The bridge formerly carried two lanes of US 29/US 70/NC 150, but is now part of the Davidson County Greenway system and Yadkin River Park.

Wilkinson of Charlotte and Elwood Cox of High Point,[4] is one of only six of its type built in the state, and at 1,299 feet (396 m) the longest.

[22] Tourist attractions in the area included Trading Ford and the former site of the Civil War fort Camp Yadkin, also called Fort York, from where General George Stoneman was defeated in the last Confederate victory in North Carolina, when he tried to destroy the important railway bridge across the Yadkin River on April 12, 1865.

[24] Dr. Max Walser, chair of the Wil-Cox Bridge/Fort York Steering Committee, said in 2018 that Native Americans first lived in the area 12,000 years ago, and that Spanish settlers under Juan Pardo attempted to start a colony around 1567.

During the American Revolution, Nathanael Greene crossed the river ahead of Charles Cornwallis, who could not follow because of flooding from a storm.

[3] At a battle re-enactment at the Old Stone House on June 11, 2022, Rowan Museum executive director Aaron Kepley said, "If the Yadkin River had not flooded when it did, we may all still be British.

"[25] As of September 2013, the Tourism Recreation Investment Partnership for Davidson County Foundation was working on plans for the Wil-Cox Bridge, which was already part of the Daniel Boone Heritage Canoe Trail opened earlier in 2013.

[5] Davidson County commissioners agreed on August 23, 2016 to buy 13.82 acres at Fort York, which along with the bridge could attract tourists.

The town of Spencer planned improvements on the Rowan County side, including a trail with benches and parking.

Additional development in Rowan County was planned on the former North Carolina Finishing site, purchased a year earlier by Waterford Funding and requiring $3.5 million in cleanup.

[27] The North Carolina Railroad Yadkin River Bridges were built in 1906 and 1919 and each contain four spans of Warren deck truss.