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Randolph County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Randolph County
Randolph County Courthouse and Confederate statue
Randolph County Courthouse and Confederate statue
Official seal of Randolph County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Randolph 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 Peyton Randolph
Seat Asheboro
Largest city Asheboro
Area
 • Total 789 sq mi (2,040 km2)
 • Land 783 sq mi (2,030 km2)
 • Water 6.8 sq mi (18 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
145,172
 • Density 185.4/sq mi (71.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 9th
New Randolph County Courthouse
The new Randolph County Courthouse opened in 2002

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 144,171. Its county seat is Asheboro.

Randolph County is included in the Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, NC Combined Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of North Carolina was located in Randolph County, near the town of Seagrove.

History

Some of the first settlers of what would become the county were English Quakers, who settled along the Haw, Deep, and Eno Rivers. The county was formed in 1779 from Guilford County. It was named for Peyton Randolph, first president of the Continental Congress.

County formation

The Legislature of 1779, then sitting at Halifax, passed an act providing for the formation of a new county out of Guilford and Rowan, to be called Randolph. Notice having been given, the citizens met accordingly on Monday, the 8th day of March, 1779. Proclamation being made, the act of Assembly was read, wherein, William Cole, John Collin, Joseph Hinds, George Cortner, John Arnold, William Millikan, John Hinds, Jacob Shepherd, Richardson Owen, Windsor Pearce, William Bell, William Merrill, John Lowe, Enoch Davis, and James Hunter were nominated Justices for holding the courts in said county. The oath of allegiance and the oath of office was administered by William Cole, Esq., whereupon they took their seats and organized and held the first court in Randolph county by electing William Bell, Sheriff, William Millikan, Register of Deeds, and Absalom Tatum', Clerk.

Randolph County was the original location of what became Duke University.

The county is home to one of the last remaining covered bridges in the state. The Pisgah Covered Bridge, in Union Township, in the southwestern part of the county, was destroyed by a flood in 2003, but has been completely restored and is still standing.

In 1911, a new county called Piedmont County was proposed, with High Point as its county seat, to be created from Guilford, Davidson, and Randolph Counties. Many people appeared at the Guilford County courthouse to oppose the plan, vowing to go to the state legislature to protest. The state legislature voted down the plan in February 1911.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 789 square miles (2,040 km2), of which 783 square miles (2,030 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (0.9%) is covered by water.

Randolph County is located in the center of North Carolina, and the city of Asheboro (in the county) is the center point of North Carolina. 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 Caraway Mountains. These two ranges are the remnants of a much-higher range of ancient peaks. Today, they rarely top 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, yet due to the relative low terrain around them, they still rise 200–500 feet (61–152 m) above their base. The highest point in Randolph County is Shepherd Mountain, a peak in the Caraways. The North Carolina Zoo is located atop Purgatory Mountain, one of the peaks of the Uwharries.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • I-73
  • I-74
  • I-85
  • I-85 Bus.
  • US 29
  • US 64
  • US 70
  • US 220
  • US 311
  • US 421
  • NC 22
  • NC 42
  • NC 47
  • NC 49
  • NC 62
  • NC 109
  • NC 134
  • NC 159
  • NC 705

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 7,318
1800 9,234 26.2%
1810 10,112 9.5%
1820 11,331 12.1%
1830 12,406 9.5%
1840 12,875 3.8%
1850 15,832 23.0%
1860 16,793 6.1%
1870 17,551 4.5%
1880 20,836 18.7%
1890 25,195 20.9%
1900 28,232 12.1%
1910 29,491 4.5%
1920 30,856 4.6%
1930 36,259 17.5%
1940 44,554 22.9%
1950 50,804 14.0%
1960 61,497 21.0%
1970 76,358 24.2%
1980 91,728 20.1%
1990 106,546 16.2%
2000 130,454 22.4%
2010 141,752 8.7%
2020 144,171 1.7%
2021 (est.) 145,172 2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

Randolph County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 108,354 75.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,592 5.96%
Native American 666 0.46%
Asian 2,158 1.5%
Pacific Islander 10 0.01%
Other/Mixed 5,340 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino 19,051 13.21%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 144,171 people, 56,117 households, and 37,795 families residing in the county.

Communities

Map of Randolph County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Randolph County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

Towns

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
  • Union

Unincorporated communities

Education

  • Randolph County School System serves most of the county. Asheboro City Schools serves Asheboro.
  • Fayetteville Street Christian School, located in Asheboro, is the largest private school in Randolph County.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Randolph (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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