Cotton on the Polk Farm
President James K. Polk State Historic Site
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. This machine removed seeds from cotton boll fibers and cleaned the crop faster than could be done by hand. The machine became popular quickly, and by the early 1800s, more than 50 cotton saw gins were being used in Mecklenburg County.
During the early 19th century, cotton was one of the country's most lucrative exports. This made it a valuable cash crop for farmers, especially in the South where growth was concentrated. A seasoned subsistence farmer, Samuel Polk purchased a 40-saw cotton gin between 1800 and 1806, probably in the hopes of building his wealth by farming the crop.
Though the cotton gin cut back on the amount of labor needed to clean cotton, farmers and large planters (including Samuel Polk) relied on the labor of enslaved people to plant and harvest large volumes of the crop.
Tax records show us that by 1806, four enslaved peoples labored on the Polk farm: Violet and Lucy (who Jane Polk inherited in 1794) and two male "farmhands." Samuel Polk likely purchased these two men around the same time as his cotton gin. These men labored to cultivate cotton and more on the Polk farm.
Erected by North Carolina Division of Parks.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
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Location. 35° 4.698′ N, 80° 52.934′ W. Marker is in Pineville, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. Marker is on James K. Polk Road (County Road 3640) 0.1 miles west 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. Tobacco in the Piedmont (here, next to this marker); The Polk Farm (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 (about 400 feet away); James K. Polk (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pineville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 21, 2022, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
