Randolph County, North Carolina

History

The area which eventually became known as Randolph county was originally inhabited by Siouan Native Americans including Saponi and Keyauwee. In the 1700s, European settlers moved into the area, namely Germans, Scotch-Irish, and English, some of whom were Quakers and Moravians. The Legislature of 1779, then sitting at Halifax, passed an act providing for the formation of a new county from parts of Guilford and Rowan, to be called Randolph. It was named for Peyton Randolph, first president of the Continental Congress.

In the antebellum period, Randolph County was economically poor and characterized by smallholding farmers.

The outbreak of the American Civil War caused division in the county. Many resident Quakers were pacifists and opposed to the war, while poorer conscripts resented being detailed to the frontlines while wealthier militia officers were frequently exempted from such service, leading to many refusing to muster out. In the 1864 gubernatorial election, Randolph was one of only three counties in the state to supply a majority of its votes to William Woods Holden, who was running on a peace platform. A substantial number of men drafted to serve in the Confederate Army from Randolph deserted and were kept hidden with assistance of the anti-Confederate Heroes of America, leading the state government to order operations in 1863 to detain them. The activity of deserters was curtailed by late 1864, though it increased in early 1865, with widespread reports of theft and robbery. Many local members of the Confederate Home Guard grew fearful of enforcing conscription, and some of the body's leaders doubted their subordinates' loyalty. To ease tensions, the state government dispatched 600 troops to the county in March and offered terms to the deserters.

After the war, the county's government became dominated by men who had supported the Union, and some used their new positions of power to enact revenge on those who had enforced the conscription law. Between 1868 and 1872, the white supremacist and reactionary Ku Klux Klan whose members were made up of Southern Democrats of the Democratic Party. However, despite the Klan's activity, the majority of whites residing in Randolph County remained largely supportive of the Republican Party and the civil rights movement. The most recent affiliation with the Klan took place in May 2017 at the biker gang The Rebel Rousers, headquarters in Asheboro for a cross burning ceremony.

Randolph's textile industry expanded after the war with the establishment of new mills along the Deep River.

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 790.01 sqmi, of which 782.38 sqmi is land and 7.63 sqmi (0.97%) is water. It is bordered by Guilford County, Alamance County, Chatham County, Moore County, Montgomery County, and Davidson County.

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, generally a region of gently rolling hills and woodlands. 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 1000 ft 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 Shepherd Mountain, a peak in the Caraways. The North Carolina Zoo is located atop Purgatory Mountain, one of the peaks of the Uwharries.

National protected area

• Birkhead Mountains Wilderness
• Uwharrie National Forest

State and local protected areas/sites

• North Carolina Zoo
• Pisgah Covered Bridge
• Uwharrie Game Land (part)

Major water bodies

• Back Creek
• Bush Creek
• Caraway Creek
• Deep River
• Little Caraway Creek
• Little River
• Little Uwharrie River
• Randleman Lake
• Reed Creek
• Rocky River
• Toms Creek
• Uwharrie River

Major highways

• (spur route)

Major infrastructure

• Asheboro Regional Airport

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 144,171 people and 57,470 households in the county, including 37,795 families residing in the county.

The median age was 42.4 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 77.3% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian,

39.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 60.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 57,470 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.6% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 62,024 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, 130,454 people, 50,659 households, and 37,335 families resided in the county. The population density was 166 /mi2. The 54,422 housing units averaged 69 /mi2. 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. About 6.63% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As with much of North Carolina, the Latino population of Randolph County continued to grow into the 21st century. In 2005, figures placed the Latino population as 9.3% of the county's total.

In 2000, of the 50,659 households, 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 not families. About 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 distributed as 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 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.

Government and politics

Government

Randolph County operates under a commissioner–manager form of government. It is governed by a five-member board of commissioners, with each commissioner elected in partisan contests at-large to serve a four-year term. The commissioners adopt county policy, create the county's budget, and hire the county manager. The manager oversees the administration of county government and implements the commissioners' policies.

Randolph County is a member of the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, a regional voluntary association of 12 counties.

Randolph County lies within the bounds of North Carolina's 37th Prosecutorial District, the 19B Superior Court District, and the 19B District Court District.

Politics

Politically, Randolph County is a huge outlier in North Carolina. The county is one of the most Republican-dominated counties in the state. The Republican dominance dates back to the Solid South era; it has supported the Republican presidential candidate in all but three elections since 1916. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried the county since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, and Jimmy Carter is the last Democrat to even tally 40 percent of the county's vote. In 1964, it was one of only 13 counties in the state to vote for Barry Goldwater, and the easternmost county in the state to do so. Republican dominance at the local level is extremely absolute that in some cases, Republican candidates and incumbents run unopposed.

Economy

Randolph's economy is largely based in manufacturing.

Education

Randolph County School System serves most of the county. The city of Asheboro is managed separately by Asheboro City Schools.

Fayetteville Street Christian School, located in Asheboro, is the largest private school in Randolph County.

Culture

Pottery-making has long been popular in the Seagrove area of Randolph County, and is annually celebrated in the Seagrove Pottery Festival.

Communities

Cities

• Archdale (part; also in Guilford County)
• Asheboro (county seat and largest community)
• High Point (part; also in Guilford, Davidson, and Forsyth)
• Randleman
• Thomasville (part; mostly in Davidson County)
• Trinity

Towns

• Franklinville
• Liberty
• Ramseur
• Seagrove
• Staley

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

• Cedar Grove
• Climax (also in Guilford County)
• Coleridge
• Erect
• Farmer
• Level Cross
• Pisgah
• Sophia
• Ulah
• Whynot

Notable people

• Sam Ard, NASCAR driver
• Jerry Bledsoe, author
• Heidi N Closet, drag queen
• Braxton Craven, educator and second president of Duke University
• Heaven Fitch, wrestler
• Rufus Hussey, marksman
• Henderson Luelling, Quaker abolitionist, horticulturist
• Gideon Morris, trans-Appalachian pioneer and founder of Morristown, Tennessee
• Adam Petty, NASCAR driver
• Kyle Petty, NASCAR driver
• Lee Petty, NASCAR pioneer
• Richard Petty, NASCAR driver
• John Milton Odell, American industrialist
• Naomi Wise, murder victim
• Jonathan Worth, former Governor of North Carolina (1865–1868)

References

Works cited

References

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