Guest, Sign inJoin
Shawmut Historic DistrictValley, #1 on this list · Shawmut Historic District · Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Alabama rankings · History

Most historic towns in Alabama

Valley ranks first on history among Alabama’s 187 towns of 2,500+; 27 of the 187 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Valley

Chambers County · 10,294 people
A

History grade, better than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 187 in AL

#2

Tallassee

Elmore County · 4,738 people
A

History grade, better than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 187 in AL

#3

Marion

Perry County · 2,602 people
A

History grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 187 in AL

All 187 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 32 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

187 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1ValleyChambers County · 10,294 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 187
2TallasseeElmore County · 4,738 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 187
3MarionPerry County · 2,602 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 187
4MobileMobile County · 200,824 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #169 of 187
5DemopolisMarengo County · 6,641 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 187
6EufaulaBarbour County · 12,437 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #183 of 187
7SelmaDallas County · 16,077 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #185 of 187
8RoanokeRandolph County · 5,440 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 187
9GreenvilleButler County · 6,912 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #184 of 187
10TuscumbiaColbert County · 9,332 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 187
11FlorenceLauderdale County · 42,581 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 187
12TalladegaTalladega County · 14,840 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #172 of 187
13JasperWalker County · 14,585 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 187
14FayetteFayette County · 4,060 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 187
15MontgomeryMontgomery County · 195,300 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 187
16SylacaugaTalladega County · 12,055 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #154 of 187
17DadevilleTallapoosa County · 2,920 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 187
18MontevalloShelby County · 7,872 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 187
19BirminghamJefferson County · 195,893 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 187
20Mountain BrookJefferson County · 21,661 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 187
21GadsdenEtowah County · 33,367 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 187
22AndalusiaCovington County · 8,763 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 187
23CentrevilleBibb County · 2,709 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 187
24CitronelleMobile County · 3,897 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 187
25DecaturMorgan County · 58,056 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 187
26SheffieldColbert County · 9,416 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #151 of 187
27AthensLimestone County · 34,209 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 187
28JacksonClarke County · 4,452 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #174 of 187
29RussellvilleFranklin County · 10,904 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 187
30NorthportTuscaloosa County · 31,648 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 187
31HuntsvilleMadison County · 233,627 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #61 of 187
32Union SpringsBullock County · 3,091 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #187 of 187
33JacksonvilleCalhoun County · 14,400 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 187
34TrussvilleJefferson County · 27,273 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 187
35AnnistonCalhoun County · 20,930 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #181 of 187
36TuscaloosaTuscaloosa County · 114,316 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 187
37TuskegeeMacon County · 8,644 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 187
38SpringvilleSt. Clair County · 5,597 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 187
39BessemerJefferson County · 24,984 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #177 of 187
40DaphneBaldwin County · 31,396 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 187
41EvergreenConecuh County · 3,272 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #176 of 187
42MoultonLawrence County · 3,436 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 187
43MonroevilleMonroe County · 5,758 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 187
44WetumpkaElmore County · 7,535 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 187
45La FayetteChambers County · 2,621 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 187
46EutawGreene County · 2,640 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 187
47PrattvilleAutauga County · 40,582 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 187
48TroyPike County · 18,022 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 187
49ScottsboroJackson County · 16,123 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 187
50AuburnLee County · 85,113 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 187
51HelenaShelby County · 23,388 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 187
52LuverneCrenshaw County · 2,690 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #150 of 187
53LivingstonSumter County · 3,242 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #182 of 187
54GuntersvilleMarshall County · 9,394 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 187
55MadisonMadison County · 67,968 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 187
56CullmanCullman County · 20,799 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 187
57ThomasvilleClarke County · 3,545 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 187
58TarrantJefferson County · 5,639 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 187
59OzarkDale County · 14,269 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 187
60OxfordCalhoun County · 22,199 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 187
61OpelikaLee County · 35,765 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 187
62Fort PayneDeKalb County · 15,189 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 187
63ColumbianaShelby County · 5,106 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 187
64PiedmontCalhoun County · 4,696 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 187
65New HopeMadison County · 3,054 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 187
66SilverhillBaldwin County · 2,529 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 187
67Phenix CityRussell County · 38,344 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #159 of 187
68Alexandriaunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,475 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 187
69HomewoodJefferson County · 28,118 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 187
70LoxleyBaldwin County · 6,131 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #102 of 187
71AtmoreEscambia County · 8,360 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #186 of 187
72TrinityMorgan County · 2,638 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 187
73AttallaEtowah County · 5,807 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 187
74Alexander CityTallapoosa County · 14,515 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #160 of 187
75GenevaGeneva County · 4,307 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 187
76LeedsJefferson County · 12,831 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 187
77PinsonJefferson County · 7,830 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 187
78ChickasawMobile County · 6,166 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #180 of 187
79ClantonChilton County · 9,289 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 187
80Pell CitySt. Clair County · 14,320 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 187
81FairhopeBaldwin County · 26,625 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 187
82BrewtonEscambia County · 5,113 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 187
83FairfieldJefferson County · 9,483 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 187
84TrianaMadison County · 5,244 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 187
85BoazMarshall County · 10,619 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 187
86Holtunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 3,629 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 187
87HeadlandHenry County · 5,603 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 187
88DothanHouston County · 72,060 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 187
89Bon Secourunincorporated, Baldwin County · 2,789 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 187
90ElbaCoffee County · 3,408 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 187
91Grand Bayunincorporated, Mobile County · 3,553 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 187
92HeflinCleburne County · 3,572 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 187
93ChildersburgTalladega County · 4,571 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 187
94CaleraShelby County · 18,992 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 187
