Randolph County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Randolph County's courthouse in Asheboro was built in 1908-1909 after the county commissioners decided a new building was needed and chose a site on Worth Street. The Charlotte firm Wheeler, Runge and Dickey, which designed several North Carolina courthouses in that decade, prepared the plans, and Joseph R. Owen was hired to oversee construction. The three-story yellow brick building has a hipped-roof square core with two-story wings, a granite base, and a tetrastyle Corinthian portico. A Second Empire dome clad in ribbed tile rises above the portico, and textures of tile, rough stone, sandstone and smooth brick give the exterior a bold, sculptural look. Inside, vertical panel wainscot, paneled doors and metal-frame stairs survive despite renovations, though the courtroom has been remodeled. A 1950 brick addition stands to the east. The courthouse is regarded as Asheboro's most distinctive landmark and one of the state's best preserved early Neo-Classical Revival buildings.
Significance in brief: The courthouse is described as an exuberant early Neo-Classical Revival building that blends the complex massing of the late nineteenth century with classical motifs. It is called Asheboro's most distinctive landmark and one of North Carolina's best preserved examples of early Neo-Classical Revival architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79001746, listed May 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Worth St., Asheboro |
|---|---|
| County | Randolph County |
| Listed | May 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001746 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Wheeler, Runge and Dickey (architects); built by J. P. Owen (Joseph R. Owen hired to superintend construction) |
| Architectural style | Early Neo-Classical Revival with a Second Empire dome |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Extensive renovations have been made and the original courtroom is completely remodeled, but much original interior finish remains. A 1950 brick addition adjoins the east side. |
| Acreage | 3.1 |
| Within district | Asheboro Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.70623, -79.81300 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79001746.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7291810
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.