High Point is known for its furniture, textiles, and bus manufacturing. Some regard the city as the "Furniture Capital of the World" and it is called "North Carolina's International City" due to the semi-annual High Point Market that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. The area code is 336.
It is home to High Point University, a private Methodist-affiliated institution founded in 1924. The city also has one of the few Bentley dealerships in the southeast.
Most of the city is located in Guilford County, with portions spilling into neighboring Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that extends into four counties.
As of the censusof 2000, there were 85,839 people, 33,519 households, and 22,523 families residing in the city. The population densitywas 1,750.1 people per square mile (675.7/km²). There were 35,952 housing units at an average density of 733.0/sq mi (283.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.56% White, 31.77% African American, 0.46% Native American, 3.35% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 2.27% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.89% of the population. 12.7% were of American, 8.7% English, 8.3% German and 5.9% Irish ancestry. There were 33,519 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,137, and the median income for a family was $48,057. Males had a median income of $33,411 versus $25,293 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,303. About 10.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
High Point is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport, which also serves Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
Amtrak's Crescent and Carolinian and Piedmont trains connect High Point (Amtrak station) with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The recently refurbished historic Amtrak station is situated at 100 West High Street.
Interstate 85 runs through southern High Point, southeast of the original interstate roadway, which is now designated Business 85. In the future, the new Interstate 74 will run north and east of the city. This section is referred locally as the "East Belt" freeway project, with construction scheduled to be completed after 2011. Part of this freeway is already built, and is signed U.S. Route 311.
The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation(PART) also operates in High Point. It is a service that shuttles people in between most of the cities in the northwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. High Point also provides public transportation. The main service for public transportation in High Point is Hitran, the local bus service.
Highways passing through High Point include: