Dahlonega Gold Contributed to "Rush" In Nearby Alabama

Before the California Gold Rush of 1849, the state of Alabama was having a “rush”of sorts with the opening of over 100 mines and the extraction of some 50,000 ounces of pure gold.

More than 100 gold mines were opened in Alabama during the 1800’s, 70 of them in the Upper Gold Belt or Dahlonega Belt which runs from northern Georgia into Alabama,about 100 miles long and 60 miles wide.

The Upper Gold Belt runs from Muscadine in Cleburne County, Alabama to Hog Mountain in Coosa County, Alabama.

More than 49,500 ounces of pure gold were taken from Alabama’s streams and soil. From 1838 to 1860 the U.S. Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia produced coins from gold mined in Alabama.

Gold was first discovered in Alabama in 1832 in Cleburne County in the Arbacoochee Mine. According to historian George W. Yarbrough,“This was probably the most profitable gold mine in Alabama’s history.

”Several large nuggets were found and a small community of 5,000 people developed around the mine which played out in 1900. Some mines in the state operated until 1916 and some panning was done during the Depression.

Wayne Ruple is the author of "Hunting Gold, Minerals and Artifacts in Alabama" which is available from The Book Patch