Lawrence County AlArchives History .....Lawrence County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 4, 2011, 9:31 am

IV.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.

     Population: White, 12,050; colored, 8,400. Area, 790 square miles.
Woodland, all. Red Valley lands, 200 square miles. Calcareous slopes, 220 square
miles. Mountain lands, 150. Coal measures, 160.

    Acres—In cotton, approximately, 42,800; in corn, 54,600; in oats, 5,700; in
wheat, 6,000; in rye, 125; in tobacco, 100; in sweet potatoes, 400. Approximate
number of bales of cotton in round numbers, 14,000.

    County Seat—Moulton: Population, 800: located fifteen miles south of Memphis
& Charleston Railroad.

    Newspaper published at County Seat—Advertiser (Democrat).

    Postoffices in the County—Avoca, Brick, Camp Springs, Concord, Courtland,
Gum Pond, Hatton, Hillsborough, Jesseton, Kinlock, Moulton, Mount Hope,
Oakville, Ora, Pitt, Pool, Progress, Spangler, Town Creek, Wheeler Station.

    Lawrence was established by the first Territorial Legislature, Feb. 4, 1818.
It was formed out of the Cherokee and Chickasaw, cessions of 1816, and still
retains its original dimensions. It lies in the northwest quarter of the State,
contiguous to Lauderdale and Limestone on the north, Morgan on the east, Winston
on the south, Franklin and Colbert on the west. It was named for Capt. James
Lawrence, of the United States Navy. His last order was: "Fight her till she
sinks."

    The county is penetrated from east to west by two extensive valleys, known
as Courtland and Moulton Valleys, the former of these being in the northern and
the latter being in the southern portion of the county, while the center is
occupied by a detached mountain known as Little Mountain.

    The Little Mountain region, which occupies the central portion of the
comity, has a light sandy soil, which in point of fertility falls far behind
those of the two valleys. But no portion of the county is more inviting than
this as a place of residence. Elevated three or four hundred feet above the
valleys, supplied with a profusion of freestone and chalybeate springs, with a
soft, healthful atmosphere, with extensive reaches of grazing lands for herds,
this section is most inviting to many who come to Lawrence County in search of
homes. A small colony of Quakers has recently located in this region, midway
between the towns of Courtland and Moulton.

    The county is traversed by numerous streams, large and small, which afford
abundant supplies of water to every portion. The northern boundary of the county
is formed by the Tennessee River, and more than half this boundary is occupied
by the Great Mussel Shoals, which are not navigable. The upper boundary,
however, is on the open portion of the Tennessee River, which will soon be
opened to the largest packets. In other portions of the county are Town and
Nance Creeks, a fork of Flint River and Sipsey Fork. Springs of great coolness
and of unceasing flow issue from the hilly portions of the county.

    Timber is not in sufficient quantities for commercial purposes. In the past
the Little Mountain region furnished great quantities to the two valleys between
which it is situated; but the forests have been sufficiently depleted to create
care and protection against future depredations. For home consumption there is
still a sufficiency of pine, white oak and poplar. The islands in the Tennessee
are densely wooded with poplar, white oak, ash, red gum and black oak; but this
timber is inaccessible to a great degree, and will remain so until the canal
shall have been opened around the Mussel Shoals.

    The mineral resources of the county, as far as discovered, are limited. A
few thin seams of coal are found on the high escarpments of the mountains, but
it is not in sufficient quantities for practical purposes. Almost every kind of
fruit seems to do well in Lawrence County. The productions have been the most
satisfactory. Grape culture has received more attention than any other.

    The facilities for transportation will be restricted to the Memphis &
Charleston Railroad, which runs through the Courtland Valley, east and west,
until the Tennessee River shall have been opened by the completion of the Mussel
Shoals Canal.

    The chief towns of the county are Moulton, the county-seat, Courtland and
Leighton.

    Good common schools exist in every section of the county, and a female
academy of high grade in the town of Moulton.

    In almost every region of the county are the evidences of thrift and
progress. Along the high, healthful ridges are found many handsome homes,
adorned with flower gardens and surrounded with spacious orchards.

    In some regions of the county, where coves are formed, there are oftentimes
found scenes of great wildness and beauty.

    The prices of land vary in the county, and are controlled by the fertility
of the soil and the location of the land. Lands vary in prices from $5 to $50.

    Thrifty, wide-awake, progressive immigrants will be greeted by the good
people of Lawrence County. Farmers, fruit-growers, and stock-raisers could not
find a more inviting section. The county embodies 67,200 acres of land belonging
to the government, some of which is 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.
CEREAL BELT.


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