148 CARROLL COUNTY. 



Villa Rica is a pleasant village, situated in the centre of 

 the gold region, on the ridge dividing the waters of the Talla- 

 poosa and Sweet Water Creeks. It has one church, one hotel, 

 two schools, masonic lodge, division of the Sons of Tem- 

 perance. Population 200. Amount of business done in a 

 year exceeds 8100,000. It was settled in 1830 by persons 

 interested in the mining operations. It is a healthy village, 

 and the character of the population has much improved. Dis- 

 tant from Carrollton 16 miles northeast, 22 from Campbell- 

 ton, 30 from Marietta, and from Cassville, Rome, Fayetteville, 

 Franklin, Decatur, and Abacoochee Mine, in Alabama, 42 

 miles. 



Gold Mines, Minerals. — Gold is abundant, and is said 

 to be finer than any found in Georgia. Near Villa Rica there 

 is an extent of country six miles long and one mile wide, in 

 which there are numerous mines known as the "Carroll Mines." 

 Many of them have proved to be profitable. The amount of 

 gold obtained from these mines cannot be stated with accu- 

 racy. The general average is one pennyweight per hand. 



West of Villa Rica 22 miles is a valuable mine, owned by 

 Holland, Bonner, and others. 



Bonner's mine, five miles southwest of Carrollton, is also 

 very rich. Some iron is found ; also mica, quartz, granite, &c. 



Mineral Springs. — In Villa Rica there is a spring slightly 

 impregnated with sulphur, and in different parts of the county 

 there are chalybeate springs. 



Character of the People. — In the early settlement of this 

 county, many irregularities were committed ; but the popula- 

 tion at this time, in point of morality and good order, are equal 

 to that of many of the older counties. 



Climate, Diseases. — No country on earth has a more 

 salubrious climate. The diseases are very few. 



Name. — This county is named after Charles Carroll. This 

 venerable man, a signer of the Declaration of American Inde- 

 pendence, was born at Annapolis, Sept. 8, 1737. When very 

 young, he was sent to France to receive his education. He 

 remained there until 1757, when he visited London, and 

 commenced the study of the law. He returned to the 

 United States in 1764, with a mind very highly cultivated. 



