Macon County AlArchives History .....Macon County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 15, 2011, 11:12 am

MACON COUNTY.

    Population: White, 4,587; colored. 12,786. Area. 630 square miles. Woodland,
all. Gravelly hills, with long-leaf pine, 330 square miles; prairie and
metamorphic regions, 300 square miles.

    Acres—In cotton (approximately). 56,763; in corn, 23,833; in oats, 6,195; in
wheat, 1,916; in rye, 45; in sngar-cane, 140; in sweet potatoes, 928.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton, 15,000.

    County Seat—Tuskegee: population, 2,500: 40 miles from Montgomery.

    Newspaper published at County Seat—News (Democratic).

    Postoffices in the County — Clough's Store, Cotton Valley, Cowles Station,
Creek Stand, Dick's Creek, Gabbett, La Place, Notasulga, Shorter's Depot,
Society Hill, Swamp, Tuskegee, Warrior Stand.

    Macon County was formed in l832, and named for Nathaniel Macon, Esq., of
North Carolina. The county has long been noted for the intelligence and thrift
of its inhabitants. Prior to the war its centers of interest were abodes of
wealth, intelligence and refinement. The county has been gradually rallying from
the prostrating influences of the war, and is now assuming its wonted place
among the best counties of the State. Its social and material advantages are
vast, and, when combined, they furnish the county elements of advancement
inferior to none of the agricultural counties of the great Cotton Belt.

    The general surface of the county is undulating, except in the northwest,
which is inclined to hills; but there are no elevations of note within the
territory of Macon. The lands, as a rule, lie quite well for drainage and
cultivation. In the northern, northeastern and northwestern portions of the
county the soil is of a light, sandy character. Skirting the watercourses it is
much more fertile and productive. In the southern, southeastern and southwestern
parts of the county the soils are very fine, being a rich loam, with clay, lime,
or sand predominating, according to the locality. Usually speaking the bottoms
of the county are very fertile. While Chewaela Creek, for the most part, winds
its way through regions of pine, there are to be found bordering it lands of a
bluish hue which are very productive. Perhaps the richest lands lie along Big
Swamp Creek. Thus it will be seen that a diversity of soils prevails throughout
the entire county, and this gives rise to a diversity of crops. Chief among the
prod nets of the farm are cotton, corn, potatoes, peas, wheat, oats, rye,
millet, rice, sugar-cane and peanuts.

    Domestic grasses have as yet received but little attention. Swamp cane grows
in rank profusion along the watercourses, and sometimes serves to sustain stock
during an entire winter. Fruits are easily grown in the soils of Macon — apples,
pears, peaches, grapes, cherries, walnuts, plums, figs, quinces, pomegranates,
raspberries, strawberries and melons yield readily in proportion to the
attention bestowed upon them. Many wild fruits are found in the old fields, and
along the edge of swamps and through the forests. These include blackberries,
strawberries, dewberries, muscadines, chestnuts, etc.

    Through the swamps the towering oaks yield a vast abundance of mast, which
serves to fatten the hogs during the fall and winter, without the owners being
subjected to the slightest expense. The county is watered by the Ufoupee,
Chewaela, Calebee, Big Swamp, Cupiahatchee and Oakfuskee Creeks. The Tallapoosa
River sweeps through the northwestern corner. Many smaller streams exist,
furnishing an abundant water supply to all parts of the county. The water from
the springs and wells is pure and delightful.

    The timbers are oak, hickory, pine, poplar, beech, red elm, gum, magnolia,
and maple. The forests are frequently drawn upon for the manufactories.

    There are two railroads which furnish transportation for the products of the
county, viz.: the Western Railroad and the Tuskegee Narrow Guage. These serve to
place the county into easy connection with the great lines which converge both
at Montgomery and Atlanta. The towns of importance are Tuskegee, the county
seat, Notasulga, and La Place.

    Tuskegee has long been famous as an educational seat. Here is located the
Alabama Conference Female College, which is an institution of great merit; and
the Alabama High School for boys and young men. At the other places named, are
good schools, and indeed in every part of the county are good common schools.
Churches exist in towns and country alike, affording facilities for religious
worship. The moral tone of the society in Macon County is excellent.


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.


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