95Meridianvilleunincorporated, Madison County · 11,150 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 187
96HartselleMorgan County · 16,312 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 187
97Smiths StationLee County · 5,596 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 187
98PrichardMobile County · 18,825 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #173 of 187
99OppCovington County · 6,738 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 187
100LanettChambers County · 6,781 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #170 of 187
101CentreCherokee County · 3,912 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 187
102GardendaleJefferson County · 16,425 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 187
103HaleyvilleWinston County · 4,303 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 187
104HartfordGeneva County · 2,801 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 187
105AlbertvilleMarshall County · 23,710 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 187
106LincolnTalladega County · 8,110 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #131 of 187
107Hazel Greenunincorporated, Madison County · 3,940 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 187
108EnterpriseCoffee County · 31,211 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 187
109McCallaunincorporated, Jefferson County · 13,253 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 187
110MillbrookElmore County · 17,623 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 187
111Pike RoadMontgomery County · 11,899 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 187
112DalevilleDale County · 4,971 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #158 of 187
113Bay MinetteBaldwin County · 8,555 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 187
114FoleyBaldwin County · 30,354 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 187
115Choccoloccounincorporated, Calhoun County · 2,620 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 187
116OneontaBlount County · 7,022 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 187
117HamiltonMarion County · 6,769 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 187
118WarriorJefferson County · 3,320 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 187
119Red BayFranklin County · 3,196 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 187
120HooverJefferson County · 93,550 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 187
121MoundvilleHale County · 3,628 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #85 of 187
122WinfieldMarion County · 4,842 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 187
T123HancevilleCullman County · 3,390 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 187
T123Holtvilleunincorporated, Elmore County · 5,158 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 187
T125AdamsvilleJefferson County · 4,178 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 187
T125ClayJefferson County · 10,198 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 187
127Valley GrandeDallas County · 3,903 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #179 of 187
128Forestdaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,742 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 187
129GlencoeEtowah County · 5,426 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 187
130ArabMarshall County · 9,061 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 187
131Hokes BluffEtowah County · 4,706 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 187
132Ladoniaunincorporated, Russell County · 3,346 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 187
133MidfieldJefferson County · 4,906 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 187
134Remlapunincorporated, Blount County · 2,761 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 187
135IrondaleJefferson County · 13,545 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 187
T136Pine Levelunincorporated, Autauga County · 4,170 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #45 of 187
T136Saksunincorporated, Calhoun County · 10,681 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 187
138KimberlyJefferson County · 4,858 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 187
139OdenvilleSt. Clair County · 6,023 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 187
140Muscle ShoalsColbert County · 17,666 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 187
141JemisonChilton County · 3,030 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 187
142West End-Cobb Townunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,453 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 187
143MoodySt. Clair County · 13,559 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 187
144PelhamShelby County · 25,664 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 187
145SouthsideEtowah County · 9,718 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 187
146Mount Oliveunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,567 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 187
T147BrentBibb County · 4,414 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #156 of 187
T147Owens Cross RoadsMadison County · 3,334 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 187
T147PricevilleMorgan County · 3,952 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 187
T147SemmesMobile County · 6,259 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #178 of 187
151Gulf ShoresBaldwin County · 17,394 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 187
152RobertsdaleBaldwin County · 7,761 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 187
153Cottondaleunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 2,632 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 187
154HueytownJefferson County · 16,159 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #153 of 187
T155Huguleyunincorporated, Chambers County · 2,577 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 187
T155Pleasant GroveJefferson County · 9,346 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 187
157Theodoreunincorporated, Mobile County · 4,964 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #157 of 187
158Center PointJefferson County · 15,538 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 187
T159Brook Highlandunincorporated, Shelby County · 8,146 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 187
T159Grayson Valleyunincorporated, Jefferson County · 6,077 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 187
T159Tillmans Cornerunincorporated, Mobile County · 17,677 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 187
162WeaverCalhoun County · 3,289 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 187
163Good HopeCullman County · 2,682 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 187
164SumitonWalker County · 2,511 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 187
165Lake ViewTuscaloosa County · 3,969 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 187
166Orange BeachBaldwin County · 8,798 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 187
167RainsvilleDeKalb County · 6,020 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 187
T168ChelseaShelby County · 17,716 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 187
T168SaralandMobile County · 16,652 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 187
T170Eagle Pointunincorporated, Shelby County · 3,110 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 187
T170Emerald Mountainunincorporated, Elmore County · 3,535 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 187
T170Highland Lakesunincorporated, Shelby County · 5,866 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 187
T170Meadowbrookunincorporated, Shelby County · 9,117 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 187
T170Moores Millunincorporated, Madison County · 6,378 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 187
T170Redlandunincorporated, Elmore County · 4,982 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 187
T170Stapletonunincorporated, Baldwin County · 3,009 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 187
T170Underwood-Petersvilleunincorporated, Lauderdale County · 3,100 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 187
178AlabasterShelby County · 34,748 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 187
T179FultondaleJefferson County · 9,307 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 187
T179Indian Springs VillageShelby County · 2,553 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 187
T181Harvestunincorporated, Madison County · 5,955 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 187
T181MargaretSt. Clair County · 7,149 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 187
T181SatsumaMobile County · 6,851 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 187
184Vestavia HillsJefferson County · 38,306 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #10 of 187
185Rainbow CityEtowah County · 10,406 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #94 of 187
T186ArgoSt. Clair County · 4,376 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #2 of 187
T186Spanish FortBaldwin County · 11,203 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #41 of 187
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Alabama?

Valley (Chambers County) ranks first on history among 187 towns, with an A; Tallassee and Marion follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (187 in Alabama). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alabama page.

Go deeper

More Alabama lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Alabama rankings →
Other states

Most historic towns in other states