Asheboro is a city in and the
county seat of
Randolph County, North Carolina, United States.
The population was 25,012 at the
2010 census. It is part of the
Greensboro–High Point metropolitan area of the
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, and H ...
and is home of the state-owned
North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, housing 1,800 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa and North America. It is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with the other being th ...
.
[NC Zoological Park Funding and Organization (PDF)](_blank)
Retrieved on 2010-10-08.
History
Asheboro was named after
Samuel Ashe, the ninth governor of North Carolina (1795–1798), and became the county seat of Randolph County in 1796. It was a small village in the 1800s, with a population of less than 200 through the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policie ...
; its main function was housing the county courthouse, and the town was most active when court was in session. Asheboro's population only began to grow significantly following its connection to railroads: the High Point, Randleman, Asheboro and Southern Railroad first served the city in 1889, followed by the Montgomery Railroad in 1896.
Asheboro emerged as a textile production center in the 20th century with the opening of the
Acme Hosiery Mills in 1909. After
World War II, the city's manufacturing sector grew to include batteries, wires and food products. The city's main tourist attraction, the
North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, housing 1,800 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa and North America. It is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with the other being th ...
, opened in 1974.
Asheboro suffered from an economic downturn in the 2000s due to a decline in its traditional manufacturing industries amid increasing competition from overseas; the national news program ''
60 Minutes
''60 Minutes'' is an American television news magazine broadcast on the CBS television network. Debuting in 1968, the program was created by Don Hewitt and Bill Leonard, who chose to set it apart from other news programs by using a unique sty ...
'' described it as a "dying town" in 2012.
Historic buildings
The following buildings in Asheboro are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places:
*
Acme-McCrary Hosiery Mills
*
Asheboro Hosiery Mills and Cranford Furniture Company Complex
Asheboro Hosiery Mills and Cranford Furniture Company Complex, also known as Cranford Industries and National Chair Company, is a historic textile mill and furniture factory complex located at Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina. The comple ...
*
Central School
A central school was a selective secondary education school with a focus on technical and commercial skills in the English education system. It was positioned between the more academic grammar schools and the ordinary elementary schools where ...
*
Wilson Kindley Farm and Kindley Mine
*
Lewis-Thornburg Farm
*
Mount Shepherd Pottery Site
*
Randolph County Courthouse
*
Sunset Theater
*
Thayer Farm Site (31RD10)
Geography
Asheboro is located at (35.715211, -79.813001).
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.58%) is water. Asheboro is known as the center point of North Carolina. Although Asheboro is located in the gently rolling
Piedmont plateau region of central North Carolina, far to the east of the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
, the town and surrounding area are surprisingly hilly. The town lies within the
Uwharrie Mountains
The Uwharrie Mountains ()
from the North Carolina Collection's website at the monadnock
An inselberg or monadnock () is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain.
In Southern Africa a similar formation of granite is known as a koppie, a ...
s which have been worn down by erosion to high hills. As such, Asheboro gives the impression of being in a more mountainous area than it actually is.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, there were 27,156 people, 10,841 households, and 6,130 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the
census of 2000, there were 21,672 people, 8,756 households, and 5,516 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,412.5 people per square mile (545.5/km
2). There were 9,515 housing units at an average density of 620.1 per square mile (239.5/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.45%
White, 12.08%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of enslav ...
, 0.51%
Native American, 1.39%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Oce ...
, 7.72% from
other races, and 1.80% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 30.9% of the population.
There were 8,756 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
Economy
Top employers
According to Asheboro's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:
In October 2012
Hyosung
Hyosung Corporation is a South Korean industrial Chaebol, founded in 1966. It operates in various fields, including the chemical industry, industrial machinery, IT, trade, and construction. It is known in Korea mostly for high-end apartments ...
USA announced the closure of the Asheboro wire plant and loss of 310 jobs. Built by
Goodyear and acquired by Hyosung in 2011, the plant makes wires for use in car and truck tires.
Black & Decker Corp was one of the main employers in the mid 1990s; one of its products, the SnakeLight, sold millions after being introduced in late 1994. The plant employed about 1,100 workers in 1998 and was one of the three biggest employers in Randolph County.
Culture
Sports
* Asheboro is home to the
Asheboro ZooKeepers of the
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from the Class D level Coastal League which operated in the area from 19 ...
, a
collegiate summer baseball league. The ZooKeepers play at
McCrary Park in Asheboro. The ZooKeepers began play for the 1999 season.
*
Caraway Speedway
Caraway Speedway is a short track located near Asheboro, North Carolina, U.S. Caraway Speedway was built in 1966 as a dirt track. The track was paved in 1972 and joined the NASCAR Weekly Series family as a .455 mile asphalt short track. Carawa ...
, a
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour (WSMT) was a stock car racing series owned by NASCAR and operated in the Southeastern United States as part of its Modified Division. The series began in 1989 as the Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams (S. ...
racing location. It is .455 mile asphalt oval that has seen famous
stockcar drivers
Dale Earnhardt,
Richard Petty, and
Kyle Petty grace its track.
Retail
Randolph Mall opened in 1982.
