Did you know?
The city of Fort Payne population in the year 2000 was 12,938? That the population of DeKalb County was recorded as 64,452?
"Boom Days" in
Fort Payne, Alabama
February 1889-August 1890
The "Boom Days" (continued - page six)
DeKalb County, of which Fort Payne is the county seat, lies in the extreme northeastern part of Alabama, and is bounded by Georgia, on the east, the northern end touching the line of Tennessee.
The total area is 740 square miles, and the population is between 15,000 and 18,000. Two great plateaus occupy most of the county, Sand or Racoon, and Lookout Moutains. These two great plateaus are separated by the Great and Little Wills Valleys, which cut across the county form northeast to southwest.
The agricultural lands can be divided into the stiff darks soils of the valleys and the lighter soils of the palteaus, each of which, under proper cultivation, will yield bountiful crops. "Apples, pears, and peaches, indeed all fruits grown in this latitude, attain perfection. No section in America can display finer specimens of plums than those grown in the region.
The crop of cotton for 1890 promises to be the finest for many years, and will probably exceed 12,000 bales. The peculiar quality of DeKalb County cotton has given it a reputation among cotton buyers.
The commisioners of DeKalb County have authorized the erection of a court house to cost $40,000. The plans of the architects have been accepted, and the building will be built immediately.
New iron bridges have been ordered to span various streams, and the roads are being improved in all directions.
The establishment of the city of Fort Payne has appreciated the price of property all over the county, and when the projected line of railroad penetrates the county to the southern end, the farming area will be greatly increased and the population doubled in a few years.
The mineral resources of the county constitutes the greatest wealth, but the agricultural values of the valleys and plateaus when properly developed will add greatly to the aggregate value of this region.
"DeKalb County, Alabama, shows the largest increase of any county in the State in assesed valuation, as far as heard from. The assesed valuation in the county is $5,200,201, which is an increase over last year of $2,208,009. Fort Payne did it." - Evening News, Chattanooga.
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