Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Question: Why did Wake Forest College move to Winston-Salem, where it was later renamed Wake Forest University?

Answer: Wake Forest College relocated to Winston-Salem in 1956 after accepting an invitation in 1946 from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The move provided substantial financial support, land from the R.J. Reynolds estate, and room for expansion amid rural limitations and growth needs in the original Wake Forest location.