Winston County AlArchives History .....Winston County 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 13, 2011, 11:51 am

XXIII.
WINSTON COUNTY.

    Population: White, 4,236; colored, 13. Area, 540 square miles. Woodland,
all. All coal measures, but in western part of county these rocks are covered
with drift.

    Acres—In cotton (approximately), 2,000; in corn, 8,098; in oats, 579; in
wheat, 1,967; in sweet potatoes, 172.

    Approximate number of bales of cotton, 655.

    County Seat—Double Springs: population 325.

    Newspaper published at County Seat—Winston Herald, Democratic.

    Postoffices in the County—Ark, Biler, Brown's Creek, Clear Creek Falls,
Collier Creek, Double Springs, Houston, Larissa, Motes, Pebble.

    The name of this county was changed from that of Hancock in 1858. Under the
original name it was organized in 1850.

    As far as investigations have gone the county seems to have immense
resources of minerals. Within the last year it has attracted considerable
attention, which has been mainly due to the construction of the Georgia Pacific
Railroad. As soon as the road shall have been completed, Winston will become one
of the chief manufacturing districts of the State.

    It is in no sense an agricultural county, although in some portions cotton
and corn are quite readily produced. The local industries are farming, stock
raising and wool growing. Dairy-farming is carried on to a limited extent.

    This county is abundantly supplied with water. These numerous streams, by
their confluence, form the chief water-ways of the county—Black Water, Big Bear,
Clear and Rock Creeks, and Sipsey and Brushy Forks. The Buttahatchie and New
Rivers have their fountain heads amid the wild hills of Winston County. Along
the abounding gorges and valleys there rush the multitudinous tributaries which
feed these principal streams from many quarters. Winston can not be excelled,
perhaps, by any county in the State, in the wildness and picturesqueness of its
natural scenery. The waters in some instances have worn channels in the
sandstones, and often flow through gorges with high, perpendicular sides. In
some instances rapids and cataracts are found, which fill the solitudes with
their loud-sounding thunder. Two of these waterfalls occur in Clear Creek about
300 yards apart; the fall of each is about thirty feet. Below the falls the
water dashes down a deep, narrow gorge. They are objects of pecular interest,
and will one day attract many sight-seers. "Rock-houses," as they are locally
named, abound along these streams. In the neighborhood of these rocky caverns
are found growing in luxuriance and beauty the rarest ferns known to American
florists.

    The natural timber growth is composed of post, red, and Spanish oaks,
poplar, beech, holly, chestnut, sour gum, and occasionally short-leaf pine. In
many parts of Winston the forests are as yet untouched, and hence abound in many
fine specimens of the timber already named. This is especially true of the lands
which lie adjacent to creeks in the bottoms.

    One of the chief attractions of this county is its abundant game. Turkeys
and deer abound in every portion of Winston, and hunters resort thither from the
adjoining counties. Most excellent fish, too, are found in the numerous streams.

    The county is exceedingly rich in its mineral properties. The extent of
these deposits is as yet unknown, but it is believed that no portion of Alabama,
of the same compass, will excel the county of Winston in its mineral resources.

    Vast quantities of coal underlie the hills, and iron ore is also abundant.
In some sections a superior quality of slate is found, and in large quantities.
These slumbering resources only await the construction of railway lines in order
to find their way into the markets of the world.

    There are several railroads contemplated, some of which are under
construction, which will add greatly to the market facilities and general
improvement of the county. Among them may be mentioned, as most prominent, the
Georgia Pacific.

    The educational advantages of the county are fairly good; church facilities
good. Land may be purchased at from $3 to $30 per acre.

    Government land in the county, 20,760 acres.

    The people of the county of Winston are social, industrious, thrifty,
law-abiding, hospitable, Godfearing and serving, and will gladly welcome all
good people who may come to make their home with them.


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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