Polk County was formed in 1855 from
Rutherford and Henderson Counties. It was named in honor
of Colonel William Polk "who rendered distinguished
service in the Battles of Germantown, Brandywine and Eutaw,
in all of which he was wounded." The act directed that
the court and records should be kept at the home of J. Mills
until a courthouse could be erected. It also named commissioners
to obtain a site for public buildings, lay out a town by
the name of Columbus, and erect a courthouse.The courthouse is almost as old as
Polk County. Completed in 1859, the antebellum structure
is the oldest courthouse in Western North Carolina and the
eighth oldest in the entire state that still holds judicial
functions in its courtroom. At the commemoration event,
the county's history and legacy will be honored in speech
and song, including a 150th Celebration Anthem, which has
been written for the occasion.
