Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,220 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lee County. Sanford is located at 35°28′33″N 79°10′32″W / 35.475881°N 79.175463°W / 35.475881; -79.175463 (35.475881, -79.175463).. Sanford is known throughout North Carolina as the direct center of the state. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.5 km2).24.1 square miles (62.3 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (0.33%) is water.