Arbacoochee, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arbacoochee, Alabama
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1922 fire insurance map of Arbacoochee
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 Arbacoochee, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Arbacoochee, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Cleburne |
| Elevation | 961 ft (293 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 159079 |
Arbacoochee is a small, unincorporated community in Cleburne County, Alabama, United States. It's a place with a fascinating past, especially known for its gold mining history.
Contents
A Glimpse into Arbacoochee's History
Arbacoochee got its name from an old Creek Indian village called "Abihkuchi." This name means "a pile at the base."
The Gold Rush Era
In 1832, something exciting happened: gold was found in Arbacoochee! This discovery quickly turned the quiet area into a busy gold mining town. The local mines produced a lot of gold, worth over $5,000,000.
By 1845, Arbacoochee was booming. It had grown to a population of over 5,000 people. Imagine a town with twenty general stores, five saloons, a school, and two churches! There were also two hotels, two mining supply stores, a fire department, and even a race track. More than 100 homes filled the area.
However, this boom didn't last forever. When news of the California Gold Rush reached Alabama, many people decided to leave Arbacoochee. They hoped to find even more gold out west. Because of this, only a few families stayed behind.
Post Office and Decline
A post office served the community of Arbacoochee for many years. It operated from 1842 until 1904. After the gold rush faded, the town became much smaller.
Population Changes Over Time
Arbacoochee first appeared in the official U.S. Census in 1880. At that time, it was listed as an unincorporated village. It was the second-largest community in Cleburne County. However, the village itself didn't report its population again in later censuses.
The larger area around Arbacoochee, known as the Arbacoochee Beat (or Precinct), continued to be counted. In 1880, this area had 877 people. Its population changed over the years, reaching 1046 in 1890 and then decreasing to 607 by 1950. After 1950, this precinct was combined with other areas into a larger census division.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 50 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 877 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,046 | 19.3% | |
| 1900 | 896 | −14.3% | |
| 1910 | 899 | 0.3% | |
| 1920 | 833 | −7.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,084 | 30.1% | |
| 1940 | 826 | −23.8% | |
| 1950 | 607 | −26.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Notable People from Arbacoochee
- Seaborn McDaniel Denson and Thomas Jackson Denson: These two brothers were famous musicians and teachers. They taught a special kind of singing called Sacred Harp, which is a unique style of American folk music.
