Randolph County, North Carolina

Infobox U.S. County
county = Randolph County
state = North Carolina


map size = 255
founded = 1779
seat = Asheboro | area_total_sq_mi =790
area_land_sq_mi =787
area_water_sq_mi =3
area percentage = 0.33%
census yr = 2000
pop = 130454
density_km2 =64
web = www.co.randolph.nc.us
|

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 130,454. Its county seat is AsheboroGR|6. The center of population of North Carolina is located in Seagrove [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt] .

History

The county was formed in 1779 from Guilford County. It was named for Peyton Randolph, first president of the Continental Congress.

Law and government

Randolph County is a member of the regional Piedmont Triad Council of Governments.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 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 Piedmont 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 Mountains and the Carraway Mountains. These two ranges are the remnants of a much-higher range of ancient peaks. Today they rarely top convert|1000|ft|m above sea level, yet due to the relative low terrain around them, they still rise 200 - convert|500|ft|m above their base. The highest point in Randolph County is Shephard Mountain, a peak in the Carraways. The North Carolina Zoo is located atop Purgatory Mountain, one of the peaks of the Uwharries.

Townships

The county is divided into twenty two townships: 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 - north
*Alamance County, North Carolina - northeast
*Chatham County, North Carolina - east
*Moore County, North Carolina - southeast
*Montgomery County, North Carolina - southwest
*Davidson County, North Carolina - west

Trivia

*Randolph County was the original location of what became Duke University.
* The county is home to the North Carolina Zoo, 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 were filmed in the Liberty 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, 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 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 is located near Randleman in the community of Level Cross, Randolph County, North Carolina.
*After five decades of being the largest dry 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 - Nascar driver.
*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.
*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty
*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son. Killed in New Hampshire.
*Jerome Davis - World professional bullrider champion.
*Rufus Hussey - The Beanshooter Man who appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
*Jerry Bledsoe - Bestselling Author
*Sam Ard - Nascar driver

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 130,454 people, 50,659 households, and 37,335 families residing in the county. The population density 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% White, 5.63% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 6.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 counties 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 couples 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 income 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
*Asheboro
*Franklinville
*High Point (part)
*Liberty
*Ramseur
*Randleman
*Seagrove
*Staley
*Trinity

Unincorporated communities

* Sophia

References

External links

* [http://www.co.randolph.nc.us Randolph County government official website]
* [http://www.heartofnorthcarolina.com Official Visitor Information]