Autauga County, Alabama Genealogy
Autauga was established by an act of the territorial legislature, passed
November 21,1818, and lies in the centre of the State. The territory was taken
from Montgomery county. Its name is derived from the large creek which flows
through its center, and is said to signify "land of plenty" in the Indian
tongue. It is bounded on the north by Baker, east by Elmore, south by Lowndes,
and west by Dallas. It has an area of about 660 square miles.
The wealth of the county is assessed at $1,867,040, as follows: real estate
$1,403,300; personal property $463,740. The improved farm lands in 1870 amounted
to 92,012 acres, the unimproved to 146,686 acres; their cash value was
$1,122,059, and the estimated value of the farm productions for 1869 was
$995,114. The live stock were valued at $369,056, and consisted of. 897 horses,
1,174 mules, 6,491 neat cattle, 1,677 sheep, and 7,185 hogs. The productions
were 191,158 bushels of Indian corn, 909 bushels of wheat, 5,568 bushels of
oats, 38,814 bushels of potatoes, 1,060 pounds of rice, 25,542 pounds of butter,
7,965 bales (The census estimate is for a 400 lb. bale.) of cotton, 2,060 pounds
of wool; while the value of animals slaughtered was $32,531.
The population of Autauga since it was formed has been as follows-the large
decrease since 1860 being attributable to the loss of territory set apart to
Elmore and Baker
1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870
Whites 2203 5867 6217 6274 7105 4329
Blacks 1650 6007 8125 8749 9634 7292
The commercial facilities are the Alabama river, whose sinuous course
waters its southern boundary, and is navigable the greater portion of the
year; seven miles of the railway from Selma to Rome, and thirteen miles of
the railway from Montgomery to Decatur. A branch railway is in process of
construction to connect Prattville with the latter road.
The lands of the county are generally light, with a clay subsoil, and
capable of the highest degree of fertilization; but there are bottom and
creek lands of great natural fertility.
PRATTVILLE, the seat of justice since 1868, is fourteen miles northwest of
Montgomery. It was named for its founder, Hon. Daniel Pratt, and is a
growing town of 1346 inhabitants, according to the census of 1870. It has
two cotton factories, a gin manufactory, a flouring mill, &c.
Washington, the first seat of justice, was situated at the mouth: of
Autauga creek, where stood the old Indian town of Autauga; and it went to
decay when the courthouse was removed.
Kingston, to which place the courthouse was taken, is now a small village.
Autaugaville has about 500 inhabitants, and a cotton factory.
The pine forests of the county are valuable for lumber, and a number of
mills are in operation. Iron ore is abundant, and gold and plumbago have
been found. The water power is very superior.
The cotton factory in Prattville owned by Mr. Pratt has 5,000 spindles and
125 looms,. and works up 125 bales of cotton per month into sheeting,
shirting, and osnaburgs. The Indian Hill factory, a mile distant, has
3,800 spindles and 70 looms, and works up 50 bales of cotton per month
into sheeting and shirting. The establishment at Autaugaville has 2,088
spindles and 64 looms, and makes sheeting and shirting.
Autauga has but little eventful history. It was settled earlier than any
of the counties around it. The commissioners appointed to select a site
for the courthouse in 1819 were Robert Gaston, Zacheus Powell, Zachariah
Pope, Alsey Pollard and Alexander R. Hutchinson. In 1866 a valuable
portion of it was set apart to Elmore, and in 1868 another large portion
was set apart to form Baker.
The only governor of Alabama Territory, and the first governor of the
State, lived and died in this county.
Source: Alabama, her history,
resources, war record, and public men: from 1540 to 1872, Brewer,
Willis, Montgomery, Ala.: Barrett & Brown, 1872.
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