Rich soil, a mild climate, and access to markets by river and later railroad made Courtland an early center of cotton production. From surrounding plantations with names such as Bonnie Doone, Oak Grove, Rocky Hill, Albemarle, Hard Bargain, Pond Spring, Dixie, Summerwood, Egypt, Flower Hill, and Ingleside, thousands of bales were shipped each year to Memphis and New Orleans during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Although production methods have changed, cotton remains an important part of the local economy. In 1992, the value of cotton to Lawrence County's economy exceeded $81 million. Several cotton gins once operated in and around Courtland. The present Servico gin, a mile north of town, was created in 1973 through the merger of two older gins formerly located near the town square, Service Gin and Company Gin. One of the largest gins in the Southeast, Servico can process 35 bales of cotton per hour, with one bale weighing 500 pounds. The gin serves farmers from three states, and cotton growers from around the world, including China, Russia, Australia, Indian and Africa, have toured its modern facilities.