It all started with a mill. A group of men from Winston inaugurated plans to build a railroad through the Mayo River valley in 1883 from Salem, North Carolina to Roanoke, Virginia, to be known as the Roanoke and Southern Railroad. Construction began in 1887 under the direction of Francis Henry Fries, son of Salem Textile manufacturer. The railroad was opened by January of 1892 at a cost of two million dollars, but was later sold to the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company.

While building the railroad, Colonel Fries became impressed by the geography surrounding the Mayo and Dan Rivers. The falls in the Mayo River promised power for manufacturing and became a deciding factor in the plans of Colonel Fries, William C. Ruffin and Washington Duke to build a cotton mill along the railroad bed in 1892. Adopting the name Mayo Mills, operation began in 1896 with the manufacture of uncolored yarn.

It was not until February 16, 1899, that Mayodan, named after the converging Mayo and Dan Rivers, was chartered as an incorporated town with 225 residents. As recognized in Ripley's Believe It or Not, Mayodan is the only town in the world with that name!

Located 30 miles north of Greensboro and just south of the Virginia border, Mayodan is nestled in a valley along the Mayo River with an elevation of 640 feet. Mayodan operates under the Council/Manager form of government, led by a mayor and a five-member town council.

Mayodan has small town appeal with a population of 2,417. The Mayodan Preservation League has enjoyed years of growing success, sponsoring an annual "Mayodan Homecoming" for citizens and past residents of the town to walk down memory lane in the warm fellowship of friends. And as most residents feel regarding their special little town, they wouldn't trade it for the world.