Alabama Extension Agents Buoyed So Far by Crop Planting Conditions

About Lee County

Lee County became a county Dec. 15, 1866, and was organized from portions of Tallapoosa, Macon, Chambers and Russell counties by a vote of the state legislature. Among the famous to whom Lee Countians claim kinship are George Washington, Zachary Taylor, Pocahontas and Robert E. Lee. The county is about 71.38 percent urban, 28.62 percent rural, 26.12 percent black, 71.42 percent white and .46 percent hispanic and other. The county seat is Opelika. There are 35 educational outlets in Lee County, including Auburn University and Southern Union.

Major agricultural crops in Lee County are nursery and greenhouse products, sod, forestry, timber, beef and hay. Other crops include rabbits,  crawfish, catfish, vegetables and Angora goats.

Major industries include Michelin/Uniroyal, West Point Stevens, Wal-Mart Distribution, Quantegy, Briggs/Stratton, Fisskars, Charbroil and Flowers Bakery. Tourist attractions are the Grand National Golf Course, which is part of the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, East Alabama Museum, Chewacla State Park, Auburn University, and the Mann Museum.

The Lee County Extension office has five agents and two secretaries. There are about 100 volunteers who work with 4-H or Master Gardener programs. Some of the more popular Extension programs in the county are 4-H, hunter safety, boating safety, Master Gardener, Master Cattlemen, Master Tree Farmer and Farm-City. More than 1,000 young people are involved in 4-H programs.