<P> The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a north - central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston - Salem, and High Point . This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the United States and forms the basis of the Greensboro--Winston - Salem--High Point CSA . As of 2012, the Piedmont Triad has an estimated population of 1,611,243 making it the 33rd largest CSA metropolitan area in the United States . The area of the triad is approximately 5,954 square miles . </P> <P> The metropolitan area is connected by Interstates 40, 85, 73, and 74 and is served by the Piedmont Triad International Airport . Long known as one of the primary manufacturing and transportation hubs of the southeastern United States, the Triad is also an important educational and cultural region and occupies a prominent place in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement . </P>

What is the triad area of north carolina