History of Rutherford County

Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768. Old Tryon County was divided into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties in April 1779. Rutherford County was named for Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford of Rowan County , North Carolina; Brigadier General Rutherford was a famous Revolutionary War soldier.

Gilbertown, served as the first county seat from 1779 to 1787. It was named for William Gilbert. The people complained about the muddy condition around the courthouse and Gilbertown. This mud made it difficult for them to reach the courthouse. Although the courthouse was at Gilbertown, the first county court session to be held in Rutherford County was in the home of Colonel John Walker on Cain Creek. At this session of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, the following appointments were made: Felix Walker, clerk of county court; Richard Singleton, sheriff; Benjamin Hardin, public register; David Miller, entry taker; Jonathan Gullick, county surveyor; Davis Whiteside and William Gilbert, representative of the House of Commons; and William Porter, senator.

The early settlers of Rutherford County were of Scotts-Irish origin. They had traveled down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania . It is assumed that the community of Westminster was the first area of the county settled. This assumption is based on Brittain Presbyterian Church being formed in 1768.