Rutherford County, North Carolina

Rutherford County is a county located in the southwestern area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 67,810.[1] Its county seat is Rutherfordton.[2]

Rutherford County
U.S. county
Rutherford County Courthouse in Rutherfordton
Seal
Motto(s): 
Small Town Friendly
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°24′N 81°55′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1779
Named forGriffith Rutherford
SeatRutherfordton
Largest townForest City
Area
 • Total566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
66,826
 • Density120/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websiterutherfordcountync.gov

Rutherford County comprises the Forest City, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1779 from the western part of the former Tryon County. It was named for Griffith Rutherford, leader of an expedition against the Cherokee in 1776 and a general in the American Revolutionary War.

In 1791 parts of Rutherford County and Burke County were combined to form Buncombe County. In 1841 parts of Rutherford and Lincoln counties were combined to form Cleveland County. In 1842 additional parts of Rutherford and Burke counties were combined to form McDowell County. Finally, in 1855 parts of Rutherford and Henderson counties were combined to form Polk County.

Geography
Rutherford County Elevation

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demography
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17907,808—
180010,75337.7%
181013,20222.8%
182015,35116.3%
183017,55714.4%
184019,2029.4%
185013,550−29.4%
186011,573−14.6%
187013,12113.4%
188015,19815.8%
189018,77023.5%
190025,10133.7%
191028,38513.1%
192031,42610.7%
193040,45228.7%
194045,57712.7%
195046,3561.7%
196045,091−2.7%
197047,3375.0%
198053,78713.6%
199056,9185.8%
200062,89910.5%
201067,8107.8%
2018 (est.)66,826[4]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile (43/km2). There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.79% White, 11.23% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Rutherford County are:[10]

  • English - 44%
  • Irish - 9%
  • African American - 11%
  • German - 5%
  • Scotch-Irish - 4%
  • Scottish - 3%
  • Dutch - 2%
  • Italian - 1%
  • French or French Canadian (except Basque) - 1%
  • Mexican - 1%
  • Polish - 1%

There were 25,191 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,122, and the median income for a family was $37,787. Males had a median income of $28,890 versus $21,489 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,270. About 10.40% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 2010, Rutherford County was selected as the location for a new $450 million data center for Facebook.[11][12]

Horsehead Corporation announced the construction of its new, state-of-the-art zinc and diversified metals production facility in Rutherford County, NC, near the municipality of Forest City.[13]

Communities
Map of Rutherford County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Camp Creek
  • Chimney Rock
  • Colfax
  • Cool Spring
  • Duncans Creek
  • Gilkey
  • Golden Valley
  • Green Hill
  • High Shoals
  • Logan Store
  • Morgan
  • Rutherfordton
  • Sulphur Springs
  • Union

Politics

Rutherford is currently a powerfully Republican county. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Rutherford County since Jimmy Carter did so in 1976 – and Hillary Clinton's 24.4 percent in 2016 is the worst performance ever by a Democrat. Before 1928 when Herbert Hoover won it, however, the county was a clear-cut part of the Democratic "Solid South".

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 72.3% 24,891 26.5% 9,135 1.2% 403
2016 72.2% 21,871 24.8% 7,512 3.1% 924
2012 66.0% 18,954 32.7% 9,374 1.3% 374
2008 65.4% 18,769 33.6% 9,641 1.1% 310
2004 66.3% 16,343 33.2% 8,184 0.5% 131
2000 63.3% 13,755 35.4% 7,697 1.2% 264
1996 52.7% 9,792 38.6% 7,162 8.7% 1,617
1992 48.0% 9,748 38.6% 7,855 13.4% 2,726
1988 59.7% 10,337 40.0% 6,926 0.3% 43
1984 62.2% 11,369 37.6% 6,862 0.2% 37
1980 49.3% 8,363 49.0% 8,315 1.7% 288
1976 39.2% 6,718 60.5% 10,361 0.3% 42
1972 68.8% 9,506 30.0% 4,140 1.2% 170
1968 46.1% 7,785 27.4% 4,622 26.5% 4,476
1964 42.7% 7,115 57.3% 9,541
1960 51.3% 8,993 48.8% 8,554
1956 53.2% 8,200 46.8% 7,208
1952 52.0% 8,387 48.0% 7,755
1948 37.0% 4,342 51.0% 5,992 12.1% 1,416
1944 38.9% 4,698 61.1% 7,379
1940 32.2% 4,204 67.8% 8,869
1936 32.8% 4,830 67.2% 9,911
1932 34.7% 4,448 64.9% 8,336 0.4% 54
1928 58.2% 5,762 41.8% 4,146
1924 43.2% 3,897 56.5% 5,101 0.3% 29
1920 44.0% 4,015 56.0% 5,101
1916 43.4% 1,871 56.7% 2,445
1912 2.1% 82 56.9% 2,180 40.9% 1,567

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. Census, United States Bureau of the (1983). 1980 Census of Population and Housing: Census tracts. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2012-12-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-05-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-17.

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