Montgomery County is a county in North Carolina, United States, in the southern Piedmont along the Uwharrie Mountains and the Pee Dee River. It had a population of 25,751 at the 2020 census and covers 501.54 square miles (1,299 km2), of which 491.54 square miles are land and 10 square miles are water, centred near 35°20′N 79°55′W.
Troy is the county seat and its postal code is 27371. The county has five incorporated towns — Biscoe, Candor, Mount Gilead, Star and Troy — plus nearly twenty unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has five incorporated towns and roughly twenty unincorporated communities scattered through the Uwharrie National Forest and the farmland along the Pee Dee and Little Rivers. CDP stands for census-designated place; Unincorp. marks a crossroads community or former mill village with no town government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | Town · seat | 2,850 | 27371 |
| Biscoe | Town | — | 27209 |
| Candor | Town | — | 27229 |
| Mount Gilead | Town | — | 27306 |
| Star | Town | — | 27356 |
| Abner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Ankle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blaine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chip | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dry Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eldorado | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Emery | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ether | Unincorp. | — | 27247 |
| Harrisville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Love Joy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Okeewemee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ophir | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pee Dee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pekin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steeds | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thickety Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Uwharrie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wadeville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wind Blow | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 27371 — Troy (also serves the county courthouse and Montgomery County Airport area)
- 27306 — Mount Gilead (also serves Uwharrie and the Jordan Lumber mill area)
- 27209 — Biscoe (also serves Carolina Forest and Emerald Shores subdivisions)
- 27229 — Candor (also serves Steeds)
- 27356 — Star (also serves Flint Hill)
- 27247 — Ether (PO Box delivery only)
Smaller communities such as Abner, Black Ankle, Eldorado, Ophir and Pekin share a ZIP code with their nearest incorporated town rather than having their own.
Geography
Montgomery County lies in the southern Piedmont, split by the Uwharrie Mountains — a low, heavily eroded range that is among the oldest mountain formations in North America — and drained by the Pee Dee and Little Rivers, which meet at Lake Tillery on the county’s western edge. The Uwharrie National Forest covers a large share of the northern county in scattered tracts. Elevation ranges from around 220 feet along the Pee Dee to over 1,100 feet on Coppermine Ridge.
Montgomery County borders Davidson County to the north, Randolph County to the northeast, Moore County to the east, Richmond County to the southeast, and Stanly County to the west. Of these, Randolph County, Richmond County and Stanly County have their own profiles on this site.
Demographics
Montgomery County had 25,751 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 52 people per square mile. Troy, the county seat, and Biscoe are the two largest towns. Median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting the county’s rural, manufacturing- and forestry-based economy rather than the state’s metro corridors.
Economy & Local Life
Timber, furniture manufacturing and agriculture anchor the local economy. Jordan Lumber & Supply, near Mount Gilead, operates one of the largest hardwood sawmills in the United States and is among the county’s biggest employers. Poultry farming, row crops and the Montgomery Correctional Institution near Troy also employ a significant share of the workforce. The Uwharrie National Forest draws hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders, and Lake Tillery supports a lakeside recreation economy on the county’s western shore.
History
Montgomery County was formed in 1779 from Anson County and named for Richard Montgomery, the Continental Army general killed at the Battle of Quebec in 1775. Gold mining shaped the 19th-century economy, with the Ophir and Coggins Mine districts among the earliest gold-producing sites in the country before the California Gold Rush drew miners west. Troy was established as county seat and grew around the courthouse square that still anchors its downtown today.
Getting There
Interstate 73/74 and US 220 run through the eastern side of the county, with NC 24, NC 27, NC 73, NC 109, NC 134 and NC 211 crossing it. Selected distances:
- Asheboro — 25 miles north
- Pinehurst — 25 miles east
- Albemarle — 20 miles west
- Charlotte — 65 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro; Montgomery County Airport in the eastern part of the county serves general aviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Montgomery County, North Carolina?
It sits in the southern Piedmont of central North Carolina, about 65 miles east of Charlotte, straddling the Uwharrie Mountains and the Pee Dee River.
What is the population of Montgomery County?
25,751 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Montgomery County?
501.54 square miles (1,299 km2), of which 10 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Montgomery County?
Troy is the county seat.
How many towns are in Montgomery County?
Five incorporated towns — Biscoe, Candor, Mount Gilead, Star and Troy — plus about twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Montgomery County?
27209 (Biscoe), 27229 (Candor), 27247 (Ether, PO Box), 27306 (Mount Gilead), 27356 (Star) and 27371 (Troy).
What is Montgomery County known for?
The Uwharrie National Forest, Lake Tillery, and 19th-century gold-mining sites at Ophir and Coggins Mine that predate the California Gold Rush.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.