Randolph County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
. As of 2000, the population was 130,454. Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
AsheboroAsheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County.-Geography:Asheboro is located at ....
. The
center of populationIn demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region, on average. Mathematically, it corresponds to the geometric median of the inhabitants.- Determination :...
of North Carolina is located in
SeagroveSeagrove is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official...
.
Some of the first settlers of what would become the county were
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Quakers, who settled along the
HawThe Haw River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 110 mi long, that is entirely contained in north central North Carolina in the United States...
and Deep River.
Eno RiverThe Eno River, named for the Eno Indians who once lived along its banks, is the initial tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA.The Eno rises in Orange County. The river's watershed occupies most of Orange and Durham counties...
s. The county was formed in 1779 from
Guilford CountyGuilford County is located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2007, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 465,931. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful of...
. It was named for
Peyton RandolphPeyton Randolph was a planter and public official from the Colony of Virginia. He served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, chairman of the Virginia Conventions, and President of the Continental Congress.Randolph was born in Virginia to a prominent family...
, first president of the
Continental CongressThe Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution...
.
Randolph County is a member of the regional
Piedmont Triad Council of GovernmentsThe Piedmont Triad Council of Governments is one of the 17 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments established by the North Carolina General Assembly for the purpose of regional planning and administration. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, it serves Davidson, Montgomery,...
.
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the county has a total area of 790 square miles (2,046 km²), of which, 787 square miles (2,039 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) of it (0.33%) is water.
Randolph County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
. As of 2000, the population was 130,454. Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
AsheboroAsheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County.-Geography:Asheboro is located at ....
. The
center of populationIn demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region, on average. Mathematically, it corresponds to the geometric median of the inhabitants.- Determination :...
of North Carolina is located in
SeagroveSeagrove is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official...
.
History
Some of the first settlers of what would become the county were
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Quakers, who settled along the
HawThe Haw River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 110 mi long, that is entirely contained in north central North Carolina in the United States...
and Deep River.
Eno RiverThe Eno River, named for the Eno Indians who once lived along its banks, is the initial tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA.The Eno rises in Orange County. The river's watershed occupies most of Orange and Durham counties...
s. The county was formed in 1779 from
Guilford CountyGuilford County is located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2007, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 465,931. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful of...
. It was named for
Peyton RandolphPeyton Randolph was a planter and public official from the Colony of Virginia. He served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, chairman of the Virginia Conventions, and President of the Continental Congress.Randolph was born in Virginia to a prominent family...
, first president of the
Continental CongressThe Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution...
.
Law and government
Randolph County is a member of the regional
Piedmont Triad Council of GovernmentsThe Piedmont Triad Council of Governments is one of the 17 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments established by the North Carolina General Assembly for the purpose of regional planning and administration. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, it serves Davidson, Montgomery,...
.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the county has a total area of 790 square miles (2,046 km²), of which, 787 square miles (2,039 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) of it (0.33%) is water. Randolph County is located in the
PiedmontPiedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division. The...
section of central North Carolina, a region of gently rolling hills and woodlands. However, the central and western parts of the county contain the
Uwharrie MountainsThe Uwharrie Mountains are a mountain range in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, Union counties and terminate in the hills of Person...
and the Caraway Mountains. These two ranges are the remnants of a much-higher range of ancient peaks. Today they rarely top above sea level, yet due to the relative low terrain around them, they still rise 200 - above their base. The highest point in Randolph County is Shephard Mountain, a peak in the Caraways. The
North Carolina ZooThe North Carolina Zoo is located in Asheboro, which is about 75 miles west of Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States. At , it is the largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first...
is located atop Purgatory Mountain, one of the peaks of the Uwharries.
Townships
The county is divided into twenty two
townshipsA township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with 36 square miles being the norm.The term is used in two ways....
: Asheboro, Archdale, Back Creek, Brower, Cedar Grove, Coleridge, Columbia, Concord, Farmer, Franklinville, Grant, Level Cross, Liberty, New Hope, New Market, Pleasant Grove, Providence, Randleman, Richland, Tabernacle, Trinity, and Union.
Adjacent counties
- Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2007, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 465,931. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful of...
- north
- Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- northeast
- Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
- east
- Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
- southeast
- Montgomery County, North Carolina
Montgomery County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 26,823. Its county seat is Troy. Montgomery County's motto is "The Golden Opportunity".- History :...
- southwest
- Davidson County, North Carolina
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 147,246. Its county seat is Lexington.- History :The county was formed in 1822 from Rowan County...
- west
Trivia
- Randolph County was the original location of what became Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892...
.
- The county is home to the North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo is located in Asheboro, which is about 75 miles west of Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States. At , it is the largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first...
, the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo featuring more than 1,100 animals from Africa and North America.
- Portions of the 1993 movie Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice is the sequel to the 1984 movie Children of the Corn. This sequel, directed by David F. Price, stars Terence Knox, Ryan Bollman, Ned Romero, and Paul Scherrer. The film was released in theatres by Dimension Films in January 1993, with the video release...
were filmed in the LibertyLiberty is a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will....
and Ramseur area in the eastern part of the county.
- The county is home to one of the last remaining covered bridges in the state. The Pisgah Covered Bridge
Pisgah Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the west fork of the Little River in Randolph County, North Carolina. It is the only accessible covered bridge in North Carolina, and one of only two in existence in the state . Pisgah Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the west fork...
, in Union Township, is in the southwestern part of the county and was destroyed by a flood in 2003, but has been completely restored and is still standing.
- Seagrove is the center of a booming pottery
Pottery is the ceramic ware made by potters. Major types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. The places where such wares are made are called potteries. Pottery is one of the oldest human technologies and art-forms, and remains a major industry today...
industry. Described as the pottery capital of the world, potters create handcrafted earthenware made in the same tradition that began here more than 200 years ago. There are nearly 100 shops and galleries scattered throughout the area.
- The Richard Petty Museum is located in downtown Randleman. The museum showcases the career of the King of NASCAR from the early “dirt” days to the present. Cars, trophies and awards honoring the 7-Time Winston-Cup Series Champion are showcased throughout.
- The Victory Junction Gang Camp
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a camp for terminally ill, and chronically ill children located in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps....
is located near Randleman in the community of Level Cross, Randolph County, North CarolinaLevel Cross is an unincorporated area in Randolph County, North Carolina at U.S. Route 220's intersection with Branson Mill Road. Level Cross is located a few miles north of Randleman....
.
- After five decades of being the largest dry
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, although most commonly in the South...
municipality east of the Mississippi, Asheboro voted to permit the sale of alcohol on July 29th, 2008. The last vote was 14 years earlier, in 1994.
Famous Natives
- Naomi Wise, murder victim
- Richard Petty
For the president & C.E.O. of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, see Richard PeddieRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
- NascarThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver.
- Lee Petty
Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 60s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars.-Career:...
- NascarThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
pioneer. Richard Petty's father.
- Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a retired American NASCAR driver and currently a NASCAR broadcaster for TNT. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam Petty. His wife is Pattie and they have two surviving children Austin and Montgomery Lee...
- NascarThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. Son of Richard Petty
- Adam Petty
Adam Kyler Petty was a professional racing driver. He was the first fourth-generation driver in NASCAR history.-Early life:...
- NascarThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. Kyle Petty's son. Killed in New Hampshire.
- Jerome Davis
Jerome Davis was a labor organizer and sociologist. Early in his life he campaigned to reduce the workweek, and as an advocate of organized labor....
- World professional bullrider champion.
- Rufus Hussey - The Beanshooter Man who appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
- Jerry Bledsoe
Jerry Bledsoe is an American author and journalist known for several true crime titles based on murders in his native state of North Carolina....
- Bestselling Author
- Sam Ard
Sam Ard is a former NASCAR race car driver.Ard was the champion of NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman Series in 1983 and 1984, was runner-up in 1982, and won a total of 22 races and 24 pole positions in the series during his career...
- NascarThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 130,454 people, 50,659 households, and 37,335 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 166 people per square mile (64/km²). There were 54,422 housing units at an average density of 69 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.20%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.63%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.45%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.64%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.01% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.06% from two or more races. 6.63% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
As with much of North Carolina the Latino population of Randolph County continued to grow into the twenty-first century. 2005 figures placed the Latino population as 9.3% of the county's total.
In 2000 there were 50,659 households out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,348, and the median income for a family was $44,369. Males had a median income of $30,575 versus $22,503 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the county was $18,236. About 6.80% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Archdale
Archdale is a city in Guilford and Randolph counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 9,014 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Archdale is located at ....
- Asheboro
Asheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County.-Geography:Asheboro is located at ....
- Franklinville
Franklinville is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Franklinville is located at ....
- High Point
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of July 2006 the city had a total population of 97,796 according to the US Census Bureau. July 2008 estimates place the city's population at around 101,835, making High Point the eighth-largest municipality in North...
(part)
- Liberty
Liberty is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. Originally named Liberty Oak, the town was founded in 1809 near the plantation of John Leak . The first church within the town was the Liberty Christian Church founded on October 11, 1884...
- Ramseur
Ramseur is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,589 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ramseur is located at ....
- Randleman
Randleman is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,557 at the 2000 census. It is the home of NASCAR's Petty family, the Richard Petty Museum, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.-Geography:...
- Seagrove
Seagrove is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official...
- Staley
Staley is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 347 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Staley is located at ....
- Trinity
Trinity is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-History:The community was named after Trinity College, which later became Duke University. The "World's Longest Hot Wheels Track" was built at the Kyle Petty Farm in Trinity, North...
External links