SUMTER COUNTY. 525 



Post Offices, — Americus, Danville, Friendship, Plains of 

 Dura, Pondtown. 



Population, Taxes, Representation. — According to the 

 census of 1845, the population was 4,926 whites, and 2,515 

 blacks; total, 7,441. Amount of State tax returned for 1848, 

 $2,619 90. Entitled to one representative to the Legislature. 



Rivers, Creeks. — The Flint river forms the eastern boun- 

 dary of the county. The Muckalee, Muckaloochee, and Kin- 

 chafoonee, are considerable streams. Spring, Mountain, and 

 Little Sweet Water, are among the largest creeks. 



Towns. — Americus, the county site, is a pretty and thri- 

 ving town on the waters of Muckalee creek. It contains the 

 usual county buildings, three churches, male and female acade- 

 mies, two hotels, four drygoods stores, one drug-store, three 

 groceries, one tan-yard, two blacksmiths, two shoe and boot 

 shops, nine lawyers, and six physicianss. Population about 

 450. The town is well shaded with trees of natural growth. 

 Distance from Milledgeville, 165 miles S. W. ; from Flint 

 river, 16 W. ; from Columbus, 59; and from Albany, 40. 

 Made the county site and incorporated in 1832. 



Danville is 16 miles E. of Americus, on the Flint river. 

 Population, 200. This is an unhealthy place. 



Pondtown is 12 miles N. of Americus. Population, 150. 



Face of the Country, Nature of the Soil, Produc- 

 tions. — The face of the country is flat. Much of the land is 

 very productive, particularly on the rivers and creeks. Cotton 

 is the principal article cultivated. Corn, wheat, rye, and 

 sugar-cane do well. 



Markets. — Farmers send their cotton to Macon, Columbus, 

 and Albany. 



Mills. — Merchant-mill, 1 ; saw-mills, 7 ; grist-mills, 12. 



Cotton. — Between 8,000 and 9,000 bales of cotton are 

 annually produced. 



Roads and Bridges. — These are kept in good repair. 



Climate, Diseases, Longevity. — During the summer 

 months it is excessively hot. The climate can hardly be 

 called unhealthy, although there are several localities where 

 sickness prevails. Fevers and chills are the most common 

 diseases. The following are the cases of longevity which 

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