Washington County

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Washington County is the oldest established county in the state of Alabama, and originally included much of both the states of Alabama and Mississippi. It was the birthplace of Major League Baseball player and North Carolina congressman Wilmer David "Vinegar Bend" Mizell (1930-1999). The town of St. Stephens served as the capital of Alabama Territory. Washington County is governed by an elected six-member commission and includes the incorporated towns of Chatom, McIntosh, and Millry.

· Founding Date: June 4, 1800
· Area: 1,081 square miles
· Population: 17,651 (2006 Census Bureau estimate)
· Major Waterways: Tombigbee River, Escatawpa River
· Major Highways: U.S. 45, U.S. 43
· County Seat: Chatom
· Largest Town: Chatom

History 

The Washington County seat was constructed in 1965

Washington County Courthouse
Washington County was created on June 4, 1800, as a county of the Mississippi Territory by proclamation of Governor Winthrop Sargent. It was the first county in the state of Alabama, and the county's original boundaries extended 300 miles east to west and 88 miles to the north and south. Some 26,400 square miles of Washington County's original territory were carved out to make 16 counties in Mississippi and 29 counties in Alabama. Washington County was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington. The earliest settlers came to the county from Georgia and the Carolinas. Most early settlement took place on the west bank of the Tombigbee River. Some of the first towns included McIntosh, Wakefield, St. Stephens, and Chatom. The southern portion of Washington County is home to the MOWA (Mobile and Washington County) band of Choctaw Indians, whose ancestors settled in the area after the Creek War ended in 1814. Although the MOWAs have not received official recognition from the federal government, the group was formally recognized as a tribe of Alabama in 1979, making the MOWAs eligible for such services as education and housing.

McIntosh served as the first county seat of Washington County. In 1804, the county seat moved from McIntosh to Wakefield. Neither Wakefield nor the first log courthouses remain in existence today. In 1811, the county seat moved to Rodney, which was eventually incorporated with Franklin into St. Stephens, which became the capital of Alabama Territory when it was established in 1817. Rodney remained the county seat until 1825, when the county seat was moved near present-day Millry. In 1842, the more centrally located Barryton was chosen as the county seat. However, Barryton became part of the newly created Choctaw County in 1847, so a new county seat was needed. In 1848, "New" St. Stephens was chosen as the county seat, and a two-story brick courthouse was built in 1852. When the county seat was again moved in 1907, the "New" St. Stephens courthouse was purchased by the town's Masonic lodge and eventually given to the St. Stephens Historical Commission. Today, the restored courthouse serves as a town museum. The county seat moved in 1907 to Chatom, where a large brick courthouse was built. By 1960, the county had outgrown this courthouse. The original Chatom courthouse was torn down to make way for a larger, more modern one which was dedicated on September 14, 1965 with then-governor George Wallace as a guest speaker. New additions were made to the courthouse in the 1990s.

Major Cities and Demographics 

The population of Washington County has remained relatively stable during the last decade and a half. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population was 16,694 in 1990; the population increased slightly to 18,097 in 2000. By 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 17,651. At the time of the 2005 census, the population consisted of 66 percent Caucasian, 26.4 percent African American, 6.7 percent American Indian, and 0.9 percent Hispanic. Washington County ranked 52nd in population among Alabama's 67 counties in 2005. The largest town in Washington County is Chatom, with an estimated population of 1,178. Other significant towns are Millry (604) and McIntosh (239). In 1999, Washington County ranked 53rd in per capita income among Alabama's 67 counties, making it among the poorer counties in the state. The per capita income was $14,081, compared to $18,189 for the rest of the state. The median household income was $31,118 in 2003, compared to $36,131 for the state.

Economy 

A Washington County farming family, ca. 1936. The

Washington County Farming Family
Washington County's economy was based in agriculture until the early twentieth century. The early economy of the county centered on the local timberlands, with some large farms in the northern parts of the county. By the turn of the century, large sawmills were operating throughout the county. Turpentine collected from the pine forests became the "cash crop" of the county. In the early 1950s, large underground salt domes were discovered in the McIntosh area, leading to the establishment of salt mine operations and chemical production companies. Natural gas was discovered in the early 1970s in western Washington County, and Philips Petroleum built a refinery to take advantage of the newly discovered energy source. Today, timber remains the main industry of Washington County.

Olin Corporation is a leading producer of copper

Olin Plant
Much of the workforce in present-day Washington County takes part in production (28.7 percent). Management, service, and construction make up 19.6 percent, 18.3 percent, and 17.4 percent, respectively. Sales makes up 12.5 percent of employment in Washington County, whereas farming makes up an unusually large 3.5 percent of the workforce. Some of the largest employers in Washington County are Ciba, Olin Chemicals, Inc., Splenda, Inc., and the Washington County Board of Education.

The Washington County school system employs approximately 450 teachers and administrators who serve more than 3,500 students in eight primary and secondary schools. There are no colleges or universities located in Washington County.

Geography 

Washington County is 6th in size among Alabama

Washington County Map
Comprising more than 1,000 square miles, Washington County is located in southwest Alabama. It is part of the Coastal Plain physiographic section. Washington County is largely rural, with extensive pine forests and shallow coastal soils. The county is bordered by Choctaw County to the north, Clarke County to the east, Mobile County to the south, and the state of Mississippi to the west.

The Tombigbee River and its tributaries run throughout Washington County. The river runs along the eastern border, with its lower tributaries flowing westward into Washington County. The Tombigbee River is considered one of the most critical rivers in terms of biodiversity in the southeast United States. The Escatawpa River begins in Washington County less than one mile from the Alabama-Mississippi border. The National Park Service describes the Escatawpa River as one of the finest undeveloped blackwater streams in the nation, although the watershed contains no public lands.

U.S. highways 45 and 43 are Washington County's main transportation routes. U.S. Highway 45 cuts across the southwest corner of the county, and U.S. Highway 43 runs north-south along the eastern border of Washington County. Chatom Municipal Airport in Chatom is the county's only airport.

Events and Places of Interest 

The site of the capital of the Alabama

Site of Old St. Stephens
There are several recreational opportunities for visitors to Washington County. Once the territorial capitol of Alabama, St. Stephens is now a historical and archeological site and a tourist destination. St. Stephens Historical Park is a 200-acre park that includes a walking trail through the streets of the old town and a 90-acre quarry lake with white-sand beaches.

There are many places in Washington County to enjoy a variety of water sports and outdoor activities. Washington County State Lake is a spring-fed lake where visitors can fish and boat, and Chatom Lake boasts a community center where the public can hold meetings and reunions while taking advantage of the lake. There are a number of access points to the Tombigbee River in Washington County. Canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, and jet-skiing are all popular activities available to the public.

Housed in the basement of the county courthouse in Chatom, the Washington County Museum preserves the history of the county and its residents. Various artifacts and historical papers are exhibited in the museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the past of Alabama's first established county.

Additional Resources  

The Heritage of Washington County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2005.

Matte, Jacqueline Anderson. The History of Washington County: First  County in Alabama. Chatom, Ala.: Washington County Historical Society, 1982.

Donna J. Siebenthaler
Auburn University


Published August 21, 2007
Last updated November 16, 2009