CLARKE, a county in the N. E. central part of Georgia, has an area of 280 square miles. It is traversed from N. to S. by the Oconee and its branches, the middle Oconee and the North fork, bounded on the W. by the Appalachee, and also drained by Sandy, Shoal, and Cedar creeks: the surface is hilly. The richest soil is found in the vicinity of the Oconee and its branches; a portion of the upland is said to be "worn out." Cotton, Indian corn, oats, and sweet potatoes are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 4572 bales of cotton; 289,575 bushels of corn; 63,710 of oats, and 48,942 of sweet potatoes. It contained 4 cotton factories, 3 tanneries, 8 flouting mills, 2 grist mills, 1 paper mill, 10 saw mills, 21 churches and 4 newspaper offices. There were 200 pupils attending public schools, and 522 attending academies and other schools. Granitic rocks are abundant in the county; gold, garnets, kaolin, pyrites, and tourmaline are also found. A branch railroad extends from Athens, the county seat, to the Georgia railroad. The county was named in honor of General Elijah Clarke, an officer in the war of the Revolution. Population, 11,119, of whom 5530 were free, and 5589, slaves. Geographic Reference Library 1854 Gazetteer of the United States United States Gazetteer C