Blount County Alabama History This county was formed in 1818, and named in honor of Governor Wm. G. Blount, of Tennessee. It is noted for the abundance of its minerals, the diversity of its soils, the variety of its productions, and mineral waters. In its progress, it is keeping pace with the surrounding counties, and is ranked among the best in the State. Its area is 700 square miles. Population in 1870, 9,945; population in 1880, 15,369. White, 14.210; colored, 1,159. Tilled Land: 68,860 acres.—Area planted in cotton, 12,502 acres; in corn, 29,161 acres; in oats, 4,551 acres; in wheat, 10,087 acres; in tobacco, 48 acres; in sweet potatoes, 371 acres. Cotton Production ; 4,442 bales. The face of the country in Blount is rather peculiar. It is penetrated through the center by a plateau which occupies a belt from eight to ten miles in width. On one side of this mountain plateau, running parallel with it, is Murphree's Valley, while on the opposite side is Browns Valley. Along this belt of plateau are found excellent farming lands, which have been wonderfully assisted during the last few years by the moderate use of fertilizers. Cotton grows most readily upon this broad upland, especially if a little assisted with fertilization. Because of the greater ease of cultivation, the farmers of the county have come, in many instances, to prefer these elevated soils to those of the valleys for cotton-producing purposes. As pasture landsthese can not be excelled in the county. There is a combination of elements here that favor the raising of stock, among which may be mentioned, an adequate supply of water, and soils favorable to the growth of clovers and grasses. Perhaps a better section than this plateau can not be found in Alabama for the production of fruits. As fine apples and peaches grow here as are produced in the South. Indeed, Blount has the reputation of being the best apple growing county on the continent. The character of the climate is such as to favor a certain crop almost annually. It is very rare, that the fruit crop is cut off by frosts. The valley lands are intrinsically more ferlile than those which lie along the broad plateau. The soils of both the valleys are, in some instances, as rich as those which belong to the famous Tennessee Valley. Even along these valleys, there are flinty ridges which break the evenness of the lands, but between these exist the most productive soils. The most of the cotton raised in Blount is grown upon the loamy valleys. In addition to corn and cotton, the county produces oats, wheat, tobacco, sweet potatoes, rye, and sorghum. It has for several years producd a great deal of wool, and as stockraising increases, there is no doubt that this product will correspondingly increase. The main streams of Blount are Mulberry, Locust, and Blackburn Forks, and Big Spring creek. The principal timbers are beech, walnut, poplar, sycamore, post and Spanish oaks, hickory, wild cherry, pine, and black gum. The county took the premium at the Atlanta Exposition for the largest and finest specimens of wild cherry. Vast districts of the county are overspread with forests of timber. Transportation is afforded through the medium of the great Louisville and Nashville railroad, which traverses it from the north to the south. Another railroad is in contemplation and is expected soon to be built from Birmingham to Guntersville on the Tennessee river. This road will penetrate the heart of the famous Murphree's Valley, and along its route, from one terminal point to the other, will prevail vast deposits, both of coal and iron. The road will prove of incalculable advantage to the population residing in the region through which it will pass. Such is the attractiveness of this region that it will serve speedily to allure a population as soon as itsresources of mine and soil are known. Excellent school and church facilities exist in almost every portion of the county. Blountsville, the seat of justice, Bangor, Summit, Hanccville, and Garden City, are places of importance. The industries of the county are varied. Extensive limeworks are seen at Blount Springs. Limestone, dug from the quarries here, is daily shipped in large quantities to Birmingham, where the manufacturers hold it in repute above any other available limestone. It prevails in inexhaustible stores, in hills about Blount Springs. Coal and iron are abundant in the county. Petroleum is also found. Enjoying, as it does, facilities for transportation to the markets of the South, North, and all points in the far Northwest, nothing prevents Blount from taking rank with the foremost counties of the State. Blount Springs, situated immediately upon the Louisville and Nashville railroad, is the favorite watering place of Alabama. These famous Springs are 130 miles north of Montgomery, and are embosomed in the most picturesque mountain scenery. The waters are especially adapted to the cure of scrofula, rheumatism, dyspepsia, and all affections of the bladder and urinary organs. Here, as in the adjoining counties which lie along the railroad, the value of the lands diminishes as they recede from the line of communication. Land can be purchased in the county at prices ranging from $5 to $35 per acre. There are 34,320 acres of government land in Blount county. [Source: Alabama As It Is, By Rev. B. F. Riley, D. D., 1887 - Transcribed by C. Anthony] © Copyright 2009 Genealogy Trails