Formed in 1857 from a portion of Ozark County.
DOUGLAS COUNTY. This county is situated in the south central part of the State, and was formed from the northern part of Ozark County, by an act approved October 29, 1857. In 1860 it contained 2461 inhabitants.
This new county embraces about 758 square miles, is generally sterile and broken, and a great portion of the land unfit for cultivation, and valuable only for the excellent pine, oak, and walnut timber that abound throughout the county. The principal streams traversing the county are the Big North Fork and Bryant's fork of White River, and their tributaries, upon which are found very good water power. There are already twelve saw-mills and eight flouring-mills, all by water power, furnishing lumber to a considerable extent for the northern and western counties. The soil and climate is well adapted to fruit and grape culture. Improved land is worth from $4 to $6 per acre; unimproved, sixty cents to $2. Corn, wheat, potatoes, turnips, rye, tobacco, and the usual varieties of grasses are profitably produced in the valleys. Of business houses in the county, there are (no lawyers!) 3 doctors, 7 merchants, 2 grocers, 1 tinner, 9 blacksmiths, 3 wagon-makers, 3 saddlers, 4 cabinetmakers, 8 carpenters, 2 coopers, and 2 tobacco manufacturers. More mechanics are wanted, and persons with energy and capital to engage in grape culture; and, above all, some good school teachers. There are 11,960 acres of school lands unsold in this county.
VERA CRUZ, the county-seat, is a thriving town, and contains about 60 inhabitants. (Parker's Missouri as it is in 1867..., 1867)