city, seat (1796) of Randolph county, central North Carolina, U.S. It lies in the forested Uwharrie Mountains about 25 miles (40 km) south of Greensboro. Asheboro (originally Asheborough) was founded in 1796 on land that was once the home of Keyauwee Indians; a prehistoric Native American burial ground nearby was excavated in 1936. The name honours North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe (1725–1813). The community was a rural trade centre until the first railroad arrived in 1889, and several lumber plants, using waterpower furnished by the Deep and Uwharrie rivers, were established there.

Now industrialized, the city has large hosiery and apparel mills and upholstery-manufacturing plants. Lumbering and the manufacture of wood products are also important. The North Carolina Zoological Park and the well-known Seagrove potters' colony are nearby. Inc. 1796. Pop. (1990) 16,362; (2000) 21,672.