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Early North
Carolina County History |
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Tyron County is a former county located in
the state of North Carolina. It was formed in 1768 from
the part of
Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River, though the
legislative act that created it did not become effective until
April 10, 1769. It was named for William Tryon, Governor
of North Carolina from 1765 to 1771. In 1779 Tryon County
was divided into Lincoln County and Rutherford County and Tryon
County ceased to exist. |
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Tryon County played an important early role
in the American Revolution. Residents of the county
actively organized into committees of safety and later a county
militia to prepare against the British following the Battle of
Lexington in Massachusetts. On August 14, 1775, forty-nine
Tryon County residents gathered at the county courthouse and
issued a declaration of grievances against the British known as
the Tryon
Resolves. They were among the earliest colonists to do
so. |
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Lincoln County was formed in 1779 from the
eastern part of Tryon County. It was named for Benjamin
Lincoln, a general in the American Revolutionary War. |
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In 1782 the southeastern part of
Burke County was annexed to
Lincoln County. In 1841 parts of Lincoln County and
Rutherford County were combined to form
Cleveland County. In 1842 the northern third of
Lincoln County became
Catawba County. In 1846 the southern half of what was
left of Lincoln County became
Gaston County. |

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Most of the Loftins
lived in Cline, Catawba/Hamilton and Mountain Creek Townships |
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Burke County was
formed in 1777 from
Rowan County. It was named for
Thomas Burke, a delegate to
the
Continental Congress from
1777 to 1781
and Governor of North Carolina
from 1781 to 1782.
In 1791 parts of Burke County
and Rutherford County were
combined to form Buncombe County.
In 1833 parts of Burke County
and Buncombe County were combined to form
Yancey County. In 1841
parts of Burke County and
Wilkes County were combined to
form
Caldwell County. In 1842
additional parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were
combined to form
McDowell County. Finally, in
1861 parts of Burke County,
Caldwell County, McDowell County,
Watauga County, and Yancey County
were combined to form
Mitchell County. |
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Check out the town of Catawba page |
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Catawba County was formed in 1842 from Lincoln County.
It was named for the
Catawba tribe
of Native Americans who once inhabited the area. |
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Rowan County was formed in 1753 from the northern part of
Anson County. It was named for Matthew Rowan, acting
governor of North Carolina from 1753 to 1754. |
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Originally, Rowan County was a vast territory
with an indefinite western boundary. Reductions in its
extent began in 1770, when the eastern part of it was combined
with the western part of
Orange County to become
Guilford County, North Caroline. In 1771 the
northeastern part of what remained of Rowan County became
Surry County. In 1777 the western part of Rowan County
became
Burke County. In 1788 the western part of the now much
smaller Rowan County became
Iredell County. In 1822 the eastern part of the still
shrinking county became
Davidson County. Finally, in 1836 the part of Rowan
County north of the South Yadkin River became
Davie County. |
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Rowan County
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