Randleman History

Randleman is located in the heart of North Carolina minutes south of Greensboro, NC off I 73/Hwy 220. In 1800 the founding of Dicks Grist Mill was the beginning of the history of Randleman as it was known as Dicks Crossing. Union Factory was built in 1848 and the community changed its name to Union. During this time two men were outstanding in the development of the community John Banner Randleman and John H. Ferree. They purchased the Union Factory and changed the name to Randleman Manufacturing Company and they were instrumental in starting Naomi Mills. During 1880 the General Assembly granted papers of incorporation to the City of Randleman, named for John Banner Randleman. 

The first church built in Randleman was the Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church in 1850. In 1855 a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized called St. Paul. St Paul is believed to be the first brick church built in Randolph County. The Old Randleman School built in 1902 was the first brick school built in Randolph County and both of these properties are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Dicks Mansion believed to be the first home built in Randolph County with indoor plumbing and electricity included a walnut staircase, stain glass windows and furnished with imported antiques. The mansion was demolished to make room for the city parking lot in the 1960s. 1889 brought about change with the Southern Railroad - High Point, Randleman & Asheboro, because roads were not good. Three more mills opened Randleman Mills, Plaidville Mills and Marie Antoinette. Randleman Hosiery was the first hosiery mill in Randolph County. Manufacturing remains strong today although a shift to furniture is evident. In 2017 Commonwealth Mills, Deep River Dyeing, Hughes Furniture Industries, Motion Ease, NC Upholstery, Carolina Girl Furniture, Dart Container, Metals USA, United Brass Works, Rheem and the Timken Company employ thousands of citizens from the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina.

Randleman is best known for the first family of NASCAR the Petty's and home of NASCAR legend "The King" Richard Petty. We are home to four NASCAR Car Hall of Famers including Richard, Lee Petty, Dale Inman and Maurice Petty. Randleman is also home to the Victory Junction Camp for medically ill children founded by Kyle and Patti Petty in the loss of their son Adam Petty. The Randleman Dam was built around 2010 and provides water for the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina as well as being one of the top Bass fishing lakes in the nation. The Deep Rive Nature Trail spans along the Deep River where you can stroll or jog along the river for aprox three miles when the expansion is complete later in 2017. Randleman has had players in the NFL and Major League Baseball among many other career fields. Randleman High School has had multiple state championships in football  (81, 82, & 83) and baseball (     ) as well as other conference championships in a variety of sports.

In 1989 the Randleman Business Council (Randleman Chamber of Commerce) formed the NASCAR Day Festival which began as a 2 day event touting our NASCAR and community heritage. Drawing thousands to Randleman, the event has national attention. In 1992 the community erected a tribute to Richard Petty that currently stands along Main Street near North State Communication. This was presented when he retired from being a driver. Due to race changes and economic conditions the festival was changed to one day each October and continues to entertain with three stages of entertainment, arts & crafts, cars of all types, kids activities, pageants and food of all types and of course the "King" himself.

The North Carolina Food Truck State Championship was formed in 2013 by a partnership of the City of Randleman and the Randleman Chamber of Commerce. City consultant Ron Nilan suggested a food truck event, even a championship and Jeff Freeman, Executive Director of the chamber researched food truck events and championships and presented findings to the city manager and Mr. Nilan. Mr. Freeman contacted the food truck alliance and set a meeting for the city, chamber and alliance at city hall. Freeman also booked entertainment, emceed and handled publicity for several years for the NCFTSC and the City's Market & Music Concert Series.The event was a success and continues featuring food trucks, entertainment, competition and more each June.