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Montgomery County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Montgomery County
U.S. county
Montgomery County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse
Official seal of Montgomery County
Seal
 Official logo of Montgomery County
Logo
Motto(s): 
"The Golden Opportunity"
Map of North Carolina highlighting Montgomery County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded 1779
Named for Richard Montgomery
Seat Troy
Largest community Troy
Area
 • Total 501.54 sq mi (1,299.0 km2)
 • Land 491.54 sq mi (1,273.1 km2)
 • Water 10.00 sq mi (25.9 km2)  1.99%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 25,751
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 26,085
 • Density 52.68/sq mi (20.34/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th

Montgomery County is a rural county located in the southern Piedmont of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,751. Its county seat is Troy.

History

The first inhabitants of the area eventually comprising Montgomery County were Keyauwee and Cheraw Native Americans. The first European settlers were German and Scottish.

Montgomery County was created in 1779 out of Anson County. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The law establishing the county also directed a group of commissioners to secure land near the center of the county for the construction of a country courthouse and prison. Many residents were dissatisfied with the location chosen, and after several years of demurring on a decision, a courthouse was erected in the community of Henderson, created at the confluence of the Yadkin and Uwharrie rivers in 1794. In 1816, the old courthouse was sold another was erected at the new community of Laurenceville. In 1841, the portion of Montgomery County west of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River became Stanly County. Two years later, commissioners were selected to move the courthouse to Montgomery's geographic center, and in 1844 Troy was established as the county seat.

The county's first paved roads were established in the 1920s. The Great Depression, which began in 1929, had a large adverse impact on the local agricultural and manufacturing industries. By 1933, 30 percent of local residents were unemployed.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 501.54 square miles (1,299.0 km2), of which 491.54 square miles (1,273.1 km2) is land and 10.00 square miles (25.9 km2) (1.99%) is water. Montgomery is bordered by Davidson, Moore, Richmond, Randolph, and Stanly counties. Most of the county lies within the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin, with some smaller areas lying within the Cape Fear and Lumber River basins. The Uwharrie National Forest encompasses a large swathe of the county.

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

See also: Category:Rivers of Montgomery County, North Carolina

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 5,039 —
1800 7,677 52.4%
1810 8,430 9.8%
1820 8,693 3.1%
1830 10,919 25.6%
1840 10,780 −1.3%
1850 6,872 −36.3%
1860 7,649 11.3%
1870 7,487 −2.1%
1880 9,374 25.2%
1890 11,239 19.9%
1900 14,197 26.3%
1910 14,967 5.4%
1920 14,607 −2.4%
1930 16,218 11.0%
1940 16,280 0.4%
1950 17,260 6.0%
1960 18,408 6.7%
1970 19,267 4.7%
1980 22,469 16.6%
1990 23,346 3.9%
2000 26,822 14.9%
2010 27,798 3.6%
2020 25,751 −7.4%
2023 (est.) 26,085 −6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Montgomery County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 16,504 64.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 4,192 16.28%
Native American 76 0.3%
Asian 391 1.52%
Pacific Islander 2 0.01%
Other/Mixed 662 2.57%
Hispanic or Latino 3,924 15.24%

As of the 2020 census, there were 25,751 people, 10,195 households, and 6,788 families residing in the county.

Economy

One of the United States' largest lumber mills, a Jordan Lumber & Supply facility, is located near Mt. Gilead.

Transportation

Interstate 73/Interstate 74 runs through the eastern portion of Montgomery County. The main east-to-west road route which crosses the county is North Carolina Highway 27. Freight rail service is run by the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway, which operates an east-to-west line through the county which connects to Charlotte and Raleigh, and another which runs south to the Southern Pines/Pinehurst region. Corporate and private airplane facilities are provided by the Montgomery County Airport, located in the eastern portion of the county.

Major highways

  • US 220

  • US 220 Alt.
  • NC 24

  • NC 24 Bus. (business route)

  • NC 27 Bus.
  • NC 73
  • NC 109

  • NC 109 Bus. (Mount Gilead)

  • NC 109 Bus. (Troy)
  • NC 134
  • NC 211
  • NC 731

Education

The public school system provides five elementary schools (Star, Mt. Gilead, Candor, Page Street, and Green Ridge), two middle schools (West Montgomery and East Montgomery and one high school (Montgomery Central, formed in 2020 by the merger of East Montgomery High and West Montgomery High). Higher education is provided by Montgomery Community College.

Communities

Map of Montgomery County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Montgomery County with municipal and township labels

Towns

Townships

  • Biscoe
  • Cheek Creek
  • Eldorado
  • Little River
  • Mount Gilead
  • Ophir
  • Pee Dee
  • Rocky Springs
  • Star
  • Troy
  • Uwharrie

Unincorporated Communities

Notable people

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