Yadkin County was formed out of Surry County in 1850. The county gets its name from the Yadkin River, which runs along the northern and eastern bounds of the county. Yadkinville, the county seat, was originally going to be called Wilson but that was ultimately decided against when the founders learned a city of that name already existed in the state.

The county’s early economy was driven by agriculture and specifically, tobacco. Industrialization took a while to come to the county as a result of opposition to the railroad. It wasn’t until the highway systems were introduced in the 20th century that industrialization took off. Today, the county is home to a number of manufacturing plants, including Unifi Manufacturing in Yadkinville, which is the county’s largest private employer and is a large recycled plastics polymer plant.

As tobacco production has declined, the county has shifted its agricultural focus to cash crops. The county ranks first in egg production and has more than 1.9 million layers. Since the turn of the 21st century, Yadkin County has become known for its wine production and is home to 12 vineyards. The county is part of the Yadkin Valley Wine Region, which was the first federally designated wine region in the state.

The county is also known for its Barn Quilt Trail, which consists of 50 wooden quilt blocks located on barns, buildings, and houses throughout the county. The trail honors the region’s quilting tradition and began as a community effort by the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center. Visitors can stop by the Chamber or the Visitor Center to collect a trail map.

Yadkin County has been a Republican stronghold since 1868 and has voted for every Republican presidential candidate since then. In 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump carried the county by more than 60%. Ted Budd won the county in 2022 by nearly 65%.