Russellville in Franklin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

History of Russellville

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 10, 2022

1. History of Russellville Marker

Inscription. First known as Russell's Valley, the area was settled after 1815 by Maj. William Russell, who served with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Creek War of 1813-1814. Russell built a cabin and trading post about three miles east of the present-day town. Following an outbreak of disease, the settlement relocated along the strategically important Jackson's Military Road from Nashville to New Orleans. The Alabama Territorial Legislature incorporated the town, then called Russellville, on November 27, 1819. The task of laying out the new town fell to the five trustees of the Russellville Land Company: David Moore, Anthony Winston, Brice M. Garner, George Martin, and Richard Ellis. They designed a large public square bounded by Jackson, Lawrence, Washington. and Franklin streets. Henry Hurst built the courthouse and jail that occupied the center of the town square.

Trustees governed the town through much of its early history. The first trustees were William Lewis, Walter Otley, Nat Clay, Humphrey Warren, and Arthur F. Hopkins. In 1887, Russellville adopted a mayor-council form of government. The town served as the seat of Franklin County from 1820 to 1849 and since 1891.

Erected 2017 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic

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list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 27, 1819.

Location. 34° 30.413′ N, 87° 43.753′ W. Marker is in Russellville, Alabama, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of North Jackson Avenue and Lauderdale Street NW, on the right when traveling north on North Jackson Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 304 N Jackson Ave, Russellville AL 35653, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North 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 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Russellville First Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Roxy Theatre (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Russellville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Franklin -- A County Older than the State (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reedtown High School (approx. ¾ mile away); Ascension (approx. 1.1 miles away); Birth of a Town (approx. 2 miles away); Cedar Creek Furnace (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Russellville.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 10, 2022

2. History of Russellville Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,610 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.