COOSA COUNTY.
The county of
Coosa derives its name from the beautiful river of the same name
which forms its western boundary. In admiration of the sparkling
water of the stream, the Indians named it rippling which
is the translation of Coosa. The county was organized in 1832. It
partakes largely of the characteristics which prevail in the
adjoining counties. Both as a mineral and agricultural county,
Coosa is greatly favored. It has an area of 670 square
miles.
Population in
1870, 11,945; population in 1880, 15,113- White, 10,050; colored,
5,063.
Tilled Land;
80,791 acres. Area planted in cotton, 26,468 acres; in corn,
29,990 acres ; in oats, 5,325 acres; in wheat, 9,735 acres; in
tobacco, 28 acres; in sweet potatoes, 412 acres.
Cotton Production:
8,411 bales.
The face of the
country is uneven, being diversified with precipitous hills, deep
valleys, beautiful terraces, with broad districts of undulating
surface. The character of the soils is varied. The dominating
lands are the red and gray, with occasional belts of thinner
soils, which are mostly found along the hills and ridges. There
are also many broad and beautiful valleys iu the county, the
productiveness of which exceeds that of any other lands. Upon the lands
which skirt the streams are found the splendid cotton fields of
Coosa, as well as upon the best red and gray uplands. These
valleys have a considerable depth of rich soil, mixed with
vegetable matter—the accumulations of ages. The principal crops
are cotton, corn, oats, wheat, sweet potatoes, and sorghum. The
three crops first named grow to rank luxuriauce when planted upon
lands favorable to their production. The soil is capable of
producing valuable grasses, and the fine stock in which the county
abounds shows what may be accomplished in this branch of
industry.
Near the center of
the county, between two of its principal streams, are found many
high ridges which are clad in the noblest specimens of yellow or
long-leaf pine. This district of valuable timber extends to
the Talladega line. The other timbers comprise several kinds of
oak and hickory, together with occasional patches of short-leaf
pine.
Embosomed in the
numerous high hills, already mentioned, which prevail between
Weoguffka and Hatchet creeks, are deposits of iron ore which seem
inexhaustible. A granite belt of value exists between the towns of
Bradford and Rockford. Tantalite, copper, tin, asbestos, emery,
soapstone, corundum, kaolin, with traces of gold and silver, are
also found.
At Kellyton is a
thriving cotton-mill, known as the Bradford Factory. Water-power
is abundant in the multitude of streams that flow through Coosa,
chief among which are Coosa river, Hallet, Weoguffka, and Paint
creeks. Rockford, Kellyton, Bradford, Nixburg, and Goodwater are
the principal towns. The Columbus and Western railroad terminates,
at present, at the last-named place. The road is projected to the
vast Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia railroad. The Anniston and Atlantic railroad
is also being built to this point.
School and
religious facilities abound throughout the county, and at several
of the towns named are schools of more than ordinary grade. The
people are hospitable, and favorably disposed toward strangers
seeking homes in their midst.
Lands vary in
price from $2 to $12 per acre, their value depending upon their
grade and location. Coosa is a county of radiant promise, and,
when its internal wealth shall be known, it will be brought up
alongside the most progressive counties in the State. It deserves
high consideration at the hands of those seeking a favorable
location for settlement. In the county are found 33,800 acres of
government land awaiting
occupation.
Source: Alabama As It Is by Benjamin
Franklin Riley, D. D., 1887 , Transcribed by C.
Anthony
Population: White,
10,050; colored, 5,063 Area -670 square miles. Woodland, all.
Acres - In cotton
26,468; in corn, 29,990; in oats, 5,225; in wheat, 9,735; in
tobacco,---- ; in sweet potatoes,---- . Approximate number of
bales of cotton, 9,000.
County Seat - Rockford:
population 1,000.
Newspaper published at
County Seat - Enterprise (Democratic).
Post offices in the
County - Bentleysville, Crewsville, Dollar, Equality, Gantt, Gold
Branch, Good Water, Hanover, Hissop, Iwana, Kellyton, Lauderdale,
Marble Valley, Mount Olive, Nixburgh, Pentonville, Rockford,
Salter, Stewartsville, Traveler's Rest, Weogufka.
