Randolph County AlArchives History .....Randolph County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 12, 2011, 9:18 pm

XVII.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.

    Population: White, 13,155; colored, 3,420 Area, 610 square miles; Woodland
all. All metamorphic.

    Acres—In cotton (approximately), 23,177; in corn, 29,595; in oats, 4,850; in
wheat, 10.156; in tobacco, 44; in sweet potatoes, 433.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton, 7,500.

    County Seat—Wedowee; population 300. Has fine water power and mineral deposits.

    Newspaper published at County Seat— Observer (Republican).

    Postoffices in the County—Almond, Blake's Ferry, Christiana, Corn House,
Dingler, Gay, Graham, Handley, Haywood, High Shoals, Lamar, Level Road, Lonina,
Milner, Omaha, Roanoke, Rock Dale, Rock Mills, Sewell, Wedowee, Wehadkee, Wildwood.

    The county of Randolph was created in 1832, and named for the famous John
Randolph, of Virginia. Its natural advantages are, in a great many respects,
superior. Its climate salubrious, lands good, tone of society elevated, and
health unsurpassed.

    During the census of 1880 the census official rendered in his report at
Washington only to have it returned to him for correction, the Washington
official declaring the death rate to be too small to be true. But the original
report was returned to Washington unchanged, as no error had been committed.

    The soils of Randolph are of average fertility, and on account of deep clay
subsoil and abundant rainfall, are quite reliable for agricultural purposes. Not
more than one-fourth of the magnificent forests of Randolph have been cleared,
and the fine pine timber here will one day be a feature in itself. The lands are
easily worked and produce remarkably well. All the crops that are congenial to
the southern climate grow their best here. Fruit-growing is gradually expanding,
and bids fair ere long to rival all other industries. There has been only one
failure of the peach crop in thirty-five years, and the apple crop never fails.
The farmers produce nearly everything they use at home, and are, as a general
thing, well-to-do.

    Like other counties, the absence of railroad transportation has prevented
much attention being given to the minerals of Randolph, but this want is now
being supplied. The East Alabama Railway has been extended to Roanoke, in the
southern portion of the county, and will soon be completed to Anniston, running
right through the centre of the county, and will open up some of the finest
timber and mineral lands in the State.

    In gold, copper, mica, tin, graphite, kaolin and iron, Randolph is doubtless
one of the richest counties in the State. All these abound in the northern
portion of the county. The kaolin is of superior quality and is inexhaustible.
More than one mine is now being worked to advantage.

    There is scarcely a square forty acres of land in the county that is not
penetrated by a rivulet, creek or river. The Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa
rivers run through the county, and have some of the finest shoals on them that
nature has ever formed. There will be large cotton factories run by them some
time in the near future. As for creeks, Randolph has almost a superfluity of
them. There are eight flour and grist-mills turned by the waters of Wedowee
Creek. Randolph has the purest and coldest freestone water in the world, and
that in abundance. This accounts for the wonderful health enjoyed here.

    Wedowee, situated as it is, in rich mineral beds of kaolin and mica, will
one day be a large and prosperous city. Leaving out the minerals, the large pine
forests that extend for miles and miles around it in every direction will one
day make it an interesting town. Brockville, in the northeastern portion of the
county, has a fine school, and is building up rapidly.

    Rock Mills and Roanoke, in the southern portion, are also points of
interest. Rock Mills has a cotton factory, a tannery, pottery and cabinet
establishment, and a fine school also. Roanoke has lately arrived at the
importance of being the only railroad station in the county, and will doubtless
be a flourishing village. There is a flourishing and well-established college
there.


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.
MINERAL BELT.


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