The Piedmont Companies, Inc., a real estate development firm located in Lincolnton, North Carolina was founded by William L. Heafner in 1985 with an initial desire to satisfy the housing needs for Lincoln and the surrounding counties. From 1985 through the year 2000, there were 15,000 families living in a home or on a Piedmont developed home site located in twenty-three North Carolina counties as well as Horry County, SC. Piedmont Companies, Inc., has developed over two million square feet of commercial buildings throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Florida and Arizona. In addition, The Piedmont Companies has developed over 15,000 residential lots.