Surry County was divided in 1789 in a North-South line leaving what was to later become Yadkin with Surry and what was to later become Forsyth County with Stokes. The committee selected Rockford or White Rock Ford on the banks of the Yadkin River in the center of the county more or less on land purchased from Thomas and Moses Ayers. Commissioners were Michajah Oglesby, Edward Lovil, Charles Smith, Henry Spears and William Tyrell, Esqs. The town of Rockford was laid off with three streets: High, Cabin and Water. Commissioners William Thornton, Stephen Wood, John Thomas Longino, Jacob Sheppard and David Humphries.

From the sale of the lots, public houses were to be built. Court was held in a barn at the home of Richard Horne two miles east of Rockford until the courthouse was ready. It was the county seat for sixty years -- Mrs. Houck writes, "It was the county seat through the administration of twelve presidents and it was according to the State magazine of April 29, 1961,'a happy hunting ground for lawyers.' "

In 1850 when Yadkin was formed from Surry with the Yadkin River as boundary, Dobson became the county seat of Surry. Dobson was named for William Polk Dobson, one of the county's most illustrious citizens. Court was held at Rockford until 1853 when the courthouse in Dobson was finished.

3^rd Rockford Courthouse

York Tavern