Its foundation was planned by a committee appointed by the General Assembly of North Carolina.

The committee purchased 50 acres of land[6] on Cleghorn Creek from landowner James Adair.

The plots included a hill safe from flooding, making it a perfect site for building the town courthouse.

[9] German-born goldsmith Christopher Bechtler minted the first U.S. gold dollars in Rutherfordton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km2), all land.

Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places including: the Bechtler Mint Site, Carrier Houses, Fox Haven Plantation, Gilbert Town Historic District, George W. Logan House, Main Street Historic District, Rutherford County Courthouse, Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School, St. Luke's Chapel, and Trinity Lutheran Church.