Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,359. Its county seat is Dobson, and its largest city is Mount Airy. Surry county comprises the Mount Airy, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greensboro- Winston-Salem- High Point, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1771 from Rowan County as part of the British Province of North Carolina. It was named for the county of

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

in England, birthplace of William Tryon,

Governor of North Carolina The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...

from 1765 to 1771. In 1777 parts of Surry County and Washington District (now Washington County, Tennessee) were combined to form Wilkes County. The first permanent courthouse was established at Richmond in 1779, what is now the modern-day Old Richmond Township in Forsyth County near Donnaha. However, in 1789 the eastern half of Surry County became

Stokes County Stokes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,520. Its county seat is Danbury. Stokes County is included in the Winston-Salem, N.C., Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ...

, thus making the Richmond site unusable for either county. In 1790, the county seat was moved to Rockford where it remained for over half a century. In 1850 the half of the county's remaining territory south of the Yadkin River became

Yadkin County Yadkin County is located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,214. Its county seat is Yadkinville. Yadkin County is included in the Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also in ...

. The town of Dobson was established in 1853 to be the new county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water. The whole county is generally considered part of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan area. Surry County is located in the Yadkin Valley AVA, an

American Viticultural Area An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of winery, wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know abo ...

. Wines made from grapes grown in Surry County may carry the appellation Yadkin Valley on their label.

Mountains

Surry County is located both within the Piedmont region of central North Carolina and in the Appalachian Mountains region of western North Carolina. Most of the eastern two-thirds of the county lies within the Piedmont, a region of gently rolling hills and valleys. However, the Piedmont of Surry County also contains a small portion of the Sauratown Mountains; Surry County marks the western end of the Sauratown Mountain range. The western third of the county lies within the Blue Ridge Mountains, and they dominate the county's western horizon. The mountain passes (called "gaps" locally) are notorious for their occasional high winds, which can force automobiles and even large

Eighteen wheeler A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semitruck, (or semi, eighteen-wheeler, big rig, tractor-trailer or, by synecdoche, a semitrailer) is the combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight. A semi-trailer a ...

trucks off the highways which lead through the passes. As a result, high wind advisories issued by the National Weather Service are not uncommon. The highest point in Surry County is Fisher Peak in the Blue Ridge; it rises to above sea level. However, the best-known peak in Surry County is not the highest. That honor goes to Pilot Mountain, an isolated

monadnock An inselberg or monadnock () is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. In Southern Africa a similar formation of granite is known as a koppie, a ...

and a North Carolina landmark. Pilot Mountain sharply rises some above the surrounding countryside, and can be seen for miles. Another notable peak in Surry County is Cumberland Knob, in the northwestern corner of the county, which was the starting point of the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The following table provides a list of some of the more prominent mountains of the county. PilotMt890611

Major water bodies

* Ararat River * Bear Creek *

Big Creek Big Creek may refer to: In Australia * Big Creek, Tasmania, a tributary of the Inglis River in Tasmania, Australia In Belize * Big Creek, Belize, a sea port in Belize In Canada * Big Creek (British Columbia), a tributary of the Chilcotin River * ...

* Camp Creek * Fisher River * Flat Shoal Creek (Ararat River tributary) * Grassy Creek * Hogan Creek * King Creek * Little Fisher Creek * Mill Creek *

Mitchell River Mitchell River may refer to: Australia *Mitchell River (Queensland) *Mitchell River (Victoria) *Mitchell River (Western Australia) Canada *Mitchell River (Cross River) *Mitchell River (Quesnel River tributary) United States *Mitchell River (Mass ...

* Pauls Creek (Stewarts Creek tributary) * Pheasant Creek (Fisher River tributary) * Pilot Creek (Ararat River tributary) * Ramey Creek *

Stewarts Creek (Ararat River tributary) Stewarts Creek is a long 4th order tributary to the Ararat River in Surry County, North Carolina. Variant names According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as: *Bledsoe Creek *Stewart Creek *Stua ...

* Toms Creek (Ararat River tributary) * Yadkin River While there are many creeks and streams in Surry County, there are three recognized major rivers in the county, the Ararat, the Fisher, and the Mitchell. All three flow southward and are tributaries of the Yadkin River, which forms the southern border of Surry County. The Yadkin River is the northern component of the

Pee Dee River The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in the Carolinas of the United States. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course, above the mouth of the Uwharrie River The Uwharri ...

which flows to the Atlantic Ocean near

Georgetown, South Carolina Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, South Carolina, Georgetown County, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census ...

National protected area

* Blue Ridge Parkway (part)

State and local protected areas/sites

Cumberland Knob Recreation Area Cumberland ( ) is a historic counties of England, historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th c ...

(part) * Horne Creek Living Historical Farm * Pilot Mountain State Park *

Raven Knob Scout Reservation Raven Knob Scout Reservation is a 3200 acre Boy Scout camp operated by the Old Hickory Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The reservation is located in Surry County, North Carolina, United States. History Origins The Old Hickory Council, ...

(part)

Adjacent counties

* Patrick County, Virginia - north * Carroll County, Virginia - north * Grayson County, Virginia - north *

- east * Forsyth County - southeast *

- south * Wilkes County - southwest * Alleghany County - west

Major highways

* (Route Designated from the State boarder with Virginia to Exit 17) * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Major infrastructure

* Mount Airy/Surry County Airport *

Elkin Municipal Airport Elkin Municipal Airport is a public airport in Surry County, North Carolina, United States, three miles northeast of Elkin. It is owned by the Town of Elkin; the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a ''general ...

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 71,359 people, 28,408 households, and 19,539 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 71,219 people, 28,408 households, and 20,482 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51/km²). There were 31,033 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.40% White, 4.16% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 28,408 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.92. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $33,046, and the median income for a family was $38,902. Males had a median income of $27,854 versus $20,556 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,722. About 9.10% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Surry is at present a predominantly Republican county. The last Democratic Presidential nominee to carry Surry County has been Jimmy Carter in 1976, and no Democrat since 1996 has reached forty percent of the county's vote. Hillary Clinton received only twenty-three percent in 2016, a proportion smaller than Hubert Humphrey obtained in the three-way 1968 race. In the early 20th century, Surry swung from Democratic-leaning during the Third Party System, to Republican enough to be alongside Yadkin and

as the only North Carolina counties to vote with William Howard Taft during his disastrous 1912 campaign, back to Democratic enough to support Adlai Stevenson II in 1952. Surry County is a member of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. The five-member Board of County Commissioners are elected from single-member districts for four-year staggered terms, with elections in even-numbered years. The board elects a chair and vice-chair, who serve twelve-month terms.

Education

Surry County is divided into three local school systems: Surry County Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, and Elkin City Schools.

Surry County Schools

High schools

* Surry Early College High School of Design (on the Surry Community College campus.) * East Surry High School * North Surry High School * Surry Central High School

Middle schools

* Central Middle School * Gentry Middle School * Meadowview Magnet Middle School * Pilot Mountain Middle School

Elementary schools

* Cedar Ridge Elementary School * Copeland Elementary School * Dobson Elementary School * Flat Rock Elementary School * Franklin Elementary School * Mountain Park Elementary School * Pilot Mountain Elementary School * Rockford Elementary School * Shoals Elementary School * Westfield Elementary School * White Plains Elementary School

Mount Airy City Schools

* Mount Airy High School * Mount Airy Middle School * Jones Intermediate School * Tharington Primary School

Elkin City Schools

The Elkin City Schools system has 3 schools ranging from

pre-kindergarten Pre-kindergarten (also called Pre-K or PK) is a voluntary classroom-based preschool program for children below the age of five in the United States, Canada, Turkey and Greece (when kindergarten starts). It may be delivered through a preschool ...

to twelfth grade: Elkin Elementary School, Elkin Middle School and

Elkin High School Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township. The population was 4,083 at the 2020 census. Geography Elkin i ...

Colleges and universities

Surry Community College Surry Community College is a public community college in Dobson, North Carolina. Founded in 1964, it is part of the North Carolina Community College System and services Surry and Yadkin Counties. Surry Community College offers thirty-six are ...

, part of the North Carolina Community College System, is the county's only institution for post-secondary education.

Media

Print

Surry County is home to three local newspapers, ''

The Mount Airy News ''The Mount Airy News'' is a six-day-a-week newspaper published in Mount Airy, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1880. The ''News'' has a circulation of 9,263 according to The Park Library's list of North Carolina newspapers. ...

'' of Mount Airy, ''

The Pilot A pilot is a person who flies or navigates an aircraft. Pilot or The Pilot may also refer to: * Maritime pilot, a person who guides ships through hazardous waters * Television pilot, a television episode used to sell a series to a television n ...

'' in Pilot Mountain and '' The Tribune'' of Elkin. Additionally, the larger daily '' Winston-Salem Journal'' covers news and events in the county. One local newspaper, '' The Messenger'' in Mount Airy, ceased operation in approximately 2011.

Broadcast

WIFM in Elkin is a full-time FM radio station. The county has three AM stations,

WYZD WYZD (1560 AM) is a Christian radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the r ...

in Dobson, as well as

WSYD WSYD (1300 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Mount Airy, North Carolina, United States, the station serves Surry County, North Carolina. The station is currently owned by Granite City Broadcasting and features prog ...

and WPAQ in Mount Airy, both of which operate also on 24-hour FM repeaters that cover most of the county. There are no broadcast television stations in Surry County. Surry County is part of the Piedmont Triad radio and television market but many broadcasts from the Charlotte market also can be received in Surry County.

Tourism

Surry County is apparently home to the fictitious community of

Mayberry Mayberry, North Carolina, is a fictional community that was the setting for two popular American television sitcoms, ''The Andy Griffith Show'' (1960–1968) and ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1968–1971); Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reuni ...

from " The Andy Griffith Show", which aired from 1960 through 1967. Andy Griffith reportedly used many things from his hometown in his tv town. Now guests can experience what it was like living in Mayberry by visiting the Andy Griffith Museum, stopping by Andy's homeplace, getting a trim at Floyd's barbershop, taking a ride in a replica Mayberry Squad Car, or even grabbing a bite to eat a
Snappy Lunch
Every year in September the city holds the "Mayberry Days" celebration, where fans can come and enjoy the town together.

Communities

Map of Surry County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

* Mount Airy (largest city)

Towns

* Dobson (county seat) * Elkin (also in Wilkes County) * Pilot Mountain

Census-designated places

Flat Rock Flat Rock may refer to: Australia *Flat Rock or Collins Rock, a low point in Woonona, New South Wales United States * Flat Rock, Alabama * Flat Rock, Georgia * Flat Rock (Columbus, Georgia), a residential neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia * F ...

* Lowgap * Toast * White Plains

Townships

Bryan Bryan may refer to: Places United States * Bryan, Arkansas * Bryan, Kentucky * Bryan, Ohio * Bryan, Texas * Bryan, Wyoming, a ghost town in Sweetwater County in the U.S. state of Wyoming * Bryan Township (disambiguation) Facilities and structur ...

* Dobson * Eldora * Elkin * Franklin * Long Hill * Marsh * Mount Airy * Pilot * Rockford * Shoals * Siloam * South Westfield * Stewarts Creek * Westfield

Unincorporated communities

With of total land area and only four incorporated municipalities, much of Surry County remains rural. Like much of rural North Carolina, Surry County is dotted with many unincorporated communities, some with rather colorful names. Like many rural communities, these places are centered on churches, schools, post offices, and other common gathering places that developed to serve the needs of a mostly agricultural society. The United States Geographic Names Information System includes 68 populated places in Surry County. Four of these are the county's incorporated municipalities and seven are historical place names. Of the remaining 57, three have since been annexed by an existing city or town. Elkin Valley and North Elkin have long been part of the town of Elkin and the city of Mount Airy will complete in summer 2007 its annexation of the remaining portions of Hollyview Forest-Highland Park that remain outside of the city.Mount Airy hiring officers to patrol communities that will be annexed
published, 15 March 2007, Winston-Salem Journal (accessed 6 June 2007) Additionally, the communities of Jenkinstown and Blevins Store frequently show up on county maps, although they are not officially classified as populated places by the GNIS. *

Albion Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scot ...

Ararat Ararat or in Western Armenian Ararad may refer to: Personal names * Ararat ( hy, Արարատ), a common first name for Armenian males (pronounced Ararad in Western Armenian) * Ararat or Araratian, a common family name for Armenians (pronounced A ...

* Ash Hill * Bannertown *

Blackwater Blackwater or Black Water may refer to: Health and ecology * Blackwater (coal), liquid waste from coal preparation * Blackwater (waste), wastewater containing feces, urine, and flushwater from flush toilets * Blackwater fever, an acute kidney disea ...

* Blevins Store * Boones Hill * Bottom *

Burch Burch may refer to: People *Burch (surname) Places ;In the United States *Burch, Missouri *Burch, North Carolina *Burch, West Virginia ;Elsewhere *Burch, Poland Burch is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wejherowo, within Wejher ...

Cedar Hill Cedar may refer to: Trees and plants *''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae *Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar Places United States * Cedar, Arizona * ...

* Combstown * Copeland *

Crooked Oak Crooked may refer to: * Crooked Creek (disambiguation) * Crooked Island (disambiguation) * Crooked Lake (disambiguation) * Crooked River (disambiguation) * Crooked Harbour, Hong Kong * Crooked Forest, West Pomerania, Poland * Crooked Bridg ...

Crutchfield Crutchfield Corporation is a North American retailer specializing in a wide range of electronics, including mobile audio and video equipment for the automobile, along with speakers, televisions, and other electronics for home or portable use, se ...

* Devotion * Fairview * Franklin * Hills Grove * Holly Springs * Indian Grove * Jenkinstown * Ladonia * Level Cross * Little Richmond * Long Hill * Mount Herman * Mountain Park *

Mulberry ''Morus'', a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae, consists of diverse species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries, growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions. Generally, the genus has 64 identif ...

* New Hope * Oak Grove * Pine Hill * Pine Ridge * Poplar Springs * Red Brush * Rockford * Round Peak *

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

* Salem Fork * Sheltontown * Shoals * Siloam * Slate Mountain *

State Road A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...

Stony Knoll Stony Knoll is an unincorporated community in the Rockford Township of Surry County, North Carolina, United States. Geography The community is centered on the intersection of Rockford Road and Stony Knoll Road and generally lies between the Fi ...

* Turkey Ford * Union Cross * Union Hill * Westfield * White Sulphur Springs * Woodville *

Zephyr In European tradition, a zephyr is a light wind or a west wind, named after Zephyrus, the Greek god or personification of the west wind. Zephyr may also refer to: Arts and media Fiction Fiction media * ''Zephyr'' (film), a 2010 Turki ...

References

External links

* *
The Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce - Serving Wilkes, Yadkin & Surry Counties

Surry County Economic Development Partnership

Elkin Business Development Council

NCGenWeb Surry County
- free genealogy resources for the county {{authority control Counties of Appalachia 1771 establishments in North Carolina Populated places established in 1771