The Genesis Marker found in Fisher Park represents the geographic center of Guilford County… Ground Zero…the epicenter… “as determined for the establishment of Greensborough as the county seat of Guilford County, 1808.”  Originally, the county seat was located in Martinville, slightly northwest, near Guilford Battleground. It was moved once surveyors determined the actual geographic center. However, this specific spot was deemed too swampy and low. In the end, the courthouse was built less than a mile southwest, on higher ground, near the intersection of Market and Elm Streets.  If you are interested, the Preservation Greensboro website has interesting information on Fisher Park, Greensboro’s original civic open space, the area on which this Genesis Marker is found. As stated on the marker, the original village of Greensborough was comprised of 42 acres purchased by the commissioners from Scotch-Irish settler, Ralph Gorrell, for $98 in 1808.

We encourage every citizen of Guilford County to visit this marker, at least once. This would make a nice picnic outing for fourth grade students since that is the North Carolina history year. If you are from one of the other 1,300+ city daily photo sites around the world, does your city, county, community have anything to mark the geographic center?