Alexander County: Taylorsville

Seal of Alexander County

Location of Alexander County

County seat population (2018): 2,174

First post of 2020. This county is mostly rural. So rural in fact, that the seat, Taylorsville, is literally just one block of buildings surrounding the courthouse!

Taylorsville

Named after twelfth president Zachary Taylor, Taylorsville was formed the same year as Alexander County itself. Formed in 1847, Alexander County was carved out of Iredell, Catawba, and Wilkes counties. The first thing that happened after the county was formed was the county seat being picked. Commissioners were told to keep the seat near the center of the county as possible, and that same year, Taylorsville was born.

Downtown

First settled in the 1750s by people from Iredell County, Daniel Boone had a base in present day Alexander County before making his way to Kentucky. The history of this county is actually really complex, so here's the basics: The county is famous for its apple production. When the Civil War started in 1860, it had one of the highest ranks in Confederate soldiers serving in the war per capita. George Vanderbilt wanted to build Biltmore on Linney's Mountain northeast of Taylorsville, but the owner refused to sell. Lots of large emeralds have been found in the county. There was a fire at the courthouse in 1967. That's basically all the important stuff that has happened here. Not much to say about this county, to be honest.

Walking around the courthouse, you'll see lots of stuff. That includes, but not limited to, this bell tower that I thought was neat. If you didn't read the plaques up there, the tower itself was made from bricks from the aforementioned courthouse fire, while the bell has been around since 1850, being rang to tell citizens about fires, or when food was on sale in the town. It was built in 1997 and was dedicated to the veterans of the county.

Speaking of veterans memorials, there were two: The regular one, and a Confederate one.

Alexander County Confederate Memorial

Alexander County Veterans Memorial

Flags

 And last but not least, the courthouse. Onto the next county with X in its name, Halifax, which I probably won't be getting in the next 5 years.

Alexander County Courthouse