Draketown, Georgia

Draketown is an unincorporated community in Haralson County, Georgia, United States. It was first settled by a "Moorish aboriginal civilization" known as the Mound Builders, a group large in stature and descendants of a mighty civilization. Around the 15th or 16th century, the Cherokee Indians and Creek Indians replaced the Mound Builders and began their own society. Mostly the Cherokee Indians settled In the Draketown area.

Draketown's elevation is 1,243 feet (379 m). It is located close to the Carroll and Paulding County lines. Haralson County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

Draketown was founded by the Cherokee Indians, who called it "Long Leaf". The name Long Leaf came from a long-leaf pine that grew in front of the post office. It was next settled by white men from the Ducktown Copper Mine who had found copper nearby. The men from Ducktown named the area Draketown because a drake is a male duck. In 1896, the population was reported to be 100. In 1907, the population was recorded as 300.

The Tallapoosa (Waldrop) copper mine was settled by pioneers before Haralson County was established. It was located approximately 100 yards north of Coppermine Road, 600 yards east of the Tallapoosa River. The land of the mine, and three additional land plots, was bought by Thomas Greer Waldrop for $600.

"Copper excitement" started when Elijah Brooks was plowing on the western area of Draketown, which was at that time known as "Long Leaf Post Office". As he was plowing, he turned up some bright yellow granular material that burned when set on fire. Believing that his sample might be copper, Brooks took it for further inspection in Villa Rica; a sample was sent to Tennessee. Immediately a large influx of prospectors and promoters from Tennessee came to Haralson County. Work began on the copper mine before the civil war. By 1874, a 48-foot vertical shaft was sunk by the Tennessee group.

Shortly after the shaft was in place, the rights to the mine were acquired by the Middle Georgia Mineral Association of Macon. Many surrounding land owners leased their mineral rights to the Mineral Association. The Mineral Association explored the land for about 18 months. Between 1880 and 1885, the property's mineral rights were held by William Tudor of Boston and Frederick L. Hart of Quebec, Canada. The two formed the Tallapoosa Mining Company.

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