Berry in Fayette County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Town of Berry

Established 1883

⎯⎯⎯
Berry Heritage Park

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020

1. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park Marker

Inscription.
Town of Berry
Established 1883 Thompson Berry settled in this area in the 1840s. Berry devoted most of his time to raising cattle and farming. As time passed, he became the owner of a gin and gristmill and several thousand acres of land in Fayette County. In 1882-1883, the section of the Georgia-Pacific Railroad which connected Birmingham, Alabama and Columbus, Mississippi was built. Arrangements were made with Mrs. Ben Jefferies and Mrs. Eliza Harvey to locate a depot approximately midway between the two cities. The depot was named Berry for Thompson Berry, the first settler in the area and father of Mrs. Jefferies and Mrs. Harvey. In November 1883, the town of Berry was incorporated; the town limits being set by measuring one mile in all directions from a public well dug a short distance from the depot. The first store and post office was operated from a boxcar by Ab Seay even before the track of the railroad was completely laid. In 1899, the town held its first municipal election with the first mayor being Birks Bagwell.

Berry Heritage Park Berry Heritage Park was established in 2006. The park

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sits on the site of the old James Wilson Shepherd house that was built in the 1920s. Berry Heritage Park Drive was built by the Fayette County Commission in 2001 on the right- of-way of the old Georgia-Pacific Railroad (now Norfolk Southern Railway), which was donated to the town in 1999 when rail service ended between Berry and Columbus, Mississippi.

Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the Town of Berry.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Tourism Department series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1883.

Location. 33° 39.615′ N, 87° 36.088′ W. Marker is in Berry, Alabama, in Fayette County. It is on Depot Street just north of Front Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31 Depot St, Berry AL 35546, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally,

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020

2. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park Marker

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 2 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alabama Christian College of Berry, Alabama (approx. 0.2 miles away); Berea Church of Christ (approx. 14.9 miles away).

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020

3. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,034 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Town of Berry

Established 1883

⎯⎯⎯Berry Heritage Park

⎯⎯⎯
Berry Heritage Park