The Trading Ford (between present Davidson and Rowan counties, NC) afforded one of the earliest known crossings of the Yadkin River and access to present Rowan county and lands west of the Yadkin. It is rich in history and culture, from pre-contact Native Americans, an early failed colonization effort by the Spanish (1567-68), journeys of explorers John Lederer (1670) and John Lawson (1701) among others, through European colonization begun in the 1700s, to modern times.  It was here that General Nathanael Greene foiled Cornwallis' British pursuit in the Revolutionary War, and the last Civil War Confederate victory in North Carolina was won at Camp Yadkin. Sign the Petition to Save Trading Ford Area Historic Sites!

Historic Trading Ford
	NEW!  Trading Ford Area Historic Timeline Detail from the Collet Map of 1770 NEW!  The Southern (Rowan) approach to the Trading Ford (pdf) Voyage Down the Yadkin-Great Peedee, Douglas L. Rights, 1928 This Was Home, Hope Summerell Chamberlain 1938

The earliest inhabitants and Spanish exploration

INSIGHT (First of a Series) by Geitner Simmons, Salisbury Post 1940s Digs Uncovered Artifacts Understanding the 'Original Southerners' Spanish Empire Failed to Conquer Southeast Prairies and Bottomland Forests are among Rowan's Lost Habitats An Unknown South: Pardo Story Helps Rowan Learn about Itself Exploring Joara Foundation: Archaeological examination of Joara Indian settlement and Spanish Fort San Juan at the Berry site in the Catawba Valley

Exploration in 1670 and 1701
	A New Voyage to Carolina, John Lawson (1701) (Full Text); Excerpt describing the Trading Ford area Map of the Trading Path

Early settlers
	History and Development of the Jersey Settlement The Ellis Family Cemetery, Davidson county, NC The Torrence Mansion and the Heights of Gowerie

Role in the Revolutionary War

Two camps near the Yadkin Ford Fateful day at Trading Ford: In February 1781, Rowan was the site of a crucial encounter between British troops and Nathanael Greene's patriot forces Race to the Dan map General Joseph Graham's Account of British Pursuit of Greene to the Trading Ford UPDATED AND EXPANDED!  Trading Ford Monument, Davidson county, NC, Dedicated 1929, Restored 2009! For further information - a selected bibliography NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REPORT TO CONGRESS  GIVES HIGHEST NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO TRADING FORD REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITE

A sister ford
	EXPANDED!  The Yadkin Ford and John Long's/Cowan's/Hedrick's Ferry

Yadkin RIver Bridges
	EXPANDED!  The Yadkin's First Bridges:  Beard Bridge 1818; Piedmont Toll Bridge c. 1899; First Rail Bridge c. 1855 NEW!  20th century bridges:  1906 & 1919 rail bridges; 1922 Wil-Cox Bridge; 1951 Hwy 29 Bridge; 1957 I-85 Bridge

The War between the States
	Stoneman's Raid: Salisbury and the Yadkin River Bridge Civil War Preservation Trust names Yadkin River Bridge one of America's 25 Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields in 2008 and 2009

Trading Ford:  Ten thousand years of American History in Piedmont North Carolina Download in pdf format There've been posts on a relic-hunters' forum about looting the Trading Ford area for the personal gain of a few.  In order to protect these irreplaceable historic sites for the benefit of all, we've had to remove all specific maps from our website.  Please see:  Protect our Archaeological Resources! Also by this author: |North Carolina RevWeb |The Battle of Shallow Ford |