Rutherford County, North Carolina
12 public bodies govern here, 3 school districts are based here, and USDA lists 1 farmers market. Everything below says where it came from.
In four numbers
- People
- 64,930
- Median household income
- $51,410
- ±2,731
- Unemployed
- 6.3%
- 1,863 of 29,343 in the labour force
- Homes with broadband
- 82.9%
- 22,076 of 26,642 households
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020-2024; read 2026-09-26. Percentages worked out here from the two counts shown.
Who governs here
County government 1
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| County of Rutherford | 64,586 (2021) | 289 N Main St, Rutherfordton | Website |
Cities, towns and villages 8
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Bostic | 356 (2021) | Po Box 158, Bostic | — |
| Town of Ellenboro | 729 (2021) | Po Box 456, Ellenboro | — |
| Town of Forest City | 7,354 (2021) | Po Box 728, Forest City | Website |
| Town of Lake Lure | 1,373 (2021) | Po Box 255, Lake Lure | Website |
| Town of Ruth | 348 (2021) | 118 McKinney St, Rutherfordton | — |
| Town of Rutherfordton | 3,621 (2021) | 129 N Main St, Rutherfordton | — |
| Town of Spindale | 4,163 (2021) | Po Box 186, Spindale | Website |
| Village of Chimney Rock Village | 140 (2021) | Po Box 300, Chimney Rock | Website |
Special districts 3
| Name | What it does | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Housing Authority | Housing and community development | 147 E Spruce St, Forest City | — |
| Cliffside Sanitary District | Sewerage | 226 Cliffside St, Mooresboro | — |
| Broad River Water Authority | Water supply utility | Po Box 1269, Rutherfordton | Website |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Government Units List (published August 2023); the file read 2026-09-26. Offices are placed by county; a special district’s territory can cross county lines. Each body posts its own meetings on its website where the Census records one.
School districts based here
Lake Lure Classical Academy
Independent charter district1 schools
1058 Island Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC, 28746
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Rutherford County Schools
School district18 schools
382 West Main Street, Forest City, NC, 28043
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Independent charter district1 schools
2527 US 221A Hwy, Mooresboro, NC, 28114
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data 2024-25; read 2026-09-26.
Farmers markets
Rutherford County Farmers' Market
172 Depot St., Forest City, NC, 28043
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-27. USDA listing
USDA National Farmers Market Directory; read 2026-09-26.