Historical Markers in
Dallas County, Alabama

'Bloody Sunday' Attack at Edmund Pettus Bridge / U.S. Congress Approves Voting Rights Act of 1965 A Courthouse Reduced to Rubble A Grassroots Movement A Prison Chimney? Alabama's First Statehouse Alabama's Native Prairie Anna Gayle Fry House Arsenal Anvil Arsenal Place Black Belt Transformations British West Florida, 1764-83 Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church Burning of Downtown Cahaba First State Capital Cahaba's Changing Landscape Cahaba's "New" Cemetery Cahawba Cahawba - circa 1500 Campsite 1 Captive Boys in Blue Castle Morgan & Jesse Hawes Childers Chapel Civil War Prison Craig Air Force Base Dallas County Courthouse Dallas County Korean War Memorial Dallas County Vietnam Memorial Dallas County World Wars Memorial Death in the Street Defense of Selma Memorial Drug Store & the Room Above Ecor Bienville Edmund Pettus Bridge Edmund Winston Pettus House Site Fairoaks Square Federal Building and U.S. Court House First Baptist Church Footprint of a Church George Washington Carver Homes Projects George Washington Carver Neighborhood Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 Honoring: Amelia Boynton Robinson - Marie Foster I Had A Dream In Honor of James Joseph Reeb In Memory of Reverend Hosea Williams, Sr. Joe T. Pilcher, Jr. John Tyler Morgan House Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building Last Stronghold Falls Lee - Bender - Butler House Lewis Scott Lieutenant John Tillman Melvin Live Oak Cemetery Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest Monument Lynching in America / Lynching in Selma Mabry - Jones Home Major Hiram Solon Hanchett Memorial Stadium Memorials for Prisoners of War Methodist Church Missing Pieces Mount Carmel Church New Cemetery Old Cemetery Orrville United Methodist Church Perine Well Prosperity Cemetery R.B. Hudson High School Railroad Depot and Commissary Redoubt No. 15 Redoubt No. 24 Saltmarsh Hall Sanctuary to Stage Selma Army Arsenal Selma Navy Yard and Ordnance Works Sgt Robert Weakley Patton Site of Alabama's Statehouse Site of Selma-Dallas County’s 1st Bridge 1884-1940 St. James Hotel St. Luke's Episcopal Church St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Est. 1838 Sturdivant Hall Summerfield Methodist Church Tabernacle Baptist Church Take Her Down Temple Mishkan Israel The Beloit Industrial Institute The Duke of Cahaba The Hole That Was Once a Row The Honorable John Lewis The Mound at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park The Selma Movement The Sleeping Prophet This Tablet Commemorates the Visit of Lafayette Turning Point Union Troops Charge Valley Creek Presbyterian Church VII In. Brooke Rifle Vine Street Ware - Baker - Jones House Water Avenue Welcome to Downtown Cahawba White - Force Cottage Whitt Cemetery Who Lived Here? William Rufus de Vane King Working on Walnut Street Yankees in Cahawba “Fairoaks”
The first known use of the phrase "Roll Tide" was in a 1907 Birmingham News article that referred to the University of Alabama football team. The phrase became a rallying cry for Alabama football fans and is still used today.
Dallas County, located in the state of Alabama, has a rich and complex history that spans several centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Creek and Cherokee nations. The county gets its name from Alexander J. Dallas, who served as the United States Secretary of the treasury during the early 19th century.

In the early 19th century, Dallas County played a significant role in the growth of the cotton industry. The fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for agriculture, and cotton plantations flourished. The economy was reliant on enslaved labor, and the county had one of the highest concentrations of slaves in the state. This dependency on slavery also made Dallas County a significant battleground during the Civil War.

In the mid-20th century, Dallas County became a key site in the Civil Rights Movement. The city of Selma, located in Dallas County, was the site of several pivotal events, including the Selma to Montgomery marches. These protests, led by activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans and were instrumental in the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Currently, Dallas County is home to a diverse population and has faced its fair share of challenges. The county has experienced economic decline and a shrinking population, but there are ongoing efforts to revitalize the area and promote economic growth. With its rich history and resilient community, Dallas County continues to shape Alabama's cultural and historical landscape.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Dallas County, Alabama.

  • 1818 - Dallas County is established as a county in the Alabama Territory.
  • 1830 - Cahaba becomes the county seat of Dallas County.
  • 1865 - Union troops occupy Cahaba during the Civil War.
  • 1868 - Cahaba loses its status as the county seat to Selma.
  • 1870 - The Selma to Montgomery March, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement, takes place in Dallas County.
  • 1870s - Dallas County experiences a period of political and racial unrest during Reconstruction.
  • 1901 - The Alabama State Constitution is adopted, effectively disenfranchising African Americans in Dallas County.
  • 1965 - The Voting Rights Act is signed into law, leading to significant changes in Dallas County's political landscape.
  • 1971 - The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma is designated a National Historic Landmark.
  • 1980s - Dallas County faces economic decline and population loss.