Cottonwood Beginnings

As history tells us, the future of Cottonwood, Alabama was in it’s beginnings long before it’s incorporation. In the mid-1800’s an influential landowner by the name of W.S. Wood was inspired to move from the established community of Columbia, and investigate the area of isolated woods just west of the Chattahoochee River.

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This towns established name has been challenged as to whom or what it may have been named after….some residents believe it was named after Mr. Wood and his generous nature, others believe their decendants named it after the many Cottonwood Trees planted throughout the town for it’s beautification back in it’s beginnings. Most likely it was for both reasons but Cottonwood today has developed into a friendly and hospitable town along the border of Florida and Alabama with many natural resources that have made it successful in cultivating many differant kinds if crops over the past century.

Cottonwood, Alabama was incorporated after the creation of the last and final county to be carved out of Henry and and a portion of Geneva County. Making it the first town to be established after Houston Counties creation, Cottonwood would form it’s own government and start building more infrastructure as two lumber companies constructed railroads through the town. Soon, Cottonwood would have a general store, a bank and several mills: turpentine, grist, and timber that would establish transportation for their goods. One remained in service into the 1940’s as a freight service from the Cowarts area to Bascom, FL. The early 1920’s saw an interest in drilling for crude oil in the area. Several attempts would find only a hot water mineral spring. Mr. J. R. Sealy capitalized on the mineral water and established an internationally known health spa. The Sealy Hot Mineral Springs remained in operation until a fire destroyed it in 2001.

Cottonwood has seen good times and bad times as with every small town in the USA, but one thing is for sure….the town as well as the residents all survived the economic roller coaster of the twentieth century. We are here to stay and looking forward to the future that God places on our shoulders to handle and enjoy.

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