History of the Alcovy Basin - a Clean, Abundant Water Supply (continued)

The Alcovy river basin was a meeting ground for the Creek and their northern neighbors, the Cherokee, whose southern most territory included the northern edges of the basin. These tribes met to trade, especially at the intersection of High Tower Trail (which runs East West and once crossed the entire state) and Cherokee Trail (which runs North South, and once extended to North Carolina) which now marks the heart of the City of Social Circle. Springs at this intersection made it a popular meeting and resting place, initially for Native Americans and later for European settlers. A well stands today at the intersection of these roads as a physical representation of the role of water in bringing people together and forming communities.

Just as the Native Americans found abundance in the Alcovy basin, so did the first settlers. These pioneering, hardworking people favored settling along the banks of the Alcovy to take advantage of its abundant water supply, rich soil, and healthy climate. The early settlers longed for more of the paradise they found. Despite the Native Americans' wish for a treaty that "shall be as strong as the hills and lasting as the rivers,"(Anita Sams, Wayfarers in Walton) land succession continued piece by piece until, by the early 1800s, the entire Alcovy basin was no longer Creek or Cherokee country but officially open to white settlers. The region became increasing populated with settlers who garnered land through the state lottery system and set to work to build homes and plant crops, especially cotton.