One of the oldest inland communities of Randolph County is the community known as Oconee. Being situated in Dry Creek valley, it is the site of some of the first homesteads in Elevenpoint river valley.
Among the first families to settle here were the Rices, John Wells, Rodney Crawford, the Selbys, Barbers, Howell White, some of the McIlroys, some of the Stubblefields, Davis and Jacksons.
Ezekiel Rice was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Davidson township, in which this community is located. Isham Alcorn was also an early settler here.
The first school house is reputed to have been built on the north bank of Dry creek near the present Oconee ford, about 1874. It is possible that an earlier “meeting house” had been built in the community at an earlier date, but nothing definite is known of this. The house built in 1874 was used both as a school and church until 1894.
Near this date both the Baptists and Church of Christ built churches here.
Oconee was first known as Ricetown. William C. Rice was the first postmaster after the office was established in 1894. He gave it the name Oconee. The following have been among those who have been merchants at this place: H. M. Rice, J. A. Rice, Thomas White, Harve Boling, Avery Nuckles, Charles Casey, Freeman Owens, M. A. Baker, and Ora Sullenger.
Dry Creek, while not a large stream, flows down out of the dividing brakes between Janes Creek and Elevenpoint River and possesses a nice fertile “bottom” which was taken up by the early settlers and made into a number of nice farms. The old Crawford house is one of the oldest existing buildings in the county.
Near this community were also found the Bellahs, Moores, Rickmans, McLains, James, Taylor and other families during the very first days of settlement.
