Advance, North Carolina
Advance (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable) is an unincorporated community located in Davie County, North Carolina. It is located along NC 801 just south of Bermuda Run near the western bank of the Yadkin River. Advance is a part of the Piedmont Triad and is home to Shady Grove Elementary School. Neighboring communitites and municipalities include: Bermuda Run, Mocksville, Hillsdale, and Yadkin College.
Name Origin
The origin of the name Advance is the source of local debate. One story has it that in the community, there was an elderly black gentleman named Addington Vance. When the members of the community were trying to think of a name, one gentleman suggested, "Why not name it after ol' Add Vance?". Another story about the origin of the town's name cites the original citizens gathered to discuss what their town name should be. No one could decide on a name that everyone liked, so someone mentioned that the town should be named after the next person that walked in the door. Sure enough, Addington Vance walked in and the town was named after him.
The most reputable story of origin has it that the community went by the name of Shady Grove (which it's still called by some old timers; the Advance moniker has been around since the 1800s), but when the townsfolk applied with the Postal Service, the name was already taken. Legend has it that the town was named Advance in hopes that the little town would do just that. Advance is still an unincorporated town.
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