Historical Markers in
Guilford County, North Carolina

1757 New Garden Land Purchase 1st Virginia Cavalry A Heroine of ‘76 African Americans in World War II Memorial Alamance Church Alamance Church Buildings Site Albion Tourgee Albion W. Tourgée American Artillery Athletic Field Backcountry Courthouse Bailes Old Mill Battle of New Garden Beard's Hat Shop Bell Tower Bennett College Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement Blandwood Brig. Gen. Edward Stevens Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner British Attack Buffalo Church Calvin Wiley Camp Fisher Camp Stokes Canary Cottage Capt. George Reynolds Capt. James Tate Captain James Morehead Capus Waynick Carrie M. Stone Cottage 1948 Cedar Hill Foundry and Machine Shop Centre Friends Meeting Charles Benbow House Charles W. Eliot Hall Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum Christian Isley House Cigar Industry City Transfer and Storage Company, 1908 Col. Arthur Forbis Cone Brothers Confederate Arms Factory Confederate Arms Factory Confederate Arms Factory Confederate Arms Factory Confederate Cabinet Confederate Hospital Confederate Soldiers Monument Costly Victory Crown Forces at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse Curtis House David Caldwell David Caldwell David Caldwell D.D. David Schenck David Schenck Death of Stewart Deep River Friends Meeting Delaware Continentals Delaware Monument Dolly Madison Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1883 - 1961 Dr. David Caldwell Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Ronald E. McNair Edgeworth Female Seminary Edward R. Murrow Edward R. Murrow Expanding Battle February 11, 1960 Fisher Park Fragmented Attack Francis McNairy House Galen L. Stone Hall 1927 General Nathanael Greene George Preddy Gillies Greensboro College Greensboro Law School Greensboro O.R.D. Guilford College Guilford County Health Department Guilford County Vietnam Memorial Guilford Courthouse Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Guilford Technical Community College Haley House Henry Frye High Point High Point Market High Point Speedway High Point University High Point Veterans Memorial Highland Cotton Mills Village Historic Oak Ridge Home of Dr. Shubal Gardner Coffin Home of Richard Mendenhall Home Sight Hon. Lieut. Colonel Stuart Hoskins Farmstead Immanuel College In Memory of Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown In Memory of Elizabeth "Bettie" Wiley Forbis In Memory of M/Sgt. Edwin V. Bain James Mendenhall House and Mill Jamestown Female College Jamestown Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Jamestown Public School Jefferson Davis Jesse Benbow House John Coltrane John Coltrane John Motley Morehead John Penn Johnson Shoe Company Joseph G. Cannon Joseph Gurney Cannon Joseph M. Morehead Kimball Hall Legend vs. Reality Levi Coffin Liberty Oak Tree Lieut. Col. “Hal.” Dixon Lindley Field Lindsay Street School Linville Chapel Local Hero Lord Cornwallis Lunsford Richardson Lunsford Richardson Maryland Monument Masonic Home Maxwell Reid Thurman Maxwell Reid "Max" Thurman McLean House Meditation Altar Men of Greensboro and Guilford County Model Farm Monument Row Mount Hecla Mill Mrs. Martha McFarlane McGee-Bell Mustering out of Confederate Army Myrtle Furr Hayworth Barthmaier N.C. A. & T. University Nathanael Greene Nathaniel Macon NC Manumission Society New Garden Friends Meeting North Carolina Railroad O Henry's Family O. Henry O. Henry Oak Ridge Institute Oak Ridge Public School Oakdale Cotton Mills Oakdale School Oakdale United Methodist Church Oakhurst Old Mill of Guilford Oldest Building in High Point Oldest Colonial Trail Original Home Place Of The Greensboro Red Wings Original Methodist Church / Former Methodist Cemetery Our Confederate Dead Palmer Memorial Institute Park Founders Peter Francisco / Marquis of Bretigny and Col. Wm. Washington Pfc. Phill G. McDonald Piedmont Railroad Plank Road Polio Hospital Potter House Quatercentenary Tree Rachel Caldwell Randall Jarrell Regulars’ Monument Rev. Benjamin Elton Cox Revolutionary War Patriots Richard Mendenhall Store Richardson Civic Center Second Line Trail Sewell Farlow Store Signers Monument Signers of the Declaration Simkins v. Cone Sit-Ins Southern Furniture Exposition Building Springfield Friends Meeting Sustained Firefight T. Gilbert Pearson Tannenbaum Historic Park Tannenbaum Park The Army of Tennessee The Battle Begins The Blacksmith Shop The British Perspective The Fisher Park Neighborhood The Florence Armory The Haley House The Hoggat House The Little Red Schoolhouse The Mahler Family Promenade The Monument and the General The Origins of Palmer Memorial Institute The Plank Road The Plank Road Foreman The Presbyterian Church in North Carolina The Ragan and Mills Building The Robbins-Holton Mill & House The Student The Trial Of Benjamin Benson The Underground Railroad The Yadkin College Bell Third Line Trail Tri City Speedway Underground Railroad University of N.C. at Greensboro Veterans Memorial Wadsworth Church Washington & Greene Washington Street Historic District Washington’s Southern States Tour Weitzel's Mill West Market Street United Methodist Church William Hooper William McBryar William Reece House Willis Howard "Willis" Slane Winston Monument Woolworth Students' Sit-in World War I Memorial World War II Memorial Yadkin College "The Genesis Monument"
The state's largest city, Charlotte, was named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of King George III of England.
Guilford County, located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, has a rich and diverse history dating back to its founding in 1771. The county was named after Francis North, the first Earl of Guilford, who served as British Prime Minister during the American Revolution.

During the Revolutionary War, Guilford County played a significant role as it was a common battleground for American and British forces. One of the most notable events was the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781, where General Nathanael Greene's Continental Army engaged British troops led by General Cornwallis. Though the British claimed victory, their losses were substantial and led to their eventual retreat from the state.

In the years following the war, Guilford County experienced rapid growth and development. The arrival of the North Carolina Railroad in the 1850s brought increased trade and commerce to the area, stimulating the local economy. The county also became a prominent center for textile manufacturing, with numerous mills and factories established.

The 20th century brought further changes to Guilford County. World War II brought new opportunities for industrial expansion, with the establishment of military bases and manufacturing plants. The cities of Greensboro and High Point saw significant growth and became major economic and cultural centers in the region.

Today, Guilford County continues to be a thriving and diverse community. Its rich history is celebrated and preserved through numerous historical sites, including the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and the Greensboro Historical Museum. The county also boasts a vibrant arts scene, educational institutions, and a strong sense of community, making it a desirable place to live, work, and visit.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Guilford County, North Carolina.

  • 1771 - Guilford County is formed from parts of Rowan and Orange Counties.
  • 1781 - The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, a significant American Revolutionary War battle, takes place in present-day Greensboro.
  • 1808 - Greensboro is established as the county seat.
  • 1871 - The city of High Point is incorporated.
  • 1889 - The town of Jamestown is incorporated.
  • 1891 - The city of Greensboro is incorporated.
  • 1893 - The town of Gibsonville is incorporated.
  • 1907 - The city of High Point becomes the county seat.
  • 1949 - The town of Oak Ridge is incorporated.
  • 1974 - The city of Greensboro becomes the county seat once again.