Rutherford County
… was formed in 1779 from Tryon County when it was divided to form Rutherford and Lincoln Counties. Located in the SW section of the state, it is bounded by the state of South Carolina and by Polk, Henderson, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, and Cleveland Counties. It was named for Griffith Rutherford (1731-1800), leader of 1776 expedition against the Cherokee, member of the Provincial Congress, and Revolutionary War general. Area: 568 sq. mi. County seat: Rutherfordton, with an elevation of 1,096 ft. Townships are Camp Creek, Chimney Rock, Colfax, Cool Spring, Duncans Creek, Gilkey, Golden Valley, Green Hill, High Shoals, Logan Store, Morgan, Rutherfordton, Sulphur Springs, and Union. Produces corn, wheat, oats, cotton, hay, soybeans, boats, dairy products, livestock, hogs, textiles, apparel, lumber, sand, and gravel.
