History Of Clay County

Clay County was created from parts of Early and Randolph Counties in 1854. It was named for Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky. Senator clay was a strong states rights advocate and was one of the framers of the several states rights compromises that held young America together until the War Between the States. There are two incorporated municipalities within our county; Fort Gaines, our county seat, and Bluffton.

The town of Fort Gaines grew up around a fort on the Chattahoochee River which was established to protect settlers during the Creek Indian Wars. After the War of 1812's last battle in New Orleans in 1814, General Andrew Jackson and his army were sent to Georgia which was the southwest frontier of America. They quelled the hostilities which promoted settlers to move into Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

The town and fort was named for the fort's first builder, General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. The fort was rebuilt several times between its first construction and its final use during the War Between the States.

General Gaines was a member of the militia, similar to the Army National Guard of today. General Gaines is also remembered in history for arresting and bringing to trial for treason, Mr. Aaron Burr. You will remember Mr. Burr was President Jefferson's Vice President. Mr. Burr later killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in New Jersey. He was also charged with conspiring to establish an independent country approximately where Texas is now. Burr was acquitted at his trial for treason.

Fort Gaines became a shipping point for cotton planters for many miles around in both Alabama and Georgia and remained a key central market until about 1858 when railroads replaced river freight. Paddle wheeled, wood fired, steam boats were able to navigate from Fort Gaines to the Gulf of Mexico. It was then known as Queen City and was a commercial, cultural and social hub for the area.