Gold Hill in Rowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Gold Hill Mining District

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 25, 2026

1. Gold Hill Mining District Marker

Inscription. Gold discovered here by 1824. Extensive mining began 1843, creating a boomtown. Copper mined in district until 1907.

Erected 1972 by State Department of Archives and History. (Marker Number L 81.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.

Location. 35° 30.647′ N, 80° 20.769′ W. Marker is in Gold Hill, North Carolina, in Rowan County. It is on Saint Stephens Church Road 0.1 miles north of Old Beatty Ford Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is at the parking lot entrance for the Gold Hill Rail Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 730 St Stephens Church Rd, Gold Hill NC 28071, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the

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Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Village of Gold Hill (a few steps from this marker); Gold Hill Methodist Church Bell (a few steps from this marker); The Barnhardt Shaft (within shouting distance of this marker); Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chilean Ore Mill (about 300 feet away); The 19th Century View from the Miller Shaft (about 400 feet away); Gold Hill, North Carolina Est. 1843 (about 500 feet away); Russell-Rufty Shelter (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gold Hill.

More about this marker. An identical marker was added in 2013. The location of that marker is approximately a mile north on US Hwy 52.

Gold Hill Mining District Marker at the parking lot entrance for the Gold Hill Rail Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 25, 2026

2. Gold Hill Mining District Marker at the parking lot entrance for the Gold Hill Rail Trail

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.