Legend goes that the name was derived from an old salt lick in the area.
The first recorded settler of Middlefork was John Crook, who arrived there in 1820 from Bedford County, TN, by land grant from the State of Tennessee. Not much else is known from 1820 to 1830, but it seemed to be a time of great growth. Some settlers, like John Crook, brought their slaves with them to help in the building of houses, other came alone and sent for their families later. Sam settlers who arrived before 1830 included Charles Riddle, Joel Hurt, James McAdmas, Silas Grider, William Arnold, Thomas Dodds, and W. H. Griswell. Many were from North Carolina but some of these founding fathers made their way over directly from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, being descended from ancient families in that state.