Sponsored by the:
Alexander County
Chamber of Commerce
16 West Main Avenue
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Phone 828-632-8141
Fax 828-632-1096
and
North Carolina Division
of Tourism, Film, and
Sports Development

The Town of Taylorsville was formed in 1847 along with Alexander County.
As stated in the Heritage of Alexander County, published by the Alexander County Genealogical Society:
A commission of William Dula of Caldwell Co., Dr. James Calloway of Wilkes, Co., Milton Campbell of Iredell Co., and Robert Allen, Reuben Watts and Robert L. Steel of Alexander County were named to select a site as near the center of the county as possible for the seat of justice. The town was named Taylorsville in honor of General Zachary Taylor who at that time was in Mexico engaged in a war.

The land for the town was donated by J.M. Bogle who gave 22 acres, William Matheson who gave 13 acres and James James who gave 11 3/4 acres for a total of 46 3/4 acres. Most of the land was woodland and the road from Statesville to Morganton passed to the South of town.

A commission of Alexander C. McIntosh, R.L. Steel, Sion Harrington, J.H. Newland, and George Swain, treasurer, were appointed to layout the town of Taylorsville and sell lots to raise money for the building of a courthouse and jail.

An auction of lots was held August 11, 1847 and 47 lots were sold. The second sale was November 30, 1847 and 10 lots were sold. At a third auction on March 8, 1848, five lots were sold. The total amounted to $6,674.75.

The Town of Taylorsville was incorporated in 1851. The first mayor was John Watts and was appointed by the commissioners. The boundaries of the incorporated town would be square and each side 160 poles or one-half mile.

For more interesting information on the history of the Town of Taylorsville, visit the Alexander County Library. The information on this page is from the Heritage of Alexander County (pages 30-33). Photos 1909 & 1976 are from the book, Heritage of Alexander County.