Transportation
Routes include
U.S. Route 220
U.S. Route 220 (US 220) is a spur route of US 20. It runs in a north–south layout in the eastern United States, unlike its parent route as well as conventionally even-numbered highways which run east-west. US 220 extends for fr ...
and
Interstate 73
Interstate 73 (I-73) is a north–south Interstate Highway, located within the US state of North Carolina. Currently, there is one continuous section of I-73, totaling , first traversing the U.S. Route 220 (US 220) freeway from ...
/
Interstate 74, which connect it to
Greensboro,
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route ...
splits into its business route that goes through the city and stretch of U.S. 64 itself that bypasses most of Asheboro to the south. U.S. 64 also connects the city to Raleigh, and
North Carolina Highway 49
North Carolina Highway 49 (NC 49) is a 177.8-mile (286.1 km) primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It traverses much of the Piedmont region, connecting the cities of Charlotte, Asheboro, and Burlington.
Route desc ...
, which connects the city to
Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
.
Asheboro Regional Airport serves general aviation traffic to and from the city. The closest airport with scheduled passenger service is
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport (commonly referred to locally as "PTI") is an airport located in unincorporated Guilford County, North Carolina, west of Greensboro, serving the Piedmont Triad region of Greensboro, High Point and Winston ...
in Greensboro.
Education
Asheboro City Schools operates public schools serving the city.
Fayetteville Street Christian School Fayetteville may refer to:
*Fayetteville, Alabama
*Fayetteville, Arkansas
** The Fayetteville Formation
*Fayetteville, Georgia
* Fayetteville, Illinois
* Fayetteville, Indiana
*Fayetteville, Washington County, Indiana
*Fayetteville, Missouri
*Faye ...
, located in Asheboro, is the largest private school in Randolph County.
In addition the
Randolph County Schools has its headquarters in Asheboro.
Notable people
*
Sam Ard
Samuel Julian Ard (February 14, 1939April 2, 2017) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He won two NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series championships, in 1983 and 1984. Ard also made one NASCAR Winston Cup start. He reti ...
, former
NASCAR driver; 1983 and 1984
Nascar Busch Series Champion
*
William Johnston Armfield, business executive and philanthropist
*
Scott Bankhead
Michael Scott Bankhead (born July 31, 1963) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from -. Bankhead also pitched for Team USA in the 1984 Olympic Games. He attended the University of North Car ...
,
Major League Baseball and 1984
US Olympic Team pitcher
*
Chuck Bown
Richard Charles "Chuck" Bown Jr. (born February 22, 1954) is a former NASCAR champion. His last ride came in 1999. He lives with his wife in Asheboro, North Carolina. He is the brother of former fellow NASCAR competitor Jim Bown.
1970s
Bown ma ...
, former NASCAR driver; 1990
Nascar Busch Series Champion
*
Lane Caudell
Lane Caudell (born April 25, 1952) is an American actor and singer-songwriter who appeared in the films ''Goodbye, Franklin High'', and ''Hanging on a Star'' and played Woody King on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Days of Our Lives'' (1982–1983) ...
, musician and actor
*
Keith Crisco
John Keith Crisco Sr. (April 22, 1943 – May 12, 2014) was an American businessman and public official from the State of North Carolina.
Early life and career
Born in 1943 in Stanly County, North Carolina, Crisco graduated from Pfeiffer ...
, businessman and public official
*
William Cicero Hammer, U.S.
Congressional Representative Democrat from 1921 to 1930
*
Andy Headen, former
NFL linebacker for the
New York Giants
*
Randy Henderson, Mayor of
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
from 2009-2020
*
Elizabeth Lail
Elizabeth Dean Lail (born March 25, 1992) is an American actress. She played the recurring role of Anna in the fantasy adventure series ''Once Upon a Time'' (2014), and starred as Amy Hughes in the supernatural series '' Dead of Summer'' (2016) ...
, actress known for her role as
Anna in ''
Once Upon a Time'' series
*
Paul Martin Newby
Paul Martin Newby (born May 5, 1955) is an American judge, who was first elected to a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2004. He was elected Chief Justice in 2020.
Early life and education
Newby was born in Asheboro, North Carolina. H ...
, justice on the
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina is the state of North Carolina's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists ...
*
Reynolds Price
Edward Reynolds Price (February 1, 1933 – January 20, 2011) was an American poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist and James B. Duke Professor of English at Duke University. Apart from English literature, Price had a lifelong interest in Biblica ...
,
novelist,
essayist and educator, resident of the town in the 1930s and 1940s
*
Julius Ramsay,
Emmy-nominated television director and editor
*
Joe Spinks
Joseph S. Spinks (born June 20, 1972) is an American-Dutch retired basketball player and coach. He played eight seasons for ABC Amsterdam in the Netherlands and is considered one of the best players to have played in the Eredivisie. Spinks also ...
, professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player
Joe Spinks inducted into Campbell Sports Hall of Fame
''gocamels.com''. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
* Jonathan Worth, North Carolina Governor from 1865 to 1868 during early Reconstruction
Reconstruction may refer to:
Politics, history, and sociology
* Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company
*''Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Unio ...
References
External links
*
Official Visitor Info for the Greater Asheboro Area
Asheboro/Randolph County Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in North Carolina
County seats in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1796
Cities in Randolph County, North Carolina
1796 establishments in North Carolina