A friendly community enjoys a manufacturing comeback
About 30 miles south of Greensboro, Asheboro has been dubbed the “Heart of North Carolina.” Named after Gov. Samuel Ashe, the city’s location along a railway line and its central position within the Tar Heel State ushered in an era of economic growth starting in the late 19th century, spearheaded by the textile and manufacturing industries. Although the state’s manufacturing industry entered something of a slump during the transition to the 2000s, Asheboro, in particular, has made a stellar recovery. “Since NAFTA, a lot of the new manufacturing that has been coming back has been going to Asheboro, even over Greensboro and Winston-Salem,” says Tyler McLeod, a Realtor with Elite Pro who has been selling homes for 6 years. Large employers include Technimark, Post Consumer Brands and the Ross Distribution Center.
The economy has also diversified over the decades, from the opening of the world-renowned North Carolina Zoo to the growth of the city’s friendly downtown. “It’s common for people here to wave to each other,” says Amy Rudisill, vice president of membership and events for the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce and a longtime resident. “I’ve grown used to it, and then when I go to other communities close by and do that, people think I’m crazy.” McLeod similarly lauds the city for its close-knit feel: “If you want to be drivable to Greensboro and Winston-Salem and still know everyone around you, you live in Asheboro. It’s big enough to have everything you need but not overwhelmingly big. We also have a better cost of living in terms of price per square foot on a house.”
A beautiful view of the Asheboro neighborhood with Mount Shepherd in the background.
Small bronze sculptures representing the animals of the North Carolina Zoo.
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Home to the North Carolina Zoo and outdoor spaces
The North Carolina Zoo is one of the world's largest zoological parks, with over 500 acres of animal habitat. Typically drawing close to one million annual visitors, the zoo is arguably the city's biggest attraction. The NC Zoo's 7 miles of trails lead to giraffes, African elephants and an array of North American species such as polar bears and Arctic foxes. During Boo at the Zoo, children are invited to trick-or-treat and participate in costume contests. The zoo’s popularity is reflected in the name of the local baseball team, the Asheboro Zookeepers, who play in a summer collegiate league and host training camps at McCrary Park.
Several parks and recreation centers are sprinkled across the city. North Asheboro Park features amenities such as a disc golf course and an outdoor pool. Uwharrie National Forest just to the south is more than five the times the size of the city of Asheboro. The park was established over the 500-million-year-old Uwharrie Mountains, among the oldest ranges in the world. It features hiking, biking and equestrian trails and Pisgah Covered Bridge, one of two remaining covered bridges in the state and a popular destination for weddings and special photoshoots.
Heavily renovated in 2023, Tot Hills Farm Golf Club's 18-hole course makes for a fun but challenging round.
The Uwharrie Ranger Station near Asheboro serves as the gateway to the National Forest.
Neighbors will be able to go to the open-air theater of Bicentennial Park.
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A buzzing downtown with new businesses
Over the past 15 years, downtown Asheboro has undergone something of a renaissance, led in part by organizations and nonprofits such as Downtown Asheboro Inc. Since 2020, the city center has experienced a net gain of 18 new businesses. “The Table has really started the growth of downtown,” McLeod says. "It’s a farm-to-table bakery, and once they opened, a lot of other restaurants followed suit." And the city still has big plans for economic growth up ahead. “Trade Street has been an alley, but they’re going to bury the utility lines and make it walkable,” McLeod says. Additional stores operate out of the Asheboro Mall on the east side of town.
The historic Sunset Theatre showcases concerts, plays and special performances by RhinoLeap Productions, which even partners with local middle and high schools to allow students to join their residency programs focused on film, music and more. Friday and Sunday nights downtown are filled with music and dancing as local tribute bands perform at Bicentennial Park, which serves as the town green.
Historic brick buildings in Asheboro's downtown house shops and restaurants.
RhinoLeap Productions presents concerts, plays, and special performances at Asheboro's historic Sunset Theatre.
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Seasonal events downtown
Residents come together to donate canned goods, roast marshmallows and meet the Grinch, Santa Claus and other seasonal characters for Christmas on Sunset in early December. “Downtown shuts down the streets, and businessowners stay after hours to give out hot chocolate,” McLeod says. “The Chamber of Commerce has been really good about getting small businesses involved and making sure we have a network of people to make events like that happen.” Held the first Saturday of October, the Fall Festival is another favorite, bringing out a fleet of food, arts and crafts vendors.
A mix of ranch-style builds, historic homes and tract housing
The median home price in Asheboro stands around $260,000, which is $150,000 below the national median. Much of the city’s housing consists of two- and three-bedroom ranch-style homes and bungalows, priced between $150,000 and $325,000. But larger homes on the outskirts can go for as much as $600,000, with some reaching $900,000.
McLeod highlights the historic Greystone neighborhood near the city center. “On one side, you have downtown, and the other side’s midtown,” McLeod says. “A lot of homes have character and were built from the 1920s to the '70s. You have Colonial Revival and American Craftsman bungalows, and on top of the hill, a lot of ranch-style homes. Some of them are midcentury modern builds with blue slate tiling and flat roofs reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.” Other standout neighborhoods include Dave’s Mountain, which offers scenic views of Asheboro’s surroundings, and North Asheboro, which McLeod notes is one of the few places in the city with tract homes.
A cottage-style home stands in Asheboro.
Ranch-style homes are common in Asheboro.
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Commutes to Greensboro via I-73 and PART buses
Greensboro is about a 30-mile drive north via Interstate 73, which passes through Asheboro and runs concurrently with Interstate 74 for a stretch. U.S. Route 64 is the city’s west-east highway, putting commuters 70 miles from Raleigh. Asheboro Regional Airport 8 miles to the southwest is utilized for general aviation, but for commercial flights, locals drive 37 miles to Piedmont Triad International Airport. Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) buses regularly stop along Fayetteville Street Monday through Friday and carry commuters up to Greensboro. Randolph Health hospital is on the city’s northern end and within a 5-mile drive of most residences.
Asheboro High partners with North Carolina Zoo for animal science
Randolph County Schools receives a B-plus from Niche, while Asheboro City Schools is B-rated. Asheboro High, associated with the latter district, receives a B and is known for its Zoo School program, where students have an opportunity for hands-on learning with animal scientists at the North Carolina Zoo. The Asheboro City Schools district promotes multilingual learning through its dual language immersion program, where students are instructed in English and Spanish daily from kindergarten through fifth grade. In 2023, the district received the True Trailblazer Award from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Office of Early Learning for its successful approach to literacy education.
Asheboro High School has 1,316 students in grades 9-12.
Lindley Park Elementary School has 450 students in grades K-5.
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Citizen’s Academy familiarizes locals with police proceedings
According to FBI statistics, violent crimes dropped by 4.5% and property crimes dropped by 25% between 2022 and 2023. Although property crime rates remain above national and state averages, the gap has been closing in recent years. Through the Citizen’s Academy, residents can learn the ins and outs of the Asheboro Police Department over nine weeks each spring.
Asheboro experiences four distinct seasons, with hot, humid summers and cool winters.
Written By
Alexander Breuhan
Photography Contributed By
Santiago Giraldo
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
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