Gently rolling hills, river valleys, and forest land characterize Randolph County's 790 square miles. It is the 11th largest county in North Carolina and has the 17th highest population in the state. Nine municipalities are incorporated within the county with Asheboro as the county seat. Asheboro is approximately 70 miles from Raleigh, the State Capital, and from Charlotte, the state's largest city.
Randolph County is a part of the Piedmont Triad region, a six-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.
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 and the Seagrove area potteries, which enjoy an international reputation for exceptional hand thrown pottery.
