BLUFFTON

Bluffton, nestled in the picturesque Cherokee County, Alabama, was established 1888 as a bustling mining town. Its population quickly swelled to 8,000 residents by 1890, a testament to its rapid growth and prosperity. While today, only some old trees, a church, and a few old Victorian homes stand as remnants, Bluffton's historical importance should not be overlooked. 
Bluffton, a town with a rich tapestry of unique historical features, was the first structure in Cherokee County to be illuminated by electric lights. It was also home to the Bluffton Mascot, the town's sole newspaper, and two churches, the Methodist Episcopal church and Salem Baptist Church, which are still active today. The Bluffton Land, Ore, and Furnace Company, which operated an iron mine in the area, was responsible for building the Signal Hotel. This place once hosted the renowned Rudyard Kipling. Bluffton was also the planned site of a college, The University of the Southland, with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 24, 1889. However, the college was never built. Bluffton was home to a waterworks system, school, post office (1888-1934), and Cherokee County's first electrical generating plant. 
Bluffton's ore fields, once a source of prosperity, began to falter as they struggled to meet their investors' expectations. The discovery of higher-grade iron closer to Birmingham led to a shift in the industry, causing commercial businesses to fail and Bluffton to become a ghost town.