ELBERT COUNTY. 227 



ELBERT. 



Boundaries, Extent. — This county is situated between 

 the forks of the Savannah and Broad rivers, and is bounded 

 N. by Franklin ; E. by the Savannah river ; S. by Wilkes, 

 Lincoln, and a part of Oglethorpe ; and W. by Oglethorpe and 

 Madison. Laid out from Wilkes in 1790. It is 32 miles 

 long, and 16 miles wide ; containing 512 square miles. 



Post Offices. — Elberton, Amandaville, Cold Water, Cook's 

 Law Office, Eagle Grove, Montevideo, Petersburg, Ruckers- 

 ville. Broad River. 



Population, TaxeSj Representatcon. — Elbert, according 

 to the last census, had 5925 whites ; 5323 blacks. Total, 

 11,248. Amount of tax returned for 1848, $3,973 60 cents. 

 Sends two representatives to the Legislature. 



Rivers, Cereks — Savannah and Broad rivers are the 

 most important. The following creeks empty into the Savan- 

 nah river, viz., Beaver Dam, Van's, Cold Water, Cedar and 

 Powder Bag ; and Deer, Dove, Falling, and Wahachee, into 

 Broad river. 



Towns. — Elberton is the capital, situated in the centre of 

 the county, on the waters of Falling creek, 90 miles N. N. E. 

 of Milledgeville, 78 from Augusta, 32 from Carnesville, 26 

 from Lexington, 23 from Petersburg, and 11 from the Savannah 

 river. It has the usual county buildings, one hotel, one aca- 

 demy, &c. Population 300. The water is excellent, and the 

 town healthy. Made the county site in 1790. 



Ruckersville is on Van's creek, four miles from the Savan- 

 nah river, and seven miles from Elberton. Population about 

 200. It is a healthy and thriving place, and the inhabitants 

 are noted for their hospitality. 



Petersburg is at the junction of the Savannah and Broad 

 rivers. This was once among the most prosperous towns in 

 Georgia ; but it is now in a state of dilapidation. A feeling of 

 melancholy and loneliness is experienced by the visitor when 

 he remembers what the town was in former days. 



Nature of the Soil. — The lands from Elberton to Pe- 

 tersburg, and across to each of the rivers, were originally 



