Elmore County AlArchives History .....Elmore County 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2011, 11:44 pm VI. ELMORE COUNTY. Population: White, 8,747; colored. 8,755. Area, 630 square miles. Woodland, all. Gravelly hills, with long-leaf pine, 230 square miles; metamorphic 400 square miles. Acres—In cotton (approximately), 31,045; in corn, 20,000; in oats, 5,153: in wheat, 3,883; in rye, 27; in rice, 5: in tobacco, 12; in sugar-cane, 10; in sweet potatoes, 642. Approximate number of bales of cotton—10,000. County Seat—Wetumpka; population 1,200; on the Wetumpka branch South & North Railroad. Newspapers published at County Seat—Elmore Express, Times (both Democratic). Postoffices in the County—Bingham, Buyck, Central Institute, Channahatchee, Colley, Coosada Station. Cotton's Store, Deetsville, Eclectic, Edgewood, Elmore, Good Hope, Irma, Kowaliga, Robinson Springs, Sand Tuck, Sykes' Mills, Tallassee, Ware, Weoka, Wetumpka. Elmore County was created out of portions of Coosa, Autauga, Montgomery and Tallapoosa Counties, by an act of the Legislature approved February 15, 1866. The county was named for Gen. John A. Elmore, who was one of the first settlers of Autauga County, and resided in that portion which was embraced in this county. The county is divided into two parts by the Coosa River, and the Tallapoosa, which forms a portion of its eastern boundary, takes a bend and washes its entire southern border. The surface of the county is generally rolling. The lands vary in appearance, and in the merit of their soils. The gray lands have the predominancy in the county, and vary with the localities. On the Coosa River above Wetumpka, there are found narrow basins of good land, but out from these bottoms there are formed level plains which are generally covered with a sandy soil. On the side of the Coosa River, opposite the town of Wetumpka, there is an extended plain which stretches away to the boundary of Autauga County. The character of the land belonging to this level stretch of country is a sandy surface with a stiff clay subsoil. This gives to the wagon ways a perpetual firmness, and renders hauling easy. Following along the Tallapoosa one finds a girt of superior lands which are excellent for the production of cotton and corn. Perhaps the best lands.ire found in the fork of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. These alluvial bottoms have been steadily planted for many years, and have yielded unceasingly heavy crops of corn and cotton. The planters prize these river lands because of their capacity to produce the snowy staple as well as the staff of life, to-wit, corn, more than any others in the county. The lands that lie just above those alluded to, and which are above the annual overflow of the rivers, are also superb cotton lands, and are regarded the safest for the production of that staple. Of course, it must not be understood that the production of cotton is confined to these lands. In different parts of the county are brown loam and slaty soils, which yield splendid crops. Elmore has many magnificent pine forests, and on many of its streams fine saw-mills are erected, which turn out large quantities of fine pine lumber for local use, as well as for shipment to southern and western markets. The health of the county is unsurpassed, and all portions of it possess drinking water as pure and wholesome as any found in any portion of the world. The climate is equable, and the hills make most desirable residences for those to whom a healthy locality and an abundance of pure water for all purposes is an inducement in selecting a home. Among the fruits which experience has proven will thrive in Elmore County may be mentioned: pears, apples, figs, peaches and grapes, while strawberries, raspberries and other small fruits yield abundantly. The timber of the county consists of oak, pine, hickory, beech, walnut, magnolia, dogwood, gum and persimmon. Yellow ochre has been discovered at several points in the county, and is reported to be of an excellent grade. The county can produce a buhr stone, for millstones, which in service is equal to any ever used, and in crushing corn into meal is superior to many so-called liner varieties. In addition there are deposits of stone which is very durable and useful as a building stone. Cold exists in localities in the county, and has been worked with great profit and satisfaction to those engaged. Large deposits of clay have been found in the county, which is thought valuable for the manufacture of a line grade of porcelain ware, while some sands of the county have been pronounced to be excellent for making glass. At Tallassee, on the Tallapoosa River, is the Tallassee Cotton Factory, which was, for many years, the largest mill of that character in the South. The falls in the river at that point farnish immense water-power, which is only slightly utilized. This is but one of the numerous sites favorable to the location of manufactories in the county. Splendid streams of water ramify the county in all directions. Among these are the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, Shoal, Wewoka, Mill, Safkahatchee, Hatchee, Chubbee, Corn, and Wallahatchee Creeks. These lesser streams find outlets through either the Coosa or Tallapoosa Rivers. The points of interest in the county are Wetumpka, the county seat, with a population of 1,500; Tallassee, with about 1,200; and Robinson Springs. Wetumpka has long been noted as the location of the State Penitentiary. Tallassee is famous as a manufacturing center, and Robinson Springs, in former years, was a noted local resort for the elite of Montgomery. The educational advantages of the county are good, as are also facilities for the enjoyment of religious worship. The means of transportation are convenient. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs through the county, a branch of which terminates at Wetumpka, while in the eastern end the Western Railroad is sufficiently near to be quite accessible. The Coosa River furnishes another cheap means of transportation to Montgomery and Selma upon the Alabama River, and the cities upon the Southern coast. Lands may be had from $1.50 to $15 per acre in the county. The Government owns 7,320 acres of land subject to entry. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land 1888 PART III. HISTORICAL RESUME OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES IN THE STATE. COTTON BELT. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/elmore/history/other/elmoreco393gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb