National Register of Historic Places

Russellville Commercial Historic District

Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama
Listed
January 29, 2019
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
100003123

About this property

The Russellville Commercial Historic District, in Russellville, Alabama, United States, is a historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. Russellville was incorporated in 1819 on former Chickasaw lands. The town was built about 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of the Cedar Creek Furnace and at the intersection of the Gaines Trace and Jackson's Military Road. It was named the county seat of Franklin County in 1820, but lost the seat to the more centrally located Frankfort in 1849. After Colbert County was split from Franklin County, the seat returned to Russellville in 1891. Development of the town increased with the construction of the Northern Alabama Railway through the county in 1886. The growth, driven by iron and limestone mining, continued until the Great Depression. Development continued after World War II, but the construction of a bypass on U.S. Highway 43 drew businesses away from downtown. Russellville's 2017 Downtown Redevelopment Plan identified a twelve block area including 117 buildings as a historic "downtown core" area. There was interest in creating a National Register listing in order to make renovations in the district eligible for 20% tax credits. Most of the buildings in the district date from the early 20th century, as fires in 1908, 1915, and 1921 destroyed many early buildings. An office building at 101 North Jackson Avenue, built in 1899, is the oldest extant building, though it is covered in a 1962 façade. Most of the 1900s through 1920s buildings were built in simple brick style, though some show Italianate and Neoclassical detailing. Significant later buildings include the Colonial Revival post office, constructed in 1934 by the Works Progress Administration, and the Art Moderne Roxy Theatre, built in 1949. The current county courthouse was built in 1955 on the site of the 1892 courthouse that was destroyed by fire.

Location

Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMERCEPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTRELIGIONENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
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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Overview
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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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Questions about this property

When was Russellville Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

Russellville Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 2019.

What type of historic resource is Russellville Commercial Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for Russellville Commercial Historic District?

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

Can I research the history near Russellville Commercial 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 Russellville Commercial Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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