1768 Old Tryon County formed from Mecklenburg County, included land in today’s Polk County to Green River.
1776 Settlers were living next to the Cherokee line and along the Green River, North Pacolet River and tributaries. All of today’s Polk County, Rutherford County and McDowell County were settled, along with Greenville and Spartanburg Districts in South Carolina. Many of these settlers were first into today’s Henderson County. There were forts to protect settlers. One was the Block House in Polk County. Another was Davidson’s Fort (Old Fort) in McDowell County.
1777 Burke County formed from Rowan County, going to border of Cherokee line. Only a very small section of today’s Henderson County was located inside the old Burke County (primarily small area of Bat Cave, Gerton, possibly small section of Hooper’s Creek and Fletcher)
1779 Old Tryon County divided into Rutherford and Lincoln counties. Rutherford County included land in all of today’s Polk County and most of Henderson County.
1780 (Sept. 25) More than 1,000 men “mustered” at Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River near Elizabethton, Tenn. The Overmountain Men crossed the mountains and began pursuit of British Maj. Patrick Ferguson and his Tory army.
1780 (Oct. 4-5) Overmountain Men and other Patriots camp along Green River in today’s Polk County.
1780 (Oct. 7) Battle of Kings Mountain. Patriots kill or capture all British troops and Tories. Turning point of Revolutionary War in the South.
1781 (Jan. 17) Battle of Cowpens in today’s Spartanburg County, S.C. Victory for Continental Army.
1781 (Oct. 19) Revolutionary War ends when British Gen. Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, Va.
1782 Government land grants will be issued to persons who fought for Continental Army as a means of payment.
1783 North Carolina passes legislation changing boundary lines with Cherokee.
1780s-early 1800s Early pioneers were of English and Scots descent, with Germans, Welsh, other nationalities, and persons of African descent.
1787 Part of Burke County was annexed to Rutherford County, including area of Little Broad River (Rocky Broad) – Bat Cave, Gerton.
1788 Line between Burke and Rutherford counties was officially drawn, placing almost all of today’s Henderson County in Rutherford County
1790s Land speculators begin buying huge areas, then selling to early pioneers
1791 Old Buncombe County was formed from Burke and Rutherford counties, included most of today’s Henderson County. Some sections east of Continental Divide were still in Rutherford County.
1791: The Cherokee sign the Treaty of Holston, by which they cede a hundred-mile tract of land west of Asheville in exchange for goods and an annuity of $1,000.|
1794 More land in Rutherford County was annexed to Old Buncombe County, placing more of today’s Henderson County in Old Buncombe County.
1798: The Treaty of Tellico is signed. The Cherokee cede a triangular area with its points near Indian Gap, east of present-day Brevard, and southeast of Asheville.
1802-03 Conflicts over Georgia-North Carolina line leads to Walton County War. Settlers in today’s Henderson and Transylvania counties caught up in the conflict.
1806-07 Congress intervenes in Walton County War. Line established between Georgia and North Carolina placing the “orphan strip” into today’s Transylvania County in North Carolina (then Buncombe County, later Henderson County)
1812 War of 1812 between Great Britain and United States. Phillip Brittain organizes settlers into a militia unit. This unit never fought in the war.
1827 Carson-Vance Duel near John Davis inn and estate, Oaklands, on Old Buncombe Turnpike near North Carolina-South Carolina state line (old U.S. 25) in Green River community. Davy Crockett was one of many who watched the duel.