 100 years in Spencer and beyond.”

“I said this was a start, didn’t I?” said Spencer Mayor Jonathan Williams at last year’s ribbon cutting. “It’s all about collaboration. I cannot begin to say thank you enough to all those who helped.” Accolades went to, along with both Rowan and Davidson County commissioners, Spencer’s Special Projects Planner Joe Morris and supporter Ronnie Smith, who got funding up and running for the project.