Coosa County was
established by an act of the State Legislature dated December
1832, out of a portion of the territory ceded by the Muscogee
Indians by the treaty of Cusseta in March 1832. The original area
of the county was much larger than its present size, as it
comprised a considerable portion of that part of Elmore County
which lies east of the Coosa River, which territory, with the
County Seat, Wetumpka was taken from Coosa on the organization of
Elmore County, in 1866.
Coosa County receives
its name from the Coosa River, which in turn perpetuates the name
of the beautiful and fertile valley which so charmed the eyes of
De Soto and his cavaliers when their gaze first rested on it and
its bosom was for the first time pressed by the foot of the white
man.
The surface of the
county is uneven and is marked by mountainous elevations, valleys,
broad ridges containing beautiful stretches of level tablelands
and sections of slightly rolling lands. The general character of
the soils is red and gray, but along the hills and ridges some
sandy lands are found, while in the valleys and along the bottoms
of the numerous creeks, a black soil of wonderful productiveness
is found, which yields cotton, corn, wheat or oats equal to the
best lands of the State. These, with sweet potatoes and cane, form
the principal crops raised, and while Coosa County is not regarded
as one of the banner agricultural counties of the State, it is a
safe county and its soil returns a yield which will average up,
year in and year out, with some of the counties which stand higher
than it in the agricultural scale. The red lands of this county
are specially adapted to the culture of wheat and other small
grain, and the yield of these articles per acre will compare
favorably with the production of like crops in any other portion
of the State.
The hills of Coosa
County are clothed with a rich forest of long-leafed pine, with
considerable oak, hickory, gum, and some short-leaf pine. Owing to
the fact that this county is only entered by a railroad on its
border, this forest has scarcely been touched.
Besides its agricultural
features and its timber wealth, Coosa County can lay claim to
distinction on account of the extent and variety of its mineral
deposits. Like the county of Tallapoosa, which joins it, Coosa has
gold within its borders, but none has yet been discovered in
quantities which would pay to work. North of Rockford there lies a
belt of granite of a superior character, which will be quarried
and used largely, as soon as transportation facilities are
provided to convey it to centers where it will be in demand. There
is an extensive deposit of iron ore some miles north of Rockford,
which at present is unavailable for the reason that it is locked
in by the absence of the means of conveying it to points where it
could be utilized. The other minerals, which are found in this
county in greater or lesser quantities, are copper, tin, asbestos,
corundum, emery, kaolin, and mica.
The principal streams of
the county are the Coosa River, which forms its western boundary,
Hatchett, Weogufka, Paint, Socapotoy, Pintlocco and Futtegal
Creeks. These streams all furnish water-power of almost unrivaled
extent. The Coosa River, where it borders this county, is rendered
impassable by obstructions and rapids, and should the movement now
on foot cause it to be opened to navigation, the benefit to Coosa
County will be inestimable. At Bradford, on Socapotoy Creek, there
is a cotton mill known as Bradford's Factory, which has been idle
for some years. The building is a substantial stone structure,
and, but for the fact that it is situated so far off of the line
of railroad, the property would be very valuable and the mill
might be worked to advantage.
Rockford, a little town
of about 1,000 inhabitants, is the County Seat. It possesses
excellent schools, good society, and has several churches.
Kellyton and Good Water are the only railroad stations in the
county. For some years the latter has been the terminus of the
Columbus & Western Railroad. This road is now being extended
to Birmingham, and will be completed at an early date. The other
towns of Coosa are: Nixburg, Bradford, Mt. Olive, Stewartsville,
Hanover, Equality, Lorraine, Traveler's Rest, Hissop, Weogufka and
Marble Valley.
The price of land ranges
from $2 to $15 per acre- The county contains a large body of
public land, open to homestead settlement or purchase. The future
of Coosa County is most promising, and with increased railroad
facilities, and the Coosa River open to navigation, it would come
to the front as one of the wealthiest counties of the State.
Source: Northern Alabama -
Historical and Biographical by Smith & De Land, Birmingham,
Ala 1888 - Transcribed by Veneta
McKinney
