History of Clay County Alabama United States of America

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Population: White, 12,000; colored, 1,000. Area, 610 square miles. Woodland, all.

Acres-In cotton (approximately), 13,921; in corn, 24,503; in oats, 4,894; in wheat, 9,785; in tobacco, 85; in sugar cane, 10; in sweet potatoes, 237.

Approximate number of bales of cotton, 5,200.

County Seat-Ashland; population, 450; located 25 miles from Talladega.

Newspaper published at County Seat-Clay County Watchman (Democratic).

Postoffices in the County-Ashland, Black Store, Bluff Spring, Buckeye, Coleta, Copper Mines, Dean, Delta, Elias, Enitachopco, Flat Rock, Gibsonville, Greshamton, Harlan, Hatchett Creek, Hillabee, Idaho, Lineville, Mad Indian, Mellow Valley, Moseley, .Mountain Meadow, Pinckneyville, Rocky Mount, Shinbone, Wheelerville.

This county was created in 1800, and took its name from the great Kentucky statesman, Henry Clay. Like other interior counties in Alabama, the mineral and agricultural properties are not as yet fully recognized and appreciated. It is remote from lines of transportation and is not as accessible as other portions of the State which have won distinction among capitalists, and yet are not a whit in advance of Clay. When the productive soils, the varied minerals, and the vast water-power of the county shall attract public- notice, gateways of commerce will be opened, and its hills and valleys will teem with population.

Clay County is varied both with respect to the face of the country and the character of the soil. The eastern portion has a varied surface with a soil of sandy loam. A mountainous ridge penetrates the county from the southwest to the northeast. Most of the lands lying adjacent to this ridge are very productive. In the northern end of Clay and west of this range, is a valley of exceedingly rich farming land. The bottom lands which lie along the streams which water the county are generally productive. A belt of "flatwoods" four or five miles wide is found east of the ridge lands. This belt is covered with a mixed growth of oaks and pine and has generally a gray and somewhat sandy soil. Throughout the county the gray lands are regarded the best for farming purposes.

The bulk of the cotton crop of Clay is raised in the southern and eastern parts of the county, because of the superiority of the soils. The chief productions are cotton, corn, wheat, oats and sweet potatoes. Orchard and garden fruits also do well.

The timbers of the county include both short- and long-leaf pine, with blackjack and other oaks, hickory, sweet gum, walnut, poplar, crab apple, persimmon, ash, maple, dogwood and alder. The mountains and hillsides are covered with the heaviest timbers. The timber and lumber trade is one of the future industries of Clay County.

Cold, silver, barytes, tin, manganese, pyrites, soapstone, iron, copper, copperas, mica, graphite and slate are found in different parts of Clay. The Confederate authorities, during the last two years of the war, secured much sulphur from this county for the manufacture of powder.

The water-power of the county is immense. The inclination of many of the streams is great, imparting a mighty momentum to the descending waters. Big Kitchabadarga, Talladega, Hatchet, Hillabee, Hatchee, Enitachopka, Condutchkee, Crooked and Mad Indian Creeks are the main streams. The county is abundantly supplied, too, with perennial springs of freestone water.

Ashland, Lineville and Delta are the principal points of interest. Excellent schools of a high grade are found at all these points.

At present Clay County is entirely without railroads, which, more than any other cause, accounts for its want of development. The county lies between the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, and the mountainous range which penetrates it, divides the water flowing to those streams. The health of Clay County is exceptional, while its soil is varied and fairly productive. The people are thrifty and contented, raising at home almost everything needed for domestic comfort.

Some of the railroads projected through this section of the State will penetrate this county, and, upon completion of one or more of these roads, the resources of Clay will divide the attention which is now concentrated on more favored localities, and the growth and development of the county will be commensurate with the past experience of the mineral region of Alabama. Within the limits of this comity there is a large body of public lands subject to homestead entry or purchase, which within a few years will become the homes of a thriving population. At present the prices of land range from $1 to $15 per acre, depending upon situation and condition of improvement.

Source: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical; Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888

History of Clay County Alabama

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