| Rutherford College | former town and college in E Burke County. The school was founded by R. L. Abernathy in 1853, and the 400-acre site was inc. as village of Excelsior in 1872; inc. as town of Rutherford College in 1881. Alt. 1,210. The school merged with Weaver College in 1932 and was moved to Brevard, which see, and renamed Brevard College. Town charter repealed in 1933. Now a residential community approx. 2 mi. E of town of Valdese. Named for John Rutherford, who donated the land for the school in 1853. Original post office, 1857-86, was named Happy Home; it also served Connelly Springs, which see. |
| Rutherford County | was formed in 1779 from Tryon County when it was divided to form Rutherford and Lincoln Counties. Located in the SW section of the state, it is bounded by the state of South Carolina and by Polk, Henderson, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, and Cleveland Counties. It was named for Griffith Rutherford (1731-1800), leader of 1776 expedition against the Cherokee, member of the Provincial Congress, and Revolutionary War general. Area: 568 sq. mi. County seat: Rutherfordton, with an elevation of 1,096 ft. Townships are Camp Creek, Chimney Rock, Colfax, Cool Spring, Duncans Creek, Gilkey, Golden Valley, Green Hill, High Shoals, Logan Store, Morgan, Rutherfordton, Sulphur Springs, and Union. Produces corn, wheat, oats, cotton, hay, soybeans, boats, dairy products, livestock, hogs, textiles, apparel, lumber, sand, and gravel. |