Official
County court
Rutherford County Superior Court
Criminal court, divorces and other civil filings.
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Most requested Rutherford County records
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Official
Property records
Rutherford County Register of Deeds
Rutherford County Register of Deeds, the office that records deeds, mortgages and land documents, with its index and copy rules as published.
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Police & jail
Rutherford Criminal Information
Begin search for criminal warrants and information.
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Vital records
Rutherford County Death Certificates
Official death certificates from the county of Rutherford.
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City records
Rutherford County Schools
Information for students, parents and teachers.
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State records
Rutherford County Directory
Index of Rutherford's services and resources.
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Federal
Rutherford County Census
Find facts and figures about the county.
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Court records
Rutherford County District Court
Rutherford County District Court, with the court location, contacts and the case records this office keeps.
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Property records
Rutherford County Tax Information
Review and obtain property taxes and more.
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Police & jail
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg at 289 Day Break Drive in Rutherfordton: concealed weapons permits, current inmates, fingerprint appointments, public record requests, the sex offender registry and media releases.
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Official
Vital records
Rutherford County Birth Certificates
Order records of births in the county of Rutherford.
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Official
City records
Isothermal Community College
Isothermal Community College publishes its catalogue, its board minutes and its policies, and the registrar's office handles transcript and enrolment record requests.
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Everything else, organized
More official Rutherford County record sources
29 more Rutherford County sources not listed above.
More county sources
- Rutherford County Phone and Email DirectorySearch for county employees.
- Rutherford County Court Telephone DirectoryFind contacts for judges and court employees.
- Rutherford County Geographic Information System (GIS)Find geographic and demographic related data, services and support.
- Rutherford County Detention CenterFind jail and inmate information.
- Rutherford County Marriage LicenseInformation to obtain marriage license in Rutherford.
- Rutherford County North Carolina Cooperative ExtensionFind and use NC State University resources.
- Rutherford County UCC FilingsFind information on Uniform Commercial Code filings.
- Rutherford County District Court JudgesFind district court judges for the district.
- Rutherford County Board of ElectionsRegistered voters and election information.
- The Digital CourierFind local and regional news, events and recent periodicals.
- Rutherford County Genealogical SocietyFind historical and genealogical records.
- Criminal Court Calendars for Rutherford CountyLookup upcoming criminal cases.
- Rutherford County LibraryInformation and resources at the library.
- Rutherford County AirportFlights, schedules and travel information.
- Civil Court Calendars for Rutherford CountyLookup upcoming civil cases.
- Rutherford County Chamber of CommerceBusiness and corporate information.
- Rutherford County Emergency ServicesInformation on natural and man made emergencies.
- Rutherford County Jury ServiceInformation and resources for jurors.
- Rutherford County Arts CouncilInformation and support for the visual and performing arts.
- Rutherford County Social ServicesFind help and support for families, adults and children.
- Rutherford County Small Claims CourtInformation on small claims cases.
- Rutherford County Farmers' MarketFind fresh fruits, vegetables and more from area farmers.
- Rutherford County Senior CenterInformation, help and activities for seniors.
- Rutherford County Electronic FilingElectronic filing of cases.
- Rutherford County Department of RecreationFind information on local parks and recreational venues.
- Court FormsDownload forms and instructions for all filings.
- Rutherford County ArchivesFind information on archived records.
- Rutherford County Tourism Development AuthorityGeneral information on living and visiting in the area.
- Rutherford County Sex Offender SearchLocate offenders in your area.
Local record guide
About public records in Rutherford County
County profile
Rutherford County at a glance
- State
- North Carolina
- County seat
- Rutherfordton
- Population
- 64,444
- Area
- 566 sq mi
- Founded
- 1779
- Cities and towns
- 11
Rutherford County offices and records
Sheriff & Law Enforcement. Rutherford County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for Rutherford County, responsible for patrolling the unincorporated areas and maintaining public safety.
Police Departments. Rutherford County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including Rutherford County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments in towns like Forest City, Spindale, and Rutherfordton.
Law Enforcement & Arrests. Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 289 North Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139, is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of Rutherford County. Rutherford County Detention Center, located adjacent to the Sheriff's Office, houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. Inmate lookup services are available through the Sheriff's Office website, where citizens can search current inmates by name or booking number.
