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County History |
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The county of Pike was created in 1821. Its name was given in honor of General Zebulon M. Pike, of New Jersey. It has become one of the most progressive counties in the Timber Belt since the construction of the Mobile and Girard railway. Its county-seat, Troy, has been noted, of late years, for the enterprise and thrift of its citizens. By reason of its geographical location it has become, to a large degree, a distributing point to much of the territory lying south. Pike county has an area of 740 square miles. Population in 1870, 17,423; population in 1880, 20,640. White, 14,368; colored, 6,272. Tilled Land: 114,850 acres.—Area planted in cotton, 47,107 acres; in corn, 42,207 acres; in oats, 5,424 acres; in wheat, 72 acres; in rye, 23 acres; in sugar-cane, 400 acres; in sweet potatoes, 883 acres. Cotton Production: 15,136 bales. The northern and central portions of Pike are hilly; the remainder of the county is largely of a level surface. The land is quite varied in its fertility. Along the sandy ridges which prevail in different portions of Pike, the lands are thin, with an accompanying clay foundation of red or yellow. In the eastern part is seen the formation of the famous Chunnenugga ridge. Upon the topmost lands of this ridge there is a surface of sand, but the slopes are of a limy character and have a lasting and productive soil. In the bottoms, beneath these lime hills, the lands are of the best character. Their productive virtues will be inexhaustible for many years to come. South of this Chunnenugga formation there is a strip of lime country. From the city of Troy southward a number of miles, there is a stiff lime and clay soil of wonderful fertility, while still further south the lands grow thinner and more sandy, and are overgrown by the finest pine timber. Throughout this southern section of the county there is a prevalence of pine forests with occasional interspersion of oak and hickory lands. Where these last-named lands appear they are highly appreciated for their productive qualities. In the southeastern part of the county there are many superior farming lands. They are of a stiff, clayey nature, but are much prized for their fertility. Than this there is not a better farming section in the whole county. In the western and central portions of Pike there are occurrences of pure limestone in sufficient quantities to supply the evident deficiency in the soils of the pine lands. Judiciously distributed over the surface of the thin pine soils, their valuation would be greatly enhanced. The most of the lands that can be used in Pike for farming purposes lie quite favorably for enrichment with fertilizers. This fact has encouraged the importation of many fertilizers into the county. The annual sales of these manures at Troy are immense. This gives us a bird's eye view of the county of Pike and of its varied soils. Upon these lands are generally grown corn, cotton, oats, wheat, rye, rice, sorghum, sugar-cane, and potatoes. Large crops of peas and peanuts are also produced. The county has long ranked among the foremost in the State in its capacity to produce sweet potatoes and the Cuban sugar-cane. Both these crops thrive wonderfully well. These soils produce as fruits, apples, peaches, plums, pears, grapes, quinces, figs, and pomegranates, together with melons, canteloupes, raspberries, and strawberries. To visit Troy during the fruit season is to witness the luxuries produced in orchard and garden alike in the surrounding county. There is a perceptible progress in the improvement of the stock of the county, especially about the centers of interest. This is promoting the raising of grasses and clovers. More attention is gradually being given to the raising of swine. The timber of the forests of Pike are oak, hickory, elm, poplar, cypress, beech, and pine. Of the last-named there are very great forests, valuable alike for its flammable qualities and its turpentine and lumber. Mills for the manufacture of lumber are found in every part of the county. Pike is drained through two main streams and their tributaries. These are the Conecuh and Pea rivers. Many very fine branches and creeks penetrate the county, and seek their outlet through these principal channels. The waters are wonderfully clear, the bottoms of the streams being often overspread with a sand of snowy whiteness, and again with beautiful pebbles. Many fine fish are caught from these streams. They are also used, as in the adjoining counties, for floating the massive pine timbers to the markets of the Gulf. The centers of interest in Pike are Troy, a beautiful little city of 2,500, Brundidge, and Orion. These are important social centers, and are proud of their educational facilities. Troy has a collegiate institute, besides other schools of merit. A normal college has been established there. A good common school system reaches every portion of the county. Troy is a point of unusual importance because of its relation to the surrounding region of country. It is an important distributing center. It serves as a valuable cotton market, and receives a considerable quantity of this staple every season. It is the terminus of the Mobile and Girard railroad upon the south. By means of this line the people of Pike are brought into immediate connection with the Montgomery and Eufaula railroad, or else with the several lines which converge at Columbus, Ga. This is the sole commercial outlet and inlet that penetrates the county. Immigrants will be able to purchase lands in Pike county for sums ranging from $1.50 to $10 per acre. Government lands, subject to entry, are found in the county. Men seeking homes will be welcomed to Pike, and so will capitalists seeking investments. The people are mostly of a progressive spirit, and are eager to see their unpopulated districts peopled with men of pluck and enterprise. Government land to the extent of 7,280 acres exist in the county. Source: Alabama As It Is by Benjamin Franklin Riley, D. D., 1887 , Transcribed by C. Anthony---------------------
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