Haleyville in Winston County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Byler Road

By Mark Hilton

1. The Byler Road Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Byler Road was Alabama's first state road. Governor W. W. Bibb signed into law a bill authorizing its construction December 16, 1819.

The turnpike was named for John Byler, its chief promoter. Byler and his associates were directed to build a road 12 feet wide, clear of all roots and stumps and to collect all tolls for 12 years.

Completed in 1822, the road ran from Tuscaloosa near Muscle Shoals, linking the markets of the Tennessee Valley with the head of navigation of the Black Warrior River. After 1826, when Tuscaloosa became the state capital, it was "The Main Street of Northwest Alabama." The Union General J. H. Wilson passed over the road in March, 1865 with 13,480 cavalrymen (one of the largest cavalry raids in world history) in route to the Battle of Selma.

Erected 1977 by the City of Haleyville.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil.

Location. 34° 13.578′ N, 87° 37.401′ W. Marker is in Haleyville, Alabama, in Winston County

Byler Road Marker next to Haleyville Public Library. image. Click for full size.

By Mark Hilton

2. Byler Road Marker next to Haleyville Public Library.

. Marker is on 20th Street west of 10th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Located next to the Haleyville Library. 20th St. is one-way westbound. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 913 20th Street, Haleyville AL 35565, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Honorable Frank Minis Johnson, Jr. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); City of Haleyville, Alabama (about 300 feet away); First 9-1-1 Call (about 600 feet away); Factory Cemetery (approx. 6.8 miles away); Byler Road / History of Natural Bridge (approx. 9.6 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . The Byler Road Project (.pdf). (Submitted on July 21, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Linear route of Byler Road. image. Click for full size.

By Mark Hilton, July 19, 2020

3. Linear route of Byler Road.

This sign is located in Leighton, Alabama.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.