Rutherfordton, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|
Main Street (US 221)
|
||
|
||
| Motto(s):
"A Minted Original"
|
||
Location of Rutherfordton, North Carolina
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Rutherford | |
| Established | 1787 | |
| Named for | Griffith Rutherford | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.14 sq mi (10.73 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.14 sq mi (10.73 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 915 ft (279 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 3,640 | |
| • Density | 878.59/sq mi (339.23/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28139
|
|
| Area code(s) | 828 | |
| FIPS code | 37-58460 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407262 | |
| Website | www.rutherfordton.net | |
Rutherfordton is a town in North Carolina, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Rutherford County, North Carolina. In 2020, about 3,640 people lived there. People often say its name like "RUF-in" or "RUF-tun."
Contents
Exploring Rutherfordton's Past
Rutherfordton was started in 1787. It became the new main town for Rutherford County. Before that, Gilbert Town was the county seat. A special group from the General Assembly of North Carolina chose the spot. They bought 50 acres of land near Cleghorn Creek. This land was on a hill, safe from floods. It was a perfect place for the town's courthouse.
By 1791, the main streets of Rutherfordton were planned out. They followed a grid plan, like a checkerboard. The first U.S. Post Office opened in 1798. Then, the Rutherfordton Academy, a school, was built in 1806.
Rutherfordton was very important for gold mining. Between 1790 and 1840, North Carolina was a big gold producer. About 70% of America's gold came from this area. A skilled goldsmith named Christopher Bechtler lived in Rutherfordton. He made the first U.S. gold dollars right there.
Where is Rutherfordton?
Rutherfordton is located where two main roads meet. These are U.S. Route 221 and North Carolina Highway 108. The town of Ruth is just north of Rutherfordton. To the east, you will find the town of Spindale.
The town covers about 4.2 square miles (10.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People Living in Rutherfordton
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 484 | — | |
| 1870 | 479 | — | |
| 1880 | 300 | −37.4% | |
| 1900 | 880 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,062 | 20.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,693 | 59.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,020 | 19.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,326 | 15.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,146 | 35.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,392 | 7.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,245 | −4.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,434 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,617 | 5.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,131 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,213 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,640 | −13.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Population Details
In 2020, there were 3,640 people living in Rutherfordton. These people lived in 1,882 households. About 893 of these households were families.
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 2,853 | 78.38% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 352 | 9.67% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 52 | 1.43% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 176 | 4.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 194 | 5.33% |
Arts and Culture in Rutherfordton
Rutherfordton has many interesting historical places. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are important sites that help us learn about the past.
Some of these places include:
- The Bechtler Mint Site: Where gold coins were made.
- Carrier Houses: Historic homes.
- Fox Haven Plantation: An old plantation.
- Gilbert Town Historic District: The original county seat.
- George W. Logan House: Another historic house.
- Main Street Historic District: The historic downtown area.
- Rutherford County Courthouse: The building where court cases happen.
- Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School: An old high school building.
- St. Luke's Chapel: A historic church.
- Trinity Lutheran Church: Another historic church.
Famous People from Rutherfordton
Many interesting people have come from Rutherfordton. Here are a few:
- Michael Johnston – an actor.
- Betsy Brantley – an actress.
- William T. Carpenter – a psychiatrist.
- Walter H. Dalton – a former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.
- Bruce Davis – a former professional football player.
- Gomer Hodge – a former professional baseball player and coach.
- Sherry Hursey – an actress.
- Tom Wright – a former professional baseball player.
Images for kids
-
Main Street (US 221)
-
Town Seal
-
Location of Rutherfordton, North Carolina
See also
In Spanish: Rutherfordton para niños
