Sylacauga in Talladega County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Sylacauga Historic Commercial District

Talladega County

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 2, 2019

1. Sylacauga Historic Commercial District Marker

Inscription. The district contains a collection of late-19th to mid-20th century commercial buildings representing over 60 years of Sylacauga's commercial history. On December 1, 1886, the Anniston and Atlantic Railroad became the first railroad to come through Sylacauga. As a result, the Marble City Land and Furnace Company purchased 300 acres of land where they plotted a new commercial district, located near the new railroad crossing at Broadway and Fourth Street. Known as New Town, this commercial district developed during the 1890s and with the expansion of the railroad, the prosperity of the 1890s brought 20 new commercial establishments to New Town. These businesses consisted of a hotel, livery stable, bank, blacksmith shop, saloon, hardware store, bakery, grocery store, barbershops, and drug stores. The core of the district is comprised of two blocks of North Broadway Avenue, originally named Broad Street, and three blocks of North Norton Avenue, which are bounded by First Street, Second Street, Third Street, and Anniston Avenue.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 2004

Erected 2019 by the City

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 2, 2004.

Location. 33° 10.159′ N, 86° 15.038′ W. Marker is in Sylacauga, Alabama, in Talladega County. It is at the intersection of North Broadway Avenue (Alabama Route 21) and East 1st Street, on the right when traveling north on North Broadway Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sylacauga AL 35150, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Alabama. 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 original Cherokee Nation,

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:

View of marker and part of historic district along Broadway Avenue. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 2, 2019

2. View of marker and part of historic district along Broadway Avenue.

Sylacauga Cemetery (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Sylacauga Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Williams (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sylacauga Marble (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hightower Brothers Livery Stable (approx. ¼ mile away); The B.B. Comer Memorial Library (approx. 0.6 miles away); Marble City Cemetery Sylacauga (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gantts Quarry Post Office (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sylacauga.

More about this marker. Although noted as installed in 2018, it actually was installed in March, 2019.

Sylacauga Historic Commercial from 1st Street towards 2nd Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 2, 2019

3. Sylacauga Historic Commercial from 1st Street towards 2nd Street.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, July 7, 2025

4. Sylacauga Historic Commercial District Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,473 times since then and 126 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on July 30, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas.