The first inhabitants of the area eventually comprising Montgomery County wereKeyauwee andCheraw Native Americans. The first European settlers were German and Scottish.[3]
Montgomery County was created in 1779 out ofAnson County. It was named in honor ofRichard Montgomery, anAmerican Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to captureQuebec City,Canada. The law establishing the county also directed a group of commissioners to secure land near the center of the county for the construction of a country courthouse and prison. Many residents were dissatisfied with the location chosen, and after several years of demurring on a decision, a courthouse was erected in the community of Henderson, created at the confluence of theYadkin andUwharrie rivers in 1794.[4] In 1816, the old courthouse was sold another was erected at the new community of Laurenceville.[5] In 1841, the portion of Montgomery County west of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River becameStanly County.[6] Two years later, commissioners were selected to move the courthouse to Montgomery's geographic center, and in 1844Troy was established as the county seat.[7]
The county's first paved roads were established in the 1920s. TheGreat Depression, which began in 1929, had a large adverse impact on the local agricultural and manufacturing industries. By 1933, 30 percent of local residents were unemployed.[8]
At the2000 census,[18] there were 26,822 people, 9,848 households, and 7,189 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 55 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 14,145 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.07%White, 21.84%Black orAfrican American, 0.40%Native American, 1.61%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 5.75% fromother races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 10.43% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,848 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% weremarried couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.080.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,903, and the median income for a family was $39,616. Males had a median income of $27,832 versus $21,063 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,505. About 10.90% of families and 15.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.
The county's government is led by a board of commissioners, is responsible for levying taxes and appropriating county funds, issuing ordinances to regulate resident behavior, and overseeing county government administration.[19] A county manager oversees most regular administrative activities and is responsible for executing the board's wishes.[20]
As of March 2022, 35.9 percent of registered voters in Montgomery County were Republicans, 34.1 percent were registered Democrats, and 29.4 percent were registered unaffiliated.[24]
Interstate 73/Interstate 74 runs through the eastern portion of Montgomery County. The main east-to-west road route which crosses the county isNorth Carolina Highway 27.[26] Freight rail service is run by theAberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway, which operates an east-to-west line through the county which connects to Charlotte and Raleigh, and another which runs south to the Southern Pines/Pinehurst region.[27] Corporate and private airplane facilities are provided by theMontgomery County Airport, located in the eastern portion of the county.[28]
The public school system provides five elementary schools (Star, Mt. Gilead, Candor, Page Street, and Green Ridge), two middle schools (West Montgomery and East Montgomery and one high school (Montgomery Central, formed in 2020 by the merger of East Montgomery High and West Montgomery High). Higher education is provided byMontgomery Community College.
