Rutherford County is a county in the southwestern area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 67,810. Its county seat is Rutherfordton.
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
thumb|300px|Rutherford County Elevation
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.
Adjacent counties
McDowell County - north
Burke County - northeast
Cleveland County - east
Cherokee County, South Carolina - south
Spartanburg County, South Carolina - south
Polk County - southwest
Henderson County - west
Buncombe County - northwest
Major highways
Demography
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 64,444 people, 27,970 households, and 18,874 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, the county had 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families. 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 county's racial makeup 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:
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 county's median household income was $31,122, and the median family income was $37,787. Males had a median income of $28,890 versus $21,489 for females. The county's per capita income 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.
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.
Camp Bud Scheile A Boy Scout camp run by the Piedmont Council BSA is located North of Forest City. It can accommodate as many as 1800 campers every summer.
Communities
thumb|300px|Map of Rutherford County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Towns
Bostic
Ellenboro
Forest City
Lake Lure
Ruth
Rutherfordton (county seat)
Spindale
Village
Chimney Rock
Census-designated places
Caroleen
Cliffside
Henrietta
Unincorporated communities
Alexander Mills (merged with Forest City)
Corinth
Harris
Hopewell
Mount Vernon
Union Mills
Sandy Mush
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. Before 1928 when Herbert Hoover won it, however, the county was a clear-cut part of the Democratic "Solid South".
Notable people
Smoky Burgess, record-setting major league baseball player
Bryan Coker, 12th President of Maryville College
Walter Dalton, former lieutenant governor of North Carolina (in office 2009–2013)
Tim Earley, American poet
Pleasant Daniel Gold (1833–1920), American publisher and clergyman
Kay Hooper, best-selling author
Robert McNair, Owner Houston Texans
Burl Noggle, American historian born in Rutherford County in 1924
Richard O'Sullivan, screenwriter and filmmaker
