While the war was going on the county must survive. Some gold mining was still being carried on. Stores had gold scales and weighed gold dust. The people of the county made there living by farming, cattle raising, spinning, weaving, corn mills, leather tanneries, and other similar occupations. About this time there were eight distilleries three jug factories, thirty grist mills, one flour mill, twenty sawmills and three gold mines.
Women wove jeans, blankets and saddle cloths.
These met with ready sales. Most of the people were willing to work and toiled many hours at these trades. When the Pacolet Mills came to New Holland, White County in 1890 was 6,151 and in 1910 it was 5,110. In a span of twenty years the county lost over 1,000 people. By the end of the century, summer boarders were coming into the county staying at Cleveland, Nacoochee, and in various homes throughout the county.