Washington County
First County in Alabama

Chatom, Alabama

Located at 31° 27.946′ N, 88° 15.376′ W. Marker is in Chatom, Alabama, in Washington County. It is on Court Street north of Central Avenue (Alabama Route 56), on the left when traveling north. Located at the Washington County Courthouse. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 Court Street, Chatom AL 36518, United States of America.

Inscriptions

First county in Alabama
Created in 1800 by proclamation of governor of Mississippi Territory. This was first U.S. civil government in area that was to become Alabama. Its original boundaries: East to west: Chattahoochee to Pearl River; South, 31° lat. (present Ala.-Fla. line); North, 32° 28′, a line just north of Phenix City – Montgomery – York. From these 25,000 square miles have come 26 counties in Alabama, Mississippi.

Early history of this area
1519-1700 Claimed by Spain as part of Florida by discovery, exploration, conquest and attempted settlement.
1700-1763 Claimed by France as part of Louisiana by exploration, settlement.
1763-1780 Seized by England as part of West Florida after defeating French.
1780-1795 Regained by Spain during American Revolution by invasion, occupation.
1795 – Spain ceded area to U. S.
1798 – U. S. created Mississippi Territory.