Editing Richmond County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507870|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Richmond County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|479.70|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|473.69|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.01|sqmi}} (1.25%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the 38th largest county in the state by land area.{{sfn|Sykes|2010|p=7}} It is bordered by [[Montgomery County, North Carolina|Montgomery County]], [[Moore County, North Carolina|Moore County]], [[Scotland County, North Carolina|Scotland County]], [[Anson County, North Carolina|Anson County]],<ref name= mcknightprofile/> and [[Marlboro County, South Carolina|Marlboro County]] in South Carolina.<ref name= censusprofile/> Richmond lies along the [[Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line]] and rests at the convergence of the [[Central North Carolina|Piedmont]], [[Sandhills (Carolina)|Sandhills]], and [[Eastern North Carolina|Coastal Plain]] physiographic regions, with the Piedmont making up most of the western part of the county and the Sandhills and Coastal Plain predominating in the center and east.{{sfn|Sykes|2010|p=7}} The [[Uwharrie Mountains]] extend along the county's western border.{{sfn|Sharpe|1953|p=3}}

Nearly three-fourths of the county lies within the [[Pee Dee River|Great Pee Dee River]] drainage basin, with the remainder mostly draining into Drowning Creek,{{sfn|Sykes|2010|p=7}} the headwaters of the [[Lumber River]].{{sfn|Sharpe|1953|p=4}} The county hosts several lakes/reservoirs (like [[Blewett Falls Lake]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blewett Falls Lake |url=https://www.visitnc.com/listing/ELfi/blewett-falls-lake |access-date=March 11, 2023 |website=www.visitnc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blewett Falls Lake And Recreation Aread |url=http://www.blewettfallslake.com/ |access-date=March 11, 2023 |website=www.blewettfallslake.com}}</ref> and creeks.<ref name= Mazzocchi/> Most of the county is forested.{{sfn|McNair|2015|p=757}} Longleaf pine grows naturally in the area.<ref>{{cite news | title = 65 acres donated to Land Trust for preservation| newspaper = Richmond County Daily Journal| date = October 1, 2019| url = https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/89008/65-acres-donated-to-land-trust-for-preservation| access-date = December 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wbtv.com/2019/10/01/acre-richmond-county-property-donated-three-rivers-land-trust/| title = 65 acre Richmond County property donated to Three Rivers Land Trust| last = Whisenant| first = David| date = October 1, 2019 | website = WBTV| publisher = Gray Media Group| access-date = December 28, 2022}}</ref> Significant amounts of longleaf pine forest are preserved in the Sandhills [[North Carolina game land|Game Land]], over half of which is in Richmond County.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandhills Game Land |url=https://visitrichmondcounty.com/f/sandhills-game-land |date=July 23, 2019 |publisher=Richmond Country Tourism Development Authority|website=Richmond County Visitor's Guide|language=en-US|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref> Pee Dee River Game Land is also partially located in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> Agricultural land in Richmond is home to many landbirds, including [[loggerhead shrike]] and [[vesper sparrow]].{{sfn|McNair|2015|p=757}} The [[Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge]], which covers part of the county and includes grassland and swamps, hosts numerous migratory waterfowl and [[white-tailed deer]].<ref name= wood>{{cite news| last = Wood| first = Charles| title = Pee Dee Natural WildlifeRefuge a waterfowl sanctuary| newspaper = Richmond County Daily Journal| date = January 31, 2020| url = https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/features/91681/pee-dee-natural-wildliferefuge-a-waterfowl-sanctuary| access-date = December 28, 2022}}</ref>