National Register of Historic Places

Courtland Historic District

Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama
Listed
May 12, 1991
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
91000597

About this property

The Courtland Historic District is a historic district in Courtland, Alabama. Courtland was founded in 1818 and incorporated the following year. Its location was chosen to be close to the Tennessee River to facilitate transportation, but also close to cotton plantations to the south. The town's founders envisioned becoming the county seat of the newly formed Lawrence County, but the title instead went to Moulton. Many of the earliest structures in Courtland were built of logs, and were later replaced with frame and brick buildings. Development plateaued by 1830, but received a slight bump from the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad beginning in 1834. The oldest houses in the district date from this era, including the 1828 Federal-style John McMahon House and several I-houses. The town saw a resurgence after the Civil War, with early construction including the Presbyterian church. Most of the commercial area around the public square was rebuilt in brick in the 1880s through the 1900s, while many older houses were replaced with Victorian examples around the same time. The Southern Railway built a depot in 1887 to replace the previous depot; it was converted to a library around 1980. In the 1920s, larger, older lots began to be subdivided and more modest bungalows were constructed. The district was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1989 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The boundaries of the district were increased in 1998 to include buildings representing Courtland's working-class and post-World War II growth.

Location

Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama
34.66744, -87.30759

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Courtland Historic District

This page lists Courtland Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Courtland Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.1 mi
McMahon, John, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Wheeler, Joseph, Plantation
Listed
3.1 mi
Bride's Hill (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
3.6 mi
Goode-Hall House
Industrial
6.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Streight's Raid – Courtland
1863Civil War
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Courtland Historic District listed on the National Register?

Courtland Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Courtland Historic District?

Courtland Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Courtland Historic District?

The period of significance for Courtland Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Courtland Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Courtland Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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