Headland in Henry County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Headland, Alabama
⎯⎯⎯
Headland Public Square

Headland, Alabama Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 16, 2014

1. Headland, Alabama Marker

Inscription. Headland, Alabama James Joshua Head (1839-1927) founded Headland in 1871 as Head’s Land. He patented land, platted the town and built his home. The Post Office opened, as Headland, on October 10, 1871. J. J. Head sold Headland to Hosey C. Powell in 1879, who sold to Dr. Wyatt S. Oates in 1880. J. J. Head moved to Tampa, Florida in 1883 and later established Lake Magdalene. Headland incorporated in 1884 with 26 white and 4 black petitioners. The railroad and depot were built in 1893. Headland grew into Henry County’s largest city by 2000.

Headland Public Square This public square was laid off in 1871 by J. J. Head with a vision for a branch court house. Henry County voters decided in the 1879 and 1885 court house site elections not to locate a court house on the public square. Henry has been Alabama’s only County with three court houses at the same time. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in 1908 that the town of Headland had title to the square instead of Dr. W. S. Oates (1852-1913), who had claimed title when he purchased the town in 1880. Dr. Oates was instrumental in the development of Headland. The first public statue in Henry County was erected on the square in 1926 and the square was paved in 1935.

Erected 2005 by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, the Henry County Historical Group, Headland Kiwanis Club, The Headland National Bank & Friends of Headland.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1871.

Location. 31° 21.124′ N,

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85° 20.553′ W. Marker is in Headland, Alabama, in Henry County. It is on Main Street 0.1 miles south of Alabama Route 173, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Headland AL 36345, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Wiregrass.

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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Head's Land Yielded Fruits of Success (here, next to this marker); Henry County Confederate Memorial (here, next to this marker); Headland World War I Monument (a few steps from this marker); First Baptist Church of Headland (approx. ¼ mile away); Piney Grove Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); Mallalieu Seminary (approx. 3.7 miles away); Kinsey Baptist Church (approx. 3.9 miles away); Headland Presbyterian Church (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Headland.

Also see . . . Headland, Alabama. W8ikipedia entry (Submitted on June 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Headland Public Square Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 16, 2014

2. Headland Public Square Marker

Headland Public Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 16, 2014

3. Headland Public Square

World War I Statue in Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 16, 2014

4. World War I Statue in Square

Headland, Alabama / Headland Public Square Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 10, 2026

5. Headland, Alabama / Headland Public Square Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,387 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 17, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on June 18, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3, 4. submitted on February 17, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on June 14, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Headland, Alabama⎯⎯⎯Headland Public Square

Headland, Alabama
⎯⎯⎯
Headland Public Square