Selma in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Highlights of Selma History
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William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853

Highlights of Selma History image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

1. Highlights of Selma History

Inscription.
Highlights of Selma History Dallas County was created by Territorial Legislature Feb. 9, 1818. Selma Land Company formed Mar. 19, 1819 by George Phillips, William Rufus King, Jesse Beene, Gilbert Shearer and Caleb Tate. Selma incorporated Dec. 4, 1820. LaFayette visited 1825. First newspaper established 1827. Dallas County Male and Female Academy incorporated 1845 - was forerunner of public school system. Selma Arsenal and Confederate Naval Yard established 1862. Battle of Selma won by Union forces and most of the city burned 1865. First non-rail bridge over Alabama River opened 1885. Both U.S. Senators, Morgan and Pettus, were from Selma 1897-1907. Craig Field established 1940. Civil Rights demonstrations in 1965 culminated in Selma to Montgomery march which influenced passage of 1965 Civil Rights Act.

William Rufus DeVane King
1786-1853
Vice President of the United States William Rufus DeVane King was born April 7, 1786 in Sampson Co., N.C.; admitted to the bar in 1806; served in the N.C. House of Commons 1807-1809; U.S. Congress 1811-1816; and as Secretary of the U.S. Legation to Naples and St. Petersburg 1816-1818.

He moved to Dallas Co., Alabama in 1818; named and was a founder of the City of Selma; a delegate to the 1819 State Constitutional

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Convention; U.S. Senator 1819-1844 and 1848-1852; U.S. Minister to France 1844-1846; and President Pro tempore U.S. Senate 1836-1841 and 1850-1852.

King was elected Vice President in 1852 and because of his poor health traveled to Cuba. By a Special Act of Congress he was permitted to take the oath of office in Matanzas, Cuba on March 24, 1853. His health did not improve and he returned to Alabama where he died April 18, 1853 at his King’s Bend Plantation.

Erected 1981 by Alabama Historical Commission / Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Civil Rights • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Lafayette’s Farewell Tour series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1786.

Location. 32° 24.589′ N, 87° 1.255′ W. Marker is in Selma, Alabama, in Dallas County. It is on Broad Street (U.S. 80), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 Broad St, Selma AL 36702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

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 New Spain,

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: VII In. Brooke Rifle (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Est. 1838

William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

2. William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Memory of: The Reverend James J. Reeb (about 500 feet away); Votes for Women (about 600 feet away); Burning of Downtown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sgt Robert Weakley Patton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lieutenant John Tillman Melvin (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Sleeping Prophet (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Selma.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. An additional William R. King Marker and gravesite.

Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

3. Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

4. Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker

Marker stands in front of Selma's City Hall.

Looking South Along Broad Street (U.S. Highway 80) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

5. Looking South Along Broad Street (U.S. Highway 80)

Looking North Along Broad Street (U.S. Highway 80) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

6. Looking North Along Broad Street (U.S. Highway 80)

William Rufus DeVane King image. Click for full size.

Public domain

7. William Rufus DeVane King

Engraved by W. H. Dougal after a Daguerreotype by Whitehurst, 1854. from Obituary Addresses on the Occasion of the Death of the Hon. William R. King, of Alabama, Vice President of the United States - United States 33d Congress, 1st session, 1853-1854.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, July 7, 2025

8. Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,620 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 7. submitted on January 1, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8. submitted on July 30, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.

Highlights of Selma History⎯⎯⎯William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853

Highlights of Selma History
⎯⎯⎯
William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853