A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of General Griffith Rutherford on the 225th anniversary of rutherford county.

Whereas, Rutherford County was formed when Tryon County was divided into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties in April 1779; and
Whereas, Rutherford County was named for General Griffith Rutherford of Rowan County, a Revolutionary War general and member of the Provincial Congress; and
Whereas, the early settlers of Rutherford County included people of Scotch‑Irish origin, who migrated to the area from Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Gilbert Town served as the county seat until 1786, when that honor went to Rutherfordton; and
Whereas, it is believed that Westminster was the county's earliest settlement due to the age of the Brittain Presbyterian Church, which was established in 1768; and
Whereas, Rutherford County played a significant role in gold production, with Rutherfordton having the distinction of operating the only private gold mint in the southeastern United States from the 1790s to the 1840s and producing the first gold dollar; and
Whereas, Rutherford County's natural resources have also aided in the production of agricultural and lumber products; and
Whereas, Rutherford County's first textile plant opened in 1874, manufacturing cotton yarn and employing 50 people; and
Whereas, R. R. Haynes and S. B. Tanner built a cotton mill near Henrietta in 1885 and later built homes for the mill workers along with a school and company store; and
Whereas, this textile mill was the first textile mill to offer hospital insurance to its employees; and
Whereas, Rutherford County remains a favorite destination of tourists, many of whom flock to such sites as Lake Lure and Chimney Rock; and
Whereas, Rutherford County is home to a portion of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, a part of the national trail system, which commemorates the route taken by American Patriot soldiers on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain; and
Whereas, according to the 2000 census, there are approximately 63,000 people who call Rutherford County home, a significant increase above the 1,136 heads of households recorded in the 1790 census; and
Whereas, the people of Rutherford County are proud of their rich historical heritage, cultural diversity, and natural beauty and wish to commemorate the county's 225th anniversary; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly wishes to honor General Griffith Rutherford for his service to our State and nation, and extends its sincere congratulations and best wishes to the County of Rutherford upon the County's 225th anniversary.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the county commissioners of the County of Rutherford.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of July, 2004.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives