RUTHERFORD COUNTY AT A GLANCE

Life in Rutherford County and the Surrounding Areas

Shopping

Rutherford County is home to multiple historic Main Street shopping districts, each featuring one-of-a-kind boutiques and specialty shops. From the oldest General Store in the State to brand new innovations in custom consumer goods, the shopper is sure to find great treasures. With four large Thermal Belt Rail Trail The Foundation Performing Arts Center metro areas within one hour’s drive, sports regional shopping ranges from Cheer on the local Forest City Owls, a Arts & Culture wood-bat collegiate summer league, modern malls to unique antique and The heritage of Rutherford County craft stores. at McNair Field. Seeking more and the surrounding areas range excitement? Within one hour of from Revolutionary War sites to film Rutherford County, you will find many sports teams, such as: locations for movies such as Dirty Dancing, The Last of the Mohicans,  NASCAR’s Charlotte Motor Speedway and The Hunger Games. Villages  NFL around the area offer everything  NBA from antiques to fine local crafts.  MiLB Here is a sample of what you’ll find:  AHL  The Foundation Performing Arts  MiLB Greenville Drive (SC) Center at Isothermal Community Pavilion On Park Square  ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits College  MiLB Recreation  KidSenses Children’s InterACTIVE Museum Parks  Bennett Classics Auto Museum Nature is the foremost attraction in the  The Bostic Lincoln Center county. Located in the foothills of western , Rutherford  Rutherford Community Theater County is home to Chimney Rock State  Rutherford County Arts Council Park, Lake Lure, and numerous other  Rutherford County Historical scenic locations. Camping, kayaking, Society boating, fishing world-class trout Forest City Owls  Genealogical Society of Old Tryon streams, gem mining, or picnicking near Tryon International Equestrian Center, County a rushing waterfall are all great one of the largest equestrian show and  Biltmore House in Asheville pastimes for residents and visitors alike. training facilities in the country, is  December Holiday Activities in Ideal for hiking, biking, walking or located 4 miles from the Rutherford Downtown Forest City include running, the Thermal Belt Rail Trail is 12’ County border in Polk County. over one million lights, carriage wide, paved, and extends 13.5 miles Rutherford County also features seven rides, Santa’s house, and more. through several of Rutherford County’s challenging golf courses, including communities including Ruth, Spindale, Forest City Municipal Golf Course, Rutherfordton, and Forest City. The trail Cleghorn Plantation Golf & Country head in Forest City provides easy access Club, Bald Mountain and Apple Valley to the Pavilion On Park Square (POPS). Golf Courses at Rumbling Bald Resort, POPS is a multi-million dollar project and Lake Lure Municipal Golf Course, that was completed in 2019 and is to name a few; many more golf equipped with a 2,000 seat amphi- courses can be found in our theater, covered stage, two splash neighboring communities. pads, and a plaza with concession and restroom facilities. It is a state of the art venue! Christmas in Downtown Forest City Education Transportation

K-12 Interstate-quality US Highway 74 Quality education is a top priority in connects I-26 and I-85, serving as a Statistics Rutherford County and is readily corridor between three regional accessible through public, charter and centers of commerce. US Highways 64 Area private schools, as well as the home and 221 each provide access to I-40 and Rutherford County is 563 square miles school network. Rutherford County I-85. (See map at bottom right) and composed of eight municipalities: Schools are comprised of four high Rutherford County Airport at Bostic, Chimney Rock, Ellenboro, Forest schools, three middle schools, ten Marchman Field is a 250-acre airport City, Rutherfordton, Ruth, Spindale, and elementary schools, one pre-school equipped with a 5,000 linear foot Lake Lure. Connected by US Hwy 74- Business, Spindale, Rutherfordton, and center, and one alternative school. Two runway. On average, 92 aircraft Forest City form the Tri-City area. The charter schools provide a rigorous operations are handled daily, including towns of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock classical curriculum preparing students single and multi-engine aircrafts, jets, are located approximately 20 miles west for college and beyond. Additionally, a and helicopters. Charlotte-Douglas number of private schools and the of Rutherfordton. Lake Lure is a 1,500 International Airport, Greenville- acre municipal lake with 27 miles of home school network provide an Spartanburg International Airport, and shoreline and offers public beach atmosphere of academic excellence Asheville Regional Airport are within a access. centered around faith and family. 60 mile drive connecting you to the Elevation Community College world. Rutherfordton 1,075 feet; Spindale 960 Isothermal Community College (ICC) is a feet; Forest City 860 feet. At 806 feet, comprehensive, two-year, public Caroleen is the County’s lowest institution that serves the individuals in elevation. Sugar Loaf is the County’s Rutherford and Polk counties. As a highest elevation at 3,967 feet. member of the North Carolina Community College System, ICC has over Climate 3,000 students attending classes at its The average annual temperature is two campuses. In addition to 58.25° F and the average rainfall is 51 individual courses, ICC offers certificate, Rutherford County Airport inches. Rainfall is concentrated in diploma, and degree programs enabling Spring and Fall. The average level of students to either transfer to a four-year Healthcare humidity is approximately 65%. institution, or acquire skills for new or current employment, as well as function As part of the Rutherford Regional Located in the Isothermal Belt, there effectively as responsible citizens. ICC Healthcare System (RRHS), are approximately 200 frost-free also provides training for area business Rutherford Regional Medical Center days in the growing season and the and industry, personal enrichment offers excellent hospital and outpatient average snowfall is 4 inches. courses, remedial and developmental care. RRHS has a large network of courses, and community service distinguished physicians and many activities. programs to support and educate the community. In 2014, RRHS entered into Universities a joint venture with Duke LifePoint to With over 100 college and university strengthen RRHS for the future and campuses within 70 miles, access to give the system new resources to a higher education is within reach. enhance the health care services offered. As part of the joint venture, Residential RRHS shifted from nonprofit to for- Opportunities profit status. From mountain homes to lakefront life, Geography in-town subdivisions to rural rolling The County Health Department Rutherford County is situated in the hills, Rutherford County has you provides a myriad of programs to assist, foothills of Western North Carolina, covered. Looking for a townhouse or educate and support the community, and is centered one hour between family style home? A quaint farm ensuring total well-being. Numerous Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville- house, traditional or colonial designed independent healthcare facilities Spartanburg (SC). Atlanta is 3 hours to home? Rutherford County has housing complete the circle, ensuring head-to- the South and Charleston is located 4 options to meet everyone’s needs. toe care for all Rutherford County hours to the East. citizens.

Key Websites: www.rutherfordcoc.org www.MyRutherfordRegional.com www.rutherfordncedc.com www.visitncsmalltowns.com www.FoundationShows.org www.isothermal.edu www.rutherfordcountync.gov