Russell County AlArchives History .....Russell County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 15, 2011, 6:34 pm

XV.
RUSSELL COUNTY.

    Population: White, 6,182; colored, 18,655. Area, 670 square miles. Woodland,
all. Gravelly hills, with pine and oak uplands, and blue marl.

    Acres—In cotton (approximately), 81,600; in corn, 34,300; in oats, 9,700; in
wheat, 1,000; in rice, 65; in sugar-cane, 196; in sweet potatoes, 1,000.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton, 20,000.

    County Seat—Seale; population, 000; on Mobile & Girard Railroad.

    Newspaper published at County Seat—Russell Register (Democratic).

    Postoffices in the County: Arahburgh, Crawford, Dexter, Fort Mitchell,
Glenville, Hatchechubbee, Hurtsboro, Jernigan, Loflin, Marvyn, Oswichee, Seale,
Uchee.

    The county was established in 1832, and named for Col. Gilbert C. Russell,
of Mobile. This is one of the border counties of the State, being separated from
Georgia by the Chattahoochee River. It has many valuable tracts of land and a
thrifty population.

    The general surface of Russell County is undulating, and in some sections
broken. It abounds in capital agricultural lands, many of which have been in
cultivation for quite a number of years. Its soils differ widely in their
character, but are generally quite .productive.

    Beginning the survey with lands in the eastern part of the county, and those
which lie along the western bank of the historic Chattahoochee, we find them to
be excellent for farming purposes. the loamy soil having the color of chocolate.
These embrace a belt five or six miles in width, when the more elevated
table-lands begin. These are covered with a red loam soil, and are considered
even more valuable than those which lie in close proximity to the river. Beyond
this, still westward, are the hill regions, which have long sustained a
reputation for productiveness.

    In the hills which adjoin the two Uchee Creeks, limestone is found in
inexhaustible quantities and of the finest quality.

    Next this comes a range of gravelly hills, which penetrate the county near
the center. From this point to the extreme western boundary there is quite a
diversity of soil, produced largely by the numerous streams which ramify this
portion of Russell. In this western half may he found rich alluvial bottoms, as
well as thin, sandy ridge lands. These lands are peculiarly adapted to the
production of corn, cotton, oats, potatoes and sugar-cane, and to all kinds of
fruit, including the Lecompte pear which grows in great luxuriance. The uplands
are especially adapted to all kinds of grapes and berries.

    The bottom lands are usually preferred for cotton. The lands are generally
tilled with ease. Every variety of soil may be found in the county, from lhiit
of sand to that of the most fertile black prairie and blue marl. The county is
highly favored in its dense forests of excellent timber. Both the short-leaf,
and yellow or long-leaf, pine, the white, red, water and blackjack oaks,
hickory, gum, beech, dogwood, willow, maple, walnut, cypress and cedar timbers
prevail in different sections of Russell. The county has ample supplies of water
throughout the entire year. The Chattahoochee River forms the entire eastern
boundary of the county, giving a river front of more than fifty miles, while its
territory is watered    by such streams as Cowikee and Wataula Creeks. These
bold streams are fed by numerous tributaries that drain every section of the
county. The springs and    wells afford abundant supplies, taken in connection
with the readiness with which stock may be raised.


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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