Pineville in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Polk Farm
President James K. Polk State Historic Site
The Polk Farm
In 1794, Samuel and Jane Polk started a farm they received as a wedding gift from Samuel's father, Ezekiel. The couple lived here with five of their ten children, including their eldest child, James Knox, born November 2, 1795. They worked the land with two enslaved women, Violet and Luce, but as the farm expanded, they purchased two male field hands. They grew cotton and other crops until moving to Duck River Valley, Tennessee in 1806.
Early Farm Life in Mecklenburg County
For the area's early settlers, the surrounding countryside proved to be especially suitable for farm life. They fashioned its hardwood forests into crude log structures, hunted its abundant wild game, and grew essential crops in its fertile soil. By mastering various skills, these pioneers were able to survive on the frontier.
Almost every man in this country has been the fabricator of his own fortune. John Smyth (1784)
The Farm Today
Today, the President James K. Polk State Historic Site consists of twenty-two of the Polks' original 150 acres. The site's reconstructed buildings are based on North Carolina Gov. David Swain's 1849 description of the Polk home are comprised of material from three early-to-mid 19th century buildings originally located in
this page online
Erected by North Carolina Division of Parks.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #11 James K. Polk series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 2, 1795.
Location. 35° 4.687′ N, 80° 52.926′ W. Marker is in Pineville, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. Marker is on James K. Polk Road (County Road 3640) 0.1 miles east of Lancaster Highway, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12031 Lancaster Hwy, Pineville NC 28134, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cotton on the Polk Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Tobacco in the Piedmont (within shouting distance of this marker); The President James K. Polk State Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); President James K. Polk S.H.S. (within shouting distance of this marker); Polk Family Cemetery (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); James Knox Polk Birthplace (about 400 feet away); Mecklenburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, May 22, 2022
3. Inside the Main House
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, May 22, 2022
4. Bedroom in Main House
Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on May 21, 2022, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
