Rutherford County Genealogy
Rutherford County was formed in 1779 and was named for Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford. He had led a campaign against the Cherokee in 1776 and was in the Revolutionary War. In 1791 parts of Rutherford were used to form Buncombe County. Further land was used to create Lincoln and Cleveland Counties as well as McDowell, and Polk Counties.
The county seat of Rutherford County is Rutherfordton. The county is divided into the following townships: Camp Creek, Chimney Rock, Colfax, Cool Spring, Duncans Creek, Gilkey, Golden Valley, Green Hill, High Shoals, Logan Store, Morgan, Rutherfordton, Sulphur Springs, and Union.
Notable sites in Rutherford County are Lake Lure (Filming location of parts of the movie Dirty Dancing) and Chimney Rock (now a State Park) where parts of the 1990’s movie Last of the Mohican’s was filmed. (Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeline Stowe and Wes Studi had prominent roles in the film.)
Rutherford County Genealogy Resources
Rutherford County NCGenWeb Archives
Rutherford County Genealogy Site (at rootsweb)
Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County
P.O. Box 938
Forest City, NC 28043
Broad River Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2261
Shelby, NC 28150-2261
(covers Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Henderson and Rutherford Counties in NC, and a few SC counties)
Rutherford County Historical Society
P.O. Box 1044
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Rutherford County Government
Rutherford County Government – Official site
Rutherford County Register of Deeds
229 N. Main St.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Mailing: PO BOX 551
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Phone: 828-287-6155
or 828-287-6195
Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm M-F
Rutherford County Library
Hours
Monday – Friday 9am – 5:30pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
Phone
(828)287-6115
Address
255 Callahan Koon Road
Spindale, NC 28160
FAX
(828)287-6119
Haynes Branch
Hours
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 12pm
Phone
(828)657-9110
Address
141 N. Main Street, Suite 110
Henrietta, NC 28076
FAX
(828)657-5278
Mountains Branch
Hours
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 12pm
Phone
(828)625-0456
Address
150 Bill’s Creek Road
Lake Lure, NC 28746
Cities and Towns:
* Alexander Mills (merged with Forest City)
* Bostic
* Chimney Rock
* Ellenboro
* Forest City
* Lake Lure
* Ruth
* Rutherfordton
* Spindale
Townships:
Camp Creek
Chimney Rock
Colfax
Cool Spring
Duncans Creek
Gilkey
Golden Valley
Green Hill
High Shoals
Logan Store
Morgan
Rutherfordton
Sulphur Springs
Union
Tax Records
1782 Rutherford County Tax List (1782.txt) (53.3 KB)
Census
1810 Federal Census Index – A-K
1810 Federal Census Index – L-Z
1830 Federal Census Index – A-K
1830 Federal Census Index – L-Z
1840 Federal Census Index – A-K
1840 Federal Census Index – L-Z
1850 Federal Census Index – A-F
1850 Federal Census Index – G-M
1850 Federal Census Index – N-Z
1860 Federal Census Transcription
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Rutherford County
Cemetery Transcriptions – part 1
Cemetery Transcriptions – part 2
Query Forums
Rutherford County, NC Query Forum
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Rutherford County from the Forum:
North Carolina Genealogy Forum: Forum: Rutherford County NC Genealogy Queries – Recent Topics
SusanKSpies on “WEEKS, Delila and sons”
Delila WEEKS had 5 children…..Harp, Quillen, Luther, Avery and Willis. All born in the 1860’s or so. But who was their father? Who were Delila’s parents? Grandparents?
If you have any answers to this mystery, I would appreciate your help.
Thank you.
Susan Cloutier Spies
Ancesterfan on “Rippy’s of Rutherford and Cleveland Counties of North Carolina”
I have much information on many of the Edward Rippy abt 1829 wife Susannah Thomas b1721. I am in need of information on James Martin Rippy, b 1793 in Rutherford County, parents, Edward Rippy b1764 and Mary Elmore b1761. This James Martin Rippy married twice, it is the first wife that I am trying to locate information. I am given several names: one is Mary Polly Arnold Holt.. another is Minirose Rippy. James married again in 1846 to Rebecca Francis. They married in Rutherford County, NC. James and Rebecca moved from North Carolinia in early 1850 I believe. I have a will dated 1854 from Bedford County, TN. The first wife, the one I am looking for, is the mother of all of his children but one. Any leads you could give me would be most appreciated. I will be happy to share any information I have that you may need.
WIFE: Mary Polly Arnold Holt or Minirose Rippy …
born abt 1785 and died after 1831.
reply to chuckmurray@cox.net
Thank you.
Jean Fuller on “James Henderson Adair (b abt 1814-1816)”
I am Looking for father and mother and grandparents of James Henderson Adair born abt 1814 thru 1816. Father of James Sherman Adair (1863-1896). james Henderson Adair is father of two boys hung for murder in Rutherford Co., N.C. I am great great grandaughter in Michigan and need help. I am fairly new at this, I have exhausted the internet.
kevhar on “John Withrow (1719-1796)”
I am looking for information about John Withrow (1719-1796) who married Mary. His son James was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His daughter married Robert Rankins, who was also in the War. I have found a reference that refers to John being in the War, but I can’t find proof.
I am a direct descendant of John Withrow (1719-1796) and would be happy to correspond and share information with anyone who is interested.
Thanks,
Kevin Harris
kevin@harfam.org
Rutherford County, NC at Genforum
News related to Rutherford County, NC
“rutherford county” nc – Google News
Food vendors offer everything apple – BlueRidgeNow.com
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Food vendors offer everything apple
BlueRidgeNow.com Among the new vendors are two food booths that will be featured this year: Pacific Rim Noodles out of Rutherford County and Firehouse Subs, a business that … |
Alamance County unemployment rate decreases – Burlington Times News
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Alamance County unemployment rate decreases
Burlington Times News Scotland County's unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points, Rutherford County by the same and Edgecombe County by 0.6 percentage points. … |
Joblessness ticks down – Laurinburg Exchange
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Joblessness ticks down
Laurinburg Exchange The event is sponsored by the Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce through a $35000 grant from the NC Rural Center for Economic Development. … |
Grant money saved Forest City mill – McDowell News
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Grant money saved Forest City mill
McDowell News âThe majority of the funds will come from private development companies and financial institutions bringing outside investment to Rutherford County,â reads … |
Caldwell’s jobless rate drops – istockAnalyst.com (press release)
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Caldwell's jobless rate drops
istockAnalyst.com (press release) Rutherford County had the next highest rate at 14.6 percent, followed by Edcgecombe at 14.5. Unemployment rates for all 14 of North Carolina's Metropolitan … |
Rutherford County couple killed in wreck – Asheville Citizen-Times
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Rutherford County couple killed in wreck
Asheville Citizen-Times RUTHERFORDTON â A Rutherford County couple died Tuesday when their car was hit by another vehicle after the driver ran a stop sign, according to the NC … |
