Colbert County in Northwest Alabama has a rich history that dates back as early as 1715. The county is named for Chickasaw Chief George Colbert, who operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790. The earliest settlement in Colbert County was in 1810 at the town we now know as Leighton, which now has a population of just under 1,000.
Situated in Northwest Alabama along the Tennessee River at the base of the Appalachian foothills is a region that has come to be known as "Muscle Shoals," or "The Shoals." The area takes its name from the strength of the shallow and rocky stretch of River that flows through the region. A cluster of distinctive cities, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and neighboring Florence in Lauderdale County, make up the Shoals, an area rich with culture and heritage.
The Shoals is a central part of the American culture as the birthplace of Helen Keller, home to a unique musical heritage, and a rich Native American history. The area also has a fascinating geographical heritage with the Tennessee River, fertile farmlands, the Wilson Dam, the Natchez Trace Parkway, Indian Mounds, the Trail of Tears, and many beautiful landscapes.
America's "First Lady of Courage," Helen Keller, was born in Tuscumbia in 1880 and her home, "Ivy Green," is visited annually by more than 50,000 people from across the country and the world. In fact, in March 2003, the United States Mint released the Alabama state quarter which depicts Helen Keller and is the only U.S. currency to feature Braille.
In the 1930's, Roosevelt's "New Deal" created the Tennessee Valley Authority and Wilson Dam became its cornerstone. Freight is carried through one of the world's highest single-lift locks and Wilson and Pickwick Lakes provide world-class fishing and recreational opportunities.
The thriving Muscle Shoals music industry, developed by the area's talented musicians, is known around the world. Local artists include Percy Sledge of Leighton. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia showcases Alabama's rich musical heritage. Inductees include legendary area native and "Father of the Blues," W.C. Handy, whose log cabin birthplace is nearby in Florence.
The Shoals Chamber of Commerce and the Shoals Economic Development Authority work to recruit new businesses to Northwest Alabama. Recently at the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park in Colbert County, a company called SCA Tissue located a plant there and created hundreds of new jobs for the people of the Shoals area. The Shoals offers a high quality of life with excellent safety, good hospitals, highly rated k-12 schools, the University of North Alabama, and Northwest Shoals Community College.
To find out more about Colbert County, please browse the links listed below.
Area Attractions and Events:
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Birthplace of Helen Keller
Wilson Dam
Local Government and Associations Websites:
The City of Muscle Shoals
The City of Sheffield
The City of Tuscumbia
