This image is the cover for the book Sanford and Lee County, Images of America

Sanford and Lee County, Images of America

Located near the center of North Carolina, the Lee County area has been defined by transportation for the past two centuries.


From navigation along the Cape Fear and Deep Rivers to early plank roads, crisscrossing railroad lines, and major U.S. highways, this area has seen countless travelers come and go by boat, car, horse, buggy, train, and motor vehicle. Along the way, a number of the travelers settled, and communities formed. Through the efforts of leaders such as Jonesboro and Sanford, a new county was formed for these towns and villages in 1907-1908. Lee County was the 98th county formed in North Carolina, and despite its relatively small land area, it has a rich and vital history.

Jimmy Haire, W. W. Seymour Jr.,

Authors Jimmy Haire and W. W. Seymour Jr. were both born and raised in Sanford and have been friends for more than 40 years. Haire started as a carrier for the Sanford Herald and later became its chief photographer. He currently operates a photography studio in Sanford. Seymour has practiced law in Sanford for more than 30 years. Both have a lifelong interest in the history of Sanford and Lee County and have recently presented a series of local television programs on the history of the area.

Arcadia Publishing