RANDOLPH COUNTY

Randolph County is a part of the Piedmont Triad region, an eleven-county area whose central location puts it within 90 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and within 200 miles of the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The county sits in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, within 500 miles of half of the nation's population and largest markets. The region is united by the Piedmont Triad International Airport, interstate highways, a score of colleges and universities, and a rich cultural life.

Although Randolph County is a part of the largest metropolitan area located entirely within North Carolina, it is still small-town living at its best - close enough to larger cities to have access to the amenities, but small enough to escape such urban problems as traffic congestion, higher unemployment, and an increasing crime rate.

Randolph County is home to the North Carolina State Zoological Park, the nation's largest natural-habitat zoo with 500 acres of exhibits and over 1,000 animals. Also located in Randolph County are the Richard Petty Museum, (celebrating NASCAR's all-time career victory leader), the Uwharrie National Forest, The NC Pottery Center and the Seagrove area potteries, which enjoy an international reputation for exceptional hand thrown pottery.

Agriculture is a very strong industry in Randolph County, with cash receipts totaling over $209 million per year. Randolph County has 1,486 active farms encompassing 156,813 acres. The average farm size is 106 acres. Major crops include hay (21,000 acres), soybeans (8,800 acres), corn (6,400 acres), wheat (2,420 acres), and tobacco (740 acres), according to the NCDA Ag Statistics for 2016. Randolph county is #1 in North Carolina for beef cows, #2 in dairy cows, #2 in all cattle, #6 in poultry, and #6 in hay production.