Editing Rutherfordton, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Rutherfordton, North Carolina
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| motto                    = "A Minted Original"
| named_for                = [[Griffith Rutherford]]

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Rutherfordton-Main-St-nc.jpg
| image_caption            = Main Street ([[U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina|US 221]])
| image_seal               = Rutherfordton, NC Town Seal.jpg

| image_map                = NCMap-doton-Rutherfordton.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Rutherfordton, North Carolina
| image_map1               = 
| map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Established
| established_date         = 1787

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 10.73
| area_land_km2            = 10.73
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.14
| area_land_sq_mi          = 4.14
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 3640
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| population_density_km2   = 339.23
| population_density_sq_mi = 878.59

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 915
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|21|51|N|81|57|41|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 28139
| area_code                = [[Area code 828|828]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 37-58460<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2407262<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407262}}</ref>
| website                  = [http://www.rutherfordton.net/ www.rutherfordton.net]
}}

'''Rutherfordton''' (usually pronounced ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ʌ|f|ɪ|n}} {{respell|RUF|in}}) or ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ʌ|f|t|ʌ|n}} {{respell|RUF|tun}}), among other similar variations) is a town and the [[county seat]] of [[Rutherford County, North Carolina]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 3,640 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Rutherfordton_town,_North_Carolina?g=160XX00US3758460 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

== History ==
The town of Rutherfordton was founded in 1787 to serve as the new seat of [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]], taking over from [[Gilbert Town Historic District|Gilbert Town]]. Its foundation was planned by a committee appointed by the [[General Assembly of North Carolina]]. The committee purchased 50 acres of land<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rutherfordton, North Carolina |url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Towns/Rutherfordton_NC.html |access-date=March 2, 2024 |website=www.carolana.com}}</ref> on Cleghorn Creek from landowner James Adair. The plots included a hill safe from flooding, making it a perfect site for building the town courthouse. By 1791, the main streets of Rutherfordton had been laid out on a [[grid plan]]. Next was the construction of the [[U.S. Post Office]] in 1798, and the establishment of the Rutherfordton Academy in 1806.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town History |url=https://www.rutherfordton.net/town-history/ |access-date=March 2, 2024 |website=Rutherfordton, NC |language=en-US}}</ref>

Rutherfordton was at the center of the flourishing North Carolina gold industry between 1790 and 1840.<ref name=":0" /> During that period, 70% of the American gold supply came from western North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2023 |title=Zip Trip: History of Rutherfordton |url=https://www.wspa.com/news/zip-trip-history-of-rutherfordton/ |access-date=March 2, 2024 |website=WSPA 7NEWS |language=en-US}}</ref> German-born goldsmith [[Christopher Bechtler]] minted the first U.S. [[gold dollars]] in Rutherfordton.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Anita Price |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X5YbXpHjpucC&q=bechtler&pg=PA14 |title=Legendary Locals of Rutherford County |date=2013 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-4671-0064-9 |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
Rutherfordton is concentrated around the intersection of [[U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina|U.S. Route 221]] and [[North Carolina Highway 108]].  The town of [[Ruth, North Carolina|Ruth]] borders Rutherfordton to the north, and the town of [[Spindale, North Carolina|Spindale]] borders Rutherfordton to the east.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 4.2&nbsp;square miles (10.8&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), all  land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 484
|1870= 479
|1880= 300
|1900= 880
|1910= 1062
|1920= 1693
|1930= 2020
|1940= 2326
|1950= 3146
|1960= 3392
|1970= 3245
|1980= 3434
|1990= 3617
|2000= 4131
|2010= 4213
|2020= 3640
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Rutherfordton racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3758460&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 21, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,853
| 78.38%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 352
| 9.67%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 12
| 0.33%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 52
| 1.43%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 176
| 4.84%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 194
| 5.33%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,640 people, 1,882 households, and 893 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,131 people, 1,602 households, and 1,047 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|990.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,765 housing units at an average density of {{convert|423.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 84.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.60% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.73% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.73% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.65% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 1,602 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,941, and the median income for a family was $47,381. Males had a median income of $34,592 versus $23,371 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $21,742. About 8.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
[[File:Rutherfordton-Town-Hall-nc.jpg|thumb|Town hall]]

==Arts and culture==
Sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rutherford County, North Carolina|National Register of Historic Places]] including: the [[Christopher Bechtler|Bechtler Mint Site]], [[Carrier Houses]], [[Fox Haven Plantation]], [[Gilbert Town Historic District]], [[George W. Logan House]], [[Main Street Historic District (Rutherfordton, North Carolina)|Main Street Historic District]], [[Rutherford County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Rutherford County Courthouse]], [[Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School]], [[St. Luke's Chapel (Rutherfordton, North Carolina)|St. Luke's Chapel]], and [[Trinity Lutheran Church (Rutherfordton, North Carolina)|Trinity Lutheran Church]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Michael Johnston (actor)|Michael Johnston]] {{ndash}} actor
* [[Betsy Brantley]] {{ndash}} actress
* [[William T. Carpenter]] {{ndash}} psychiatrist who served as an expert witness in the trial of [[John W. Hinckley]]
* [[Walter H. Dalton]] {{ndash}} former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
* [[Bruce Davis (offensive tackle)|Bruce Davis]] {{ndash}} former [[National Football League]] offensive tackle
* [[Gomer Hodge]] {{ndash}} former [[Major League Baseball]] player, coach, and manager
* [[Sherry Hursey]] {{ndash}} actress
* [[Tom Wright (baseball)|Tom Wright]] {{ndash}} former [[Major League Baseball]] outfielder

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rutherfordton, North Carolina}}
* [http://www.rutherfordton.net/ Official website]

{{Rutherford County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:County seats in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rutherfordton, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in Rutherford County, North Carolina]]