Carey City is a North Carolina town that was founded as a railroad town. In 1854, Allison Francis "Frank" Page bought 300 acres of land in the town for $2,000, and the North Carolina Railroad and Chatham Railroad laid tracks through the property. Frank Page built his family homestead on the land and ran a sawmill and dry goods store, eventually developing a hotel that would serve train passengers. Today, the town is home to the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, an example of French Second Empire architecture. The center hosts art shows, special events, and has a heritage museum.