Surry County is a county in North Carolina, United States, in the north-central Piedmont along the Virginia line. It had a population of 71,359 at the 2020 census and covers 532.65 square miles (1,379.6 km2) of land centred near 36°25′N 80°41′W.
Dobson is the county seat and its postal code is 27017; Mount Airy, the county’s largest city, is the commercial hub. Surry County has 4 incorporated municipalities, 4 census-designated places and more than 50 unincorporated communities, all in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Surry County
The table below lists Surry County’s incorporated towns and cities, its census-designated places (CDPs), and its historic unincorporated communities. CDPs are statistical areas with no town government; Unincorp. places are crossroads, mill villages or rural neighborhoods with no formal boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Airy | City | 10,388 | 27030 |
| Dobson | City · seat | 1,619 | 27017 |
| Elkin | Town | 4,001 | 28621 |
| Pilot Mountain | Town | 1,477 | 27041 |
| Flat Rock | CDP | — | — |
| Lowgap | CDP | — | 27024 |
| Toast | CDP | — | 27049 |
| White Plains | CDP | — | — |
| State Road | Unincorp. | — | 28676 |
| Westfield | Unincorp. | — | 27053 |
| Ararat | Unincorp. | — | 27007 |
| Siloam | Unincorp. | — | 27047 |
| Albion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ash Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bannertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blackwater | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boones Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Combstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Copeland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crooked Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crutchfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Devotion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Franklin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holly Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jenkinstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ladonia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Level Cross | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Richmond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Herman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mulberry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplar Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Brush | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rockford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Round Peak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salem | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salem Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sheltontown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shoals | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Slate Mountain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stony Knoll | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turkey Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Cross | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Sulphur Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zephyr | Unincorp. | — | — |
Elkin sits on the Surry-Wilkes county line, with most of the town on the Surry side. Rockford, the county’s first seat, lost that role to Dobson in 1853 and is now a small unincorporated crossroads on the Yadkin River.
ZIP Codes
- 27030 — Mount Airy
- 27017 — Dobson
- 28621 — Elkin (also serves North Elkin)
- 27041 — Pilot Mountain
- 28676 — State Road
- 27053 — Westfield
- 27024 — Lowgap
- 27007 — Ararat
- 27047 — Siloam
- 27049 — Toast (PO Box only)
Flat Rock and White Plains have no ZIP code of their own; residents there use a Mount Airy or Dobson address.
Geography
Surry County lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the Piedmont plateau rises toward the Virginia line. The Yadkin River crosses the county’s southern half, and Pilot Mountain — a granite knob visible for miles across the surrounding farmland — anchors the southeast corner near the town that shares its name. Fisher River and Ararat River drain the northern townships toward the Yadkin.
Surry County borders Carroll County, Virginia and Grayson County, Virginia to the north, Patrick County, Virginia to the northeast, Stokes County to the east, Forsyth County to the southeast, Yadkin County to the south, Wilkes County to the southwest, and Alleghany County to the west.
Demographics
Surry County had 71,359 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 134 people per square mile. Mount Airy (10,388) and Elkin (4,001) are its two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting the county’s classification as economically distressed (Tier 1) by the state’s Department of Commerce.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing, healthcare and furniture-related industries anchor the local economy; Mount Airy’s downtown draws visitors year-round as the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, whose likeness inspired the fictional town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show. Surry Community College, based in Dobson, serves the county alongside Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy. Elkin is home to several wineries in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area. The Mayberry Days festival draws thousands to Mount Airy each fall.
History
Surry County was formed on April 1, 1771, from Rowan County, and named for Surrey, England, the birthplace of colonial governor William Tryon. Rockford served as the original county seat until 1853, when the seat moved to the newly platted town of Dobson, more central to the growing county. Elkin and Mount Airy grew as textile and furniture manufacturing towns through the 20th century, though both have diversified since the industry’s decline in the 1990s and 2000s.
Getting There
U.S. Route 52 and U.S. Route 601 are the county’s main highways, with US 52 running the length of the county from Winston-Salem north toward the Virginia line.
- Winston-Salem — 30 miles southeast
- Wilkesboro — 20 miles southwest
- Galax, Virginia — 20 miles north
- Greensboro — 55 miles east
Mount Airy/Surry County Airport handles general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Surry County, North Carolina?
It is in the north-central Piedmont of North Carolina, bordering Virginia along its northern edge.
What is the population of Surry County?
71,359 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Surry County?
532.65 square miles (1,379.6 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Surry County?
Dobson is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Surry County?
Four incorporated municipalities — Mount Airy, Dobson, Elkin and Pilot Mountain — plus four CDPs and dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Surry County?
Ten, led by 27030 (Mount Airy), 27017 (Dobson), 28621 (Elkin) and 27041 (Pilot Mountain).
Why is Mount Airy famous?
It is the hometown of actor Andy Griffith and the real-life inspiration for the fictional Mayberry.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.