Winston County


Located in the northwest part of Alabama, Winston County is a mountainous county that supported Unionism during the Civil War and attempted to declare itself the Free State of Winston. Frank M. Johnson Jr. (1918-1999), a pioneering Alabama judge whose decisions helped end segregation in a number of landmark rulings, was born in Haleyville. Winston County is governed by an elected four-member county commission and includes six incorporated communities.

· Founding Date: February 12, 1850
· Area: 614 square miles
· Population: 24,634 (2006 Census Bureau estimate)
· Major Waterways: Black Warrior River
· Major Highways: U.S. 278
· County Seat: Double Springs
· Largest City: Haleyville

History 

Double Springs is the Winston County seat and Winston County CourthouseWinston County was created by the Alabama General Assembly on February 12, 1850, from land taken from the northern portion of Walker County. The county was originally known as Hancock County, named for John Hancock, governor of Massachusetts and famous signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1858, the county's name was changed to Winston County in honor of John A. Winston (1812-1871), the first governor of Alabama to be born in the state. In 1877, the eastern portion of Winston County was carved out to create Cullman County. The earliest settlers came to Winston County from Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia. Some of the first towns included Houston (now known as Lynn), Addison, Double Springs, and Haleyville.

John A. Winston (1812-1871) was the 15th governor John A. WinstonWinston County gained notoriety during the Civil War because the residents of the county did not want to join the Confederacy. The county had no large plantations and virtually no enslaved labor. During the war, the county suffered a number of raids by Confederate soldiers, who considered the residents of Winston to be traitors to the Southern cause. Leaders of Winston County met at Looney's Tavern in Double Springs, where they attempted to declare the independent Republic of Winston and made plans to secede from the Confederacy. Though the secession never occurred, Winston County continues to be referred to as the "Free State of Winston."

Houston served as the first county seat, although little is known about the courthouse(s) there. In 1883, the county seat was moved to the more centrally located Double Springs. The first wooden courthouse burned in 1891. The main section of the present stone courthouse was completed shortly thereafter in 1894. Several additions have since been made to the courthouse, which remains in service to the residents of Winston County.

Major Cities and Demographics 

The population of Winston County grew between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The population was 22,053 in 1990 and had increased to 24,843 by 2000. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 24,634. At the time of the 2005 census, the population consisted of 98.3 percent White, 0.6 percent African American, and 0.6 percent Hispanic. In 1999, Winston County ranked 28th in per capita income among Alabama's 67 counties, making it a county neither rich nor poor. The per capita income was $15,738, compared to $18,189 for the rest of the state. The median household income was $28,764 in 2003, compared to $36,131 for the state. The population of Winston County is one of the most ethnically homogenous in the state of Alabama. The county ranked 43rd in population among Alabama's 67 counties in 2005. The largest city in Winston County is Haleyville, with an estimated population of 4,159. Other significant population centers include Double Springs (983), Lynn (719), and Addison (713).

Economy 

Until the mid-twentieth century, Winston County's economy revolved Winston County FarmerLike much of Alabama, farming was the prevailing occupation of Winston County until the early twentieth century. Although Winston County did not have large plantations, small subsistence farming occurred throughout the county. Row crops and cotton farming were eventually replaced by cattle farms and chicken production. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, small factories tied to local timbering were established. Centered around the industrial Corridor X, Winston County's economy continues to focus on the timber industry, producing mobile homes, lumber, and wooden furniture.

Southern Energy Homes is a manufacturer of customizable Southern Energy HomesMuch of the workforce in present-day Winston County is in production (33.2 percent). Service (21.6 percent) and management (19.6) together also make up a large portion of the county's workforce. Construction makes up 13.7 percent of employment, whereas sales jobs comprise 10.2 percent of employment in Winston County. Farming accounts for 1.6 percent of the county's workforce. Some of the largest employers in Winston County are Southern Energy Homes, Harden Manufacturing, Cavalier Homes, Fontaine Trailer Company, and Winston Furniture.

The Winston County school system employs more than 380 teachers and administrators who serve approximately 2,820 students in 10 primary and secondary schools. Haleyville City Schools employ more than 180 teachers and administrators in three primary and secondary schools, serving nearly 1,725 students. There are no colleges or universities located in Winston County.

Geography 

Winston County is 48th in size among Alabama Winston County MapComprising 614 square miles, Winston County is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northwest Alabama. It is part of the Cumberland Plateau physiographic section, and its terrain varies from low, rolling hills covered with evergreens to spectacular gorges, rock bluffs, and hardwood forests. Much of Winston County sits on the Warrior Coal Field, and the county's soils are a mixture of plateau and coastal soils. Winston County is bordered by Franklin and Lawrence counties to the north, Cullman County to the east, Walker County to the south, and Marion County to the west.

The Black Warrior River and its tributaries flow throughout Winston County. Tributaries of both the Mulberry Fork and the Sipsey Fork flow through the county. Although the species diversity of the Mulberry Fork is relatively low compared with other water systems in the state, the Sipsey Fork is home to nearly 80 species of fish and is Alabama's only National Wild and Scenic River System. A large portion of Winston County is part of the William B. Bankhead National Forest, offering scenic views and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Winston County's main transportation route is U.S. Highway 278, which runs east-west through the middle of the county. The county has two airports: Double Springs-Winston County Airport and Posey Field, located in Kinlock Spring.

Events and Places of Interest   

A popular western Winston County attraction, Natural Bridge Natural BridgeThere are a number of recreational opportunities for visitors to Winston County. The William B. Bankhead National Forest, named for the distinguished Alabama politician, offers a range of outdoor activities in which to take part. Visitors can hike, fish, boat, or camp in the forest as well as picnic in any one of four recreational areas. Within the boundaries of the forest lies the Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama's first national wilderness area. Known as "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," the 25,000-acre wilderness park affords visitors opportunities to hike, horseback ride, boat, fish, swim, and canoe. Another popular outdoor attraction in Winston County is Natural Bridge. Thousands of years old, Natural Bridge is a double-span, 60-foot-high, sandstone bridge. The bridge is believed to be the longest natural bridge east of the Rocky Mountains. A number of nature paths and picnic areas surround the bridge and are open to the public.

An event associated with the Civil War Trail, the Incident at Looney's Tavern is an outdoor musical drama staged each summer at Looney's Amphitheatre and Park near Double Springs. The production immortalizes Christopher Sheats, who represented the anti-secessionist sentiments of Winston County at the Secession Convention in Montgomery. The amphitheatre also hosts a number of other productions throughout the year, many of which highlight the county's historic past.

The Jerry Brown Arts Festival is an annual Jerry Brown Arts FestivalEach June, the city of Haleyville hosts the annual 911 Festival. The festival celebrates the area where the first 911 call was made. The annual celebration features food, music, rides, and games as well as a BBQ cook-off and arts and crafts show. Also of interest to visitors to Winston County is the Free State La dy, a reproduction riverboat that hosts sightseeing excursions on nearby Smith Lake. Finally, as a member of the Northwest Alabama Arts Council, Winston County sponsors and periodically hosts the Jerry Brown Arts Festival, named in honor of Heritage Art Recipient Jerry Brown. The council is a voluntary organization formed to promote the exploration of local artists and their work within a four-county area in northwest Alabama.

Additional Resources  

The Heritage of Winston County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1998.

Thompson, Wesley S. Free State of Winston: A History of Winston  County, Alabama. Winfield, Ala.: Pareil Press, 1968.

Donna J. Siebenthaler
Auburn University


Published August 22, 2007
Last updated April 13, 2010