Citronelle dates to 1811, and 4 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 76% of U.S. towns · #24 of 187 in Alabama. What drives it
Most of Citronelle was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1982. 4 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 96 buildings between them. Below: 9 old photos and papers, maps from 1908 on, and the census since 1850.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1852.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Citronelle’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Citronelle is more historic than 76% of U.S. towns, #24 of 187 in Alabama. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Citronelle’s overall grade.
Alabama towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Alabama town has 2.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Citronelle’s 248 sits above most of its state (91% of Alabama towns have fewer) while its 97 historic buildings outnumber those of 89% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1811.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.0 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Citronelle’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. By the time of European contact, the historic Choctaw and Creek people hunted in the area.
The first known European explorers of this area were French in the 18th century. They learned that the land had healing herbs and mineral springs. The area was settled in 1811 and established as a jurisdiction (incorporated) in 1892. The name "Citronelle" is French and is derived from the citronella plant. In the late 19th century, the town became a popular resort destination because of the climate, herbs, and healing waters. Many hotels were built to accommodate the surge of visitors.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Citronelle. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1943Citronelle sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Citronelle.
Every building
Citronelle, building by building, 1908–1926
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1811, according to Wikidata. Citronelle’s post office opened in 1852, and the census of 1850 counted 250 people here.
How does Citronelle rank for history?
Citronelle is more historic than 76% of U.S. towns, #24 of 187 in Alabama. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Citronelle?
4 listings: 1 building and 3 historic districts, the Barr's Subdivision Historic District, the Central Core Historic District and the Citronelle Railroad Historic District, with 96 contributing buildings. 97 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Citronelle?
5% of Citronelle’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.0 points), against a typical 3.2% for an Alabama town; the median home was built in 1982.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (12), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1933
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1933
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