Central Park

At the bottom of the Triad lies a lush landscape

Welcome to the Central Park community of the NC Triad. Here, you’ll find lush greenery and friendly neighbors, in addition to great food and a plethora of outdoor activities. Spanning the bottom sector of the NC Triad, this region is composed of Davidson, Montgomery and Randolph Counties. Browse boutique shops in the downtown areas of Asheboro, Troy and Lexington, or explore the Uwharrie National Forest and the scenic Uwharrie Mountains.

Rankings

#5

Places with The Lowest Cost Of Living In North Carolina (Lexington)

(Area Vibes 2023)

Facts & Figures

Asheboro population (2022): 25,852

Montgomery County population (2022): 27,252

Davidson County population (2022): 165,381

Outdoors

Explore Outdoor Activities

Visitors come from far and wide to experience the incredible North Carolina Zoo in Randolph County. As the world’s largest wildlife conservation park, the North Carolina Zoo has won numerous awards for its conservation efforts, including two William G. Conway International Conservation Awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2018. The portion of the Deep River Trail that runs through Randolph County is the perfect place for biking, jogging and fishing. The trail is rich with textile history and sites linked to Native Americans and the Revolutionary War. Meanwhile, Montgomery County contains 156 bodies of water including dams, rivers, streams and reservoirs. The county’s three main lakes are Badin Lake, Lake Tillery and Falls (Narrows) Reservoir, which have more than 230 miles of combined shoreline. Go horseback riding, kayaking, hiking and biking and golfing – all within your local community. Interested in off-roading? The Uwharrie National Forest provides the only public off-highway vehicle (OHV) or motorized trail system in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. You can even pan for gold in the Uwharrie National Forest!

Arts & Culture

Arts Community

The Central Park community is home to a variety of art galleries, including the Sara Smith Self Gallery in Asheboro, Studio 601 Photography & Art Gallery in Randleman, Stephen Sebastian Gallery in Thomasville, and Bob Timberlake Gallery in Lexington. The Liberty Showcase Theater is a great place to catch a live show and bring the entire family. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove offers classes for the local community, exhibitions, and special events. Each year, Pigs in the City in Lexington displays life size plaster pigs all over town, each decorated in a unique artsy style – try to find them all! The Randolph Arts Guild and Davidson County Arts Council provide all the most up-to-date arts information within each county.

Eat & Drink

Cooking up Comfort Food

In Montgomery County, experience gorgeous lakeside views with your meal at River Wild Restaurant at Lake Tillery, homestyle cooking at Blake Restaurant in Candor and classic American cuisine at the historic Uwharrie Mercantile in Troy. In Randolph County, it’s common to see lines out the door for brunch at The Table Farmhouse Bakery in Asheboro. In addition, Magnolia 23 in downtown Asheboro was ranked one of “America’s 75 Best Fried Chicken Spots” by The Daily Meal in 2019. Visitors travel from across the country to sample their famous fried chicken, in addition to other southern favorites like collard greens, yams, cornbread, and banana pudding. Davidson’s food scene is made up of quintessential Southern BBQ, in addition to twists on tried and true favorites. Visit the famous Lexington Barbecue, known by locals as the “Honeymonk” or “The Monk,” for the best, nationally-ranked barbecue. Other great spots for Southern comfort food in Davidson County include Backcountry Barbecue and Cook’s Barbecue. For a taste of local beer, try Four Saints Brewing Company in Asheboro – the only carbon-neutral brewery in North Carolina.

Education

Top-Tier Schools

The Central Park region includes great public school districts across all three counties: Randolph County Schools, Montgomery Public Schools and Davidson County Schools. Additionally, there are private and charter schools throughout the community like Wescare Christian Academy, Level Cross Christian School, Neighbors Grove and more.

Major Employers

Chart Your Career Path

Whether you’re seeking jobs in the public or private sector, the Central Park community offers a broad range of job opportunities across a variety of industries. Top employers in Randolph County include Randolph County Schools, Technimark, Randolph Health and the North Carolina Zoo. Davidson County employs upwards of 1,000 people at regional public schools, in addition to an abundance of jobs in local government, manufacturing, retail and health services. Montgomery County’s top employers include American Axle & Manufacturing, Jordan Lumber & Supply and Montgomery Public Schools. More than one-third of private sector workers in Montgomery County are employed in the manufacturing sector, which includes a heavy focus in the natural products area.

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