Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Founding of Florence

March 1818

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, March 17, 2018

1. Founding of Florence Marker

Inscription.

Lauderdale County was created by the Territorial Legislature in February 1818. On March 12, 1818, recognized as the Founding Day for Florence, Alabama the Articles of Association was signed by the seven trustees of the newly-organized Cypress Land Company. It was organized for the purpose of establishing a new town that would become the county seat of Lauderdale County. This town was to be at the foot of Muscle Shoals and the head of navigation on the Tennessee River. The signing took place in the Huntsville office of the federal surveyor for North Alabama, General John Coffee. The seven trustee were: Thomas Bibb, John Childress, John Coffee, James Jackson, John McKinley, Dabney Morris and Leroy Pope. Coffee, leader of the trustees and principal developer of the new town while all seven trustees became known as the Founding Fathers of Florence. The first action of the new company was the purchase of 5,515.77 acres of land for $85,235.24, or $15.45 per acre, at the land sale in Huntsville. To raise the down payment of $21,308.81, twenty-five percent of the purchase price, the trustees sold 408 shares of stock at $52.23

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per share. This large tract of land provided for all possible sites for a new town between Campbell’s Ferry, near present-day Wilson Dam, to Cypress Creek. At that time, Florence was an isolated hilltop in the wilderness overlooking the Tennessee River. (Continued on other side)
(continued from other side) In the summer of 1818, John Coffee designed and supervised the surveying of the city of Florence. Ferdinand Sannoner, a native of Italy, and Hunter Peel were employed by the Cypress Land Company as surveyors. Local oral history says Sannoner selected the name “Florence” after the Renaissance City of Florence, Italy. Coffee’s plan for the main section of the new town consisted of dividing the area into blocks of two acres in size, further divide into four equal half-acre lots. The principal streets were 115 feet wide; all others 99 feet, and were named for native trees and Alabama rivers. The area was enclosed by Circular Roads and contained 262 lots from 1/2 to 31 acres. Lots were reserved for a Court Square, hotel, college, a cotton factory, livery stable, ferry to cross the Tennessee River, cemetery, park and their downtown

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, March 17, 2018

2. Founding of Florence Marker

churches. The first public land sales in Florence ran from July 22-26, 1818, and grossed nearly $225,000. The earliest business district was at the river’s edge, south of here, where there were warehouses and hotel. Development continued up Court Street to the intersection. Hotels and taverns began to locate along Tennessee Street. The courthouse was south of here; below it, at the crest of the hill, was the town spring. The area near the spring was used as a campground for out-of-town people doing business at the county seat. Florence’s first residential area was of the west of here. It was not long until mansions began appearing north of here along Court, Pine, and Seminary Streets. Florence was established as a corporate city on January 7, 1826, Twelve aldermen were elected and Alexander H. Wood became the first mayor.

Erected 2018 by The Florence Bicentennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 1818.

Location. 34° 48.001′ N, 87° 40.559′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, March 17, 2018

3. Founding of Florence Marker

It is at the intersection of West Tennessee Street and South Court Street, on the right when traveling east on West Tennessee Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Downtown Florence Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Wheeler Rifles (within shouting distance of this marker); Dred Scott (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Southall Drugs (about 400 feet away); City of Florence (about 500 feet away); Original Site of FAME Recording Studio (about 500

An early map of Florence embedded in concrete at the corner of Court and Tennessee Streets image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 7, 2009

4. An early map of Florence embedded in concrete at the corner of Court and Tennessee Streets

feet away); Lauderdale County (about 700 feet away); Justice John McKinley Federal Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,536 times since then and 132 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 18, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on May 2, 2019, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.