Chatom is the county seat of Washington County. It is located in southwest Alabama about 15 miles from the Alabama-Mississippi border. It has a mayor-city council form of government with elected terms of four years.
History
The area that is now Chatom was first settled around 1902; a post office was opened there in 1904, before there was even a town. The town remained small until the Alabama, Tennessee, and Northern Railroad constructed a line through the town in 1906. In 1907, county voters elected to move the county seat from St. Stephens to Chatom. The first courthouse was built in 1908 and served the county for more than 50 years. Chatom's first bank, also the county's first, was established in 1909.

Demographics
According to 2016 Census estimates, Chatom recorded a population of 988. Of that number, 67.5percent identified themselves as white, 31.9 as African American, 5.6 percent as Hispanic, and 0.6 percent as two or more races. The city's median household income was $38,889, and per capita income was $23,803.
Employment
According to 2016 Census estimates, the workforce in Chatom was divided among the following industrial categories:
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (26.3 percent)
- Educational services, and health care and social assistance (14.2 percent)
- Construction (13.4 percent)
- Retail trade (10.6 percent)
- Manufacturing (9.8 percent)
- Other services, except public administration (8.0 percent)
- Public administration (7.0 percent)
- Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (6.4 percent)
- Transportation and warehousing and utilities (3.1 percent)
- Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (1.3 percent)
Education
Schools in Chatom are part of the Washington County School District and has three public schools (elementary, high, and a vocational school).
Transportation
Chatom is intersected by State Highway 56 (east-west) and State Highway 17 (north-south). It also is served by the Roy Wilcox Airport and the Hawthorn Pines Airport.
Events and Places of Interest

Additional Resources
Matte, Jacqueline Anderson. The History of Washington County, The First County in Alabama. Chatom, Ala.: Washington County Historical Society, 1982.
The Heritage of Washington County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2005.