 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
About Wilkes County, North Carolina |
||||||||||
| Wilkes was formed in 1777 from Surry and the District of
Washington. The act was to become effective February 15, 1778. It
was named in honor of John Wilkes who was a violent opponent of the
Tory party in England. He was not allowed to take his seat in
Parliament to which he had been elected. The Americans imagined that
he was suffering in the cause of liberty and named this county in
his honor.
It is in the northwestern section of the State and is bounded by Yadkin, Iredell, Alexander, Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Surry counties. The present land area is 760 square miles and the 2017 population was estimated as 68,525. The act establishing the County stipulated
that the first court was to be held at the home of John Brown.
Commissioners were named to select a place centrally located for the
erection of the courthouse, prison and stocks. The second court was
held June 1, 1778, in the "bent of the Yadkin." The next day it was
held at Mulberry Field Meeting House.
The Formation of North Carolina Counties 1663-1943, by David L. Corbitt
|
||||||||||
| The map below show was sent by Joyce Joines Newman. | ||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
| ©2010 to present by the NCGenWeb Project. No portion of any document appearing on this site is to be used for other than personal research. Any republication or reposting is expressly forbidden without the written consent of the owner. Last updated 04/24/2022 | ||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
