History

Founding

Settlers came to the ridge between the Mayo and Dan Rivers in the northwest piedmont region in the early 1800's. Some early families who formed the tiny community were Dodd, Joyce, Martin, Means, Hamlin, Stone and Sims. The first post office was designated as "Mayo" on May 8, 1821.

In the late 1850's, brothers Thomas and Pinkney Stone bought a parcel of land that was to become the town of Stoneville. The community grew around the brothers' general store located at the intersection of Henry and Main Streets; the center of today's business community. Closed for the Civil War, the post office reopened on July 7, 1869, when it was renamed the Stoneville Post Office.

On March 5, 1877, the town was officially incorporated. The N.C. General Statutes of 1876-1877, Chapter 183, Section 2 states that "the Corporate limits of said town shall include all the territory within one-half mile of P. M. Stone's brick store house in said town". Francis Stone, brother of the store keepers and elder in the Matrimony Baptist Church, was elected Mayor.