Since its founding in 1852, Thomasville has grown from a rural community to an All-America City. The railroad was key to its success, and those same tracks still run through downtown. Keen businessmen capitalized on the railroad for shipping and transportation by building factories to produce goods and furniture. Thomasville is still known for the great furniture designed and built there, but the city's history consists of more than just that industry. Thomasville served as the home of prominent figures like John W. Thomas and T. Austin Finch, gave rise to powerful societies long forgotten like the Thomasville Shooting Club, and hosts the oldest street festival in North Carolina--Everybody's Day.