Richmond County is home to the town of Ellerbe, which was the home of professional wrestler André the Giant. Ellerbe is also famous for its peaches and fruit stands as well as numerous peach ice cream shops. The town's name was changed from Hurricane to Fairgrounds in 1793. Colonel W.T. Ellerbe bought land in the town because he believed that the springs there had cured his hay fever, and in 1911, the town was incorporated as Ellerbe.