Founded in 1771 and located at the geographic center of the state, Chatham County encompasses an area of more than 707 square miles and merits the slogan "The Heart of North Carolina." The county is situated between two of the state’s three largest centers of population and commerce, the Triangle Region and the Piedmont Triad.
Strategically located in the middle of North Carolina, Chatham County is in the perfect place. It is on the way from Greensboro to Raleigh or from Sanford to Chapel Hill. Chatham County marks the halfway point between New York and Florida. The upgrade of U.S. highway 64 to a four-lane highway has opened travel, making Chatham County a vital link between Asheboro and Raleigh. Additionally, U.S. highway routes 15-501, 421, and 1 link tourism and business with vital interstate access. Interstates 40, 85 and 95 are within an hour of the county.
Chatham county is home to Jordan Lake, a regional reservoir, with more than 46,000 acres, and one of the state’s top recreation areas. Three rivers, the Haw, Deep, and Rocky, provide scenic beauty, recreation, and drinking water to the county and surrounding region. The natural beauty of the county belies its diverse mixture of industry, which include lumber and wood products, textiles, brick making, metalworking, and poultry production.