Criminal Records. These records are maintained by Rutherford County Clerk of Court and the Sheriff's Office.
Arrest Records. Arrest records in Rutherford County are maintained by Rutherford County Sheriff's Office and the local police departments.
Jail & Inmate Records. Inmate lookup is available through the Sheriff's Office, allowing family members and legal representatives to locate individuals currently held in the facility.
Mugshots & Booking Photos. Mugshots in Rutherford County are taken and retained by Rutherford County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the public record and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or online databases that compile such information.
Abandoned mine records
Old mine workings in Rutherford County
Where the workings are, and the office that holds the mine maps.
From the old mine records
What is on record in Rutherford County
- Old mine sites
- 63
- Still producing
- 10
- Worked underground, in the mine records
- 9
- Main minerals
- Mica; Tin; Thorium
- Holes drawn on the old survey maps
- 9
- Shafts and tunnels
- 0
- What they are
- sand pit, quarry, clay pit, gravel pit
- Maps surveyed
- 1962 to 1982
- Records behind them
- 83 records for 82 sites, the rest are the same working written down more than once
- Sources
- USGS mineral file and USGS topographic mine features
Is an old working under a property here?
The mine records hold 73 named mine sites inside the county, 63 of them worked out or abandoned; the old survey maps add 9 holes drawn inside the county, 0 of them shafts or tunnels. The minerals the records name are Mica; Tin; Thorium.
A point in either file is a location, not a property line: the sheet shows the opening on the surface, not the rooms under it. The record that shows what runs under a parcel is the mine map. The OSMRE National Mine Map Repository holds scanned underground mine maps and answers requests for a named mine or an area. No abandoned mine inventory is published online.
North Carolina mine map and abandoned mine records
Named workings recorded in Rutherford County (73 shown, 9 unnamed on the map)
- Unnamed Clay PitClay | Past Producer
- Alta MineGold | Producer | Surface and underground
- Ellwood MineGold | Producer
- Leeds MineGold | Producer
- Vinsant MineGold | Past Producer | Surface
- First Broad River Headwaters Gold PlacersGold, REE | Producer
- Stony Creek PlacerGold, REE | Past Producer | Surface
- Unnamed Stone Quarry Hk-004Granite | Producer
- Miller Creek QuarryGranite; Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | 2 records for this one site
- Youngs Mtn DepositKyanite | Occurrence
- Allen MineMica | Past Producer | Surface and underground
- Banks MineMica | Past Producer
- Cherry Mountain MineMica | Past Producer | Surface and underground
- Doc Lovelace ProspectMica | Prospect
- Dycus MineMica | Past Producer | Underground
- Elman Williams ProspectMica | Prospect
- Flack MineMica | Prospect
- Huckleberry Mountain MineMica | Past Producer | Surface
- Isinglass Hill MineMica | Past Producer | Surface and underground
- J M Mayes ProspectMica | Prospect | Underground
- J Odom ProspectMica | Prospect
- Joe Lovelace ProspectMica | Prospect
- Kay MineMica | Past Producer | Underground
- Lax Stroud MineMica | Past Producer | Surface and underground
- Lisenberry Mountain ProspectMica | Prospect
- Maurice MineMica | Past Producer | Underground
- Mcdaniel MineMica | Prospect
- P G McKinney DepositMica | Prospect
- Price ProspectMica | Prospect
- Sunshine ProspectMica | Prospect
- W H Bailey DepositMica | Occurrence
- W H Marville ProspectMica | Prospect
- W T Wilkins ProspectMica | Prospect
- Walter Barnes DepositMica | Occurrence
- T.T. Erwin MineREE, Gold | Past Producer
- 221 East MineSand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | Surface
- 221 West MineSand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | Surface
- Broad River DredgeSand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Surface
- Lake Lure MineSand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | Offshore
- Mountain Creek PitSand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Surface
- Rutherford County Dredge No. 2Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Offshore
- Rutherford County Dredge and PSand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Offshore
- Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | Surface
- Unnamed Sand PitsSand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer
- Unnamed Mica Gneiss Quarries Hj-028Stone | Producer
- Bowen Branch Monazite PlacerThorium | Past Producer
- Hinton Creek Monazite Placer Ssw TribThorium | Past Producer
- Hinton Creek Monazite Placer Sw TribThorium | Past Producer
- Mountain Creek Monazite PlacerThorium | Past Producer
- Sandy Run Monazite PlacerThorium | Past Producer
- Sandy Run Monazite Placer N TribThorium | Past Producer
- Sandy Run Monazite Placer Ne TribThorium | Past Producer
- Thompson Branch Monazite PlacerThorium | Past Producer
- West Branch Monazite Placer E TribThorium | Past Producer
- Bracketts Creek Cassiterite OccurrenceTin | Occurrence
- Dills Creek Cassiterite Occurrence E TribTin | Occurrence
- Dills Creek Cassiterite Occurrence Se-TribTin | Occurrence
- Floyds Creek Cassiterite Occurrence Ne TribTin | Occurrence
- Floyds Creek Cassiterite Occurrence Nw TribTin | Occurrence
- Floyds Creek Cassiterite Occurrence W TribTin | Occurrence
- Goodes Creek Cassiterite Occurrence Nw TribTin | Occurrence
- Goodes Creek Cassiterite Occurrences Se TribTin | Occurrence
- Hogpen Branch Cassiterite OccurrenceTin | Occurrence
- Jarretts Creek Cassiterite Occurrence Ne TribTin | Occurrence
- Lower East Trib Cassiterite Occurrence of Floyds CreekTin | Occurrence
- Lower Goodes Creek Cassiterite OccurrenceTin | Occurrence
- Richardson Creek Cassiterite OccurrenceTin | Occurrence
- Richardson Creek Cassiterite Occurrence W TribTin | Occurrence
- Richardson Creek Cassiterite Occurrence W TribTin | Occurrence
- Upper Goodes Creek Cassiterite OccurrenceTin | Occurrence
- Cliffside-Elkin Kyn Belt DepositOccurrence
- Lake LureOccurrence
- Unnamed Mica Sample LocalityOccurrence
Disclaimer: The mine information here is for general information only. Old mine records can be incomplete, outdated or wrong, and finding nothing here does not mean there is nothing there. Check with the mine map office named here before you rely on it, and have a qualified engineer look at any ground you are worried about. PublicRecordCenter.com assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of this information.
Straight answers
Rutherford County public-records FAQs
Open only the answer you need.
Where can I find mugshots or booking photos in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Booking photos are kept by the agency that made the arrest, such as the Rutherford County Sheriff or a city police department in Rutherford County. Ask that agency for its record.
How do I get a criminal background check in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
The North Carolina criminal history record comes from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Fingerprint based Right to Review of your own record using the SBI form Request for Access to Criminal History Record Information; a certified name search of court records in one county costs $25 at the clerk of superior court with Form AOC CR 314. Fee: $14 for a NC state fingerprint based check; $18 for a national fingerprint based check.
How can I look up sex offenders in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Search the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry (State Bureau of Investigation), or every state at once on the National Sex Offender Public Website run by the U.S. Department of Justice.
How do I register to vote in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Register with the county board of elections or through the North Carolina State Board of Elections. You can also register online with the state online registration. The regular registration deadline is 25 days before Election Day; same day registration is available at early voting sites during the early voting period, not on Election Day for most voters. Online registration is open only to existing DMV customers with a DMV issued driver's license or ID.
How do I look up property records in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Deeds and other recorded land documents in Rutherford County are kept by the Rutherford County Register of Deeds. Property values are set by the county tax assessor, and tax bills come from the county tax collector. Source: official state page.
How do I get a birth or death certificate in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Certified birth and death certificates for North Carolina come from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records. Birth, death and marriage certificates may also be obtained at the Register of Deeds office in the county where the event took place, in most cases the same day. Online, by phone or by mail through VitalChek, the only authorized vendor for a state issued certified birth certificate, or in person at NC Vital Records. Fee: $24 state search fee, which includes one certificate; $15 for each added certificate.
How do I find business license records in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Business entity filings are searched with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. North Carolina has no single generic business license; besides state licenses, a local license may be required for your business.
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Cities, towns and neighboring counties
Use the city page when a record was created by a municipal police department or city office; use the county page for courts, deeds, vital records and jail custody.