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B+History
History · Wetumpka

Wetumpka dates to 1834, and 6 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 68% of U.S. towns · #44 of 187 in Alabama. What drives it

Most of Wetumpka was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1993. 6 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 26 buildings. Below: 18 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1850.

1834founded
6on the National Register
4%homes built before 1940
18old photos & papers
12famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Wetumpka’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Wetumpka began

When was Wetumpka founded?

1834

Wetumpka dates its founding to 1834 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 3,824 in 18502020 census: 7,220192 years

How historic is Wetumpka?

B+

More historic than 68% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1866.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Wetumpka’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wetumpka is more historic than 68% of U.S. towns, #44 of 187 in Alabama. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.

B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wetumpka’s overall grade.
Founding era1834, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 19404.2% of homes (±2.8) · typical AL town 3.2% · U.S. 8.4%CNational Register6 listings, 32 historic buildings, 43.0 per 10,000 residents · typical AL town 2.7 · U.S. 2.4A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 68%
NewerOlder
Alabama towns of 2,500+ (187)Ahead of 77%

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 Wetumpka’s 43.0 sits above most of its state (75% of Alabama towns have fewer) while its 32 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A−. The pre-1940 share (±2.8 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1834.

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 Wetumpka’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Shrank, then grewLost two-thirds of its people between 1850 and 1900, then grew more than tenfold.A town in old photos18 old photos, postcards and papers, 1837–1933.On the map since 19014 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1987. Watch Wetumpka change.A historic districtThe East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District takes in 26 historic buildings.
★ What stands out · People over time

Wetumpka, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00018501900195020003,824 in 1850Low: 562

Lost two-thirds of its people between 1850 and 1900, then grew more than tenfold.

17 censuses, 1850–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Wetumpka’s Wikipedia page.

By decade

Wetumpka, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1830s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1830s–1840s2 items
1840 Map of18371840 Map ofMapWanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle1841Wanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle
1880s1 item
1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Alabama - Elmore County - Wetumpka - ED AL 26-18 to 2318801950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Alabama - Elm…
1890s–1920snothing yet
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.
Add from your album
1930s15 items
BALCONY VIEW SHOWING CAPITALS, BANISTERS AND DOOR TREATMENT TOWARDS N. - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Government Street, HABS…1933BALCONY VIEW SHOWING CAPITALS, BANISTERS AND DOOR TRE…CLOSE- UP FRONT DOOR TREATMENT - E. L. Smoot House, 705 Mansion Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU,4-51933CLOSE- UP FRONT DOOR TREATMENT - E. L. Smoot House, 7…CLOSE- UP OF BASE OF COLUMNS, ALSO BANISTER RAIL GOING THROUGH COLUMNS. - E. L. Smoot House, 705 Mansion Street, Wetump…1933CLOSE- UP OF BASE OF COLUMNS, ALSO BANISTER RAIL GOIN…CLOSE- UP OF FRONT DOOR - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Government Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU,3-51933CLOSE- UP OF FRONT DOOR - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Gove…CLOSE- UP OF FRONT OF HOUSE FACES E. - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Government Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,2…1933CLOSE- UP OF FRONT OF HOUSE FACES E. - Bates-Jesse Ho…DETAIL (MANTEL PIECE) - LIVING ROOM - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-…1933DETAIL (MANTEL PIECE) - LIVING ROOM - Kelly Fitzpatri…DETAIL OF MANTELPIECE. - John Bullard House, Harrogate Springs Road vicinity, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-W…1933DETAIL OF MANTELPIECE. - John Bullard House, Harrogat…DINING ROOM DOOR TREATMENT FROM HALL W. - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Government Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS AL…1933DINING ROOM DOOR TREATMENT FROM HALL W. - Bates-Jesse…DOOR TREATMENT AT LEFT OF HALL - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU,…1933DOOR TREATMENT AT LEFT OF HALL - Kelly Fitzpatrick Ho…DOOR TREATMENT IN REAR OF HALL DOWN STAIRS - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS …1933DOOR TREATMENT IN REAR OF HALL DOWN STAIRS - Kelly Fi…DOOR TREATMENT UPSTAIRS SHOWING CORNER OF STAIR FINISH - Bates-Jesse House, 311 Government Street, Wetumpka, Elmore HAB…1933DOOR TREATMENT UPSTAIRS SHOWING CORNER OF STAIR FINIS…EXTERIOR (SIDE FRONT) - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU,2-11933EXTERIOR (SIDE FRONT) - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Auta…FIREPLACE AND MANTEL IN LIVING ROOM, S.W. - John Bullard House, Harrogate Springs Road vicinity, Wetumpka, Elmore Count…1933FIREPLACE AND MANTEL IN LIVING ROOM, S.W. - John Bull…FIREPLACE. - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU,2-91933FIREPLACE. - Kelly Fitzpatrick House, Autauga Street,…FRONT AND SIDE VIEW N.E. - Laura Cantelow House, 207 West Tuskeena Street, Wetumpka, Elmore County, AL HABS ALA,26-WETU…1933FRONT AND SIDE VIEW N.E. - Laura Cantelow House, 207 …
1940s–1990snothing yet
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.
Add from your album
On the map

Wetumpka on the map, 1901 to 1987

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Wetumpka. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Wetumpka on the 1901 USGS mapWetumpka on the 1959 USGS mapWetumpka on the 1975 USGS mapWetumpka on the 1987 USGS map1901Wetumpka 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 Wetumpka.

The story

How Wetumpka came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Wetumpka.

Read it all →

Wetumpka was long settled by the Muscogee people, whose territory extended through present-day Georgia and Alabama. Their largest towns were on the banks of the Coosa and at its confluence with the Tallapoosa River, at Wetumpka and Talisi (now Tallassee), respectively.

After moving the 1702 settlement of Mobile to Mobile Bay in 1711, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville sent an expedition up the Alabama River to establish a fort in the interior of the colony, known as La Louisiane or New France, to stop the encroachment of British colonists and to foster trade and goodwill with the Creek.

ChaptersFrench and British colonizationUnited States ruleGrowth and incorporationWar and floodLynchingsProgress"Cat Ladies"Neo-Confederate Activity

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Wetumpka, 1834 to 2020

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1834
    FoundingWetumpka is established
  3. 1837In the archive1840 Map of
  4. 1841In the archiveWanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle
  5. 1866Post officeThe Wetumpka post office opens
  6. 1880In the archive1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Alabama - Elmore County - Wetumpka - ED AL 26-18 …
  7. 1888Born hereJohn Kelly Fitzpatrick is born here
  8. 1890Born hereCharles McMorris is born here
  9. 20th century
  10. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  11. 1911Born hereWilliam B. Bryant is born here
  12. 1933In the archiveBALCONY VIEW SHOWING CAPITALS, BANISTERS AND DOOR TREATMENT TOWARDS N. - Bates-Jesse Hous…
  13. 1952Born hereFrank Oliver is born here
  14. 21st century
  15. 2020CensusPopulation peaks at 7,220
Every building

Wetumpka, building by building, 1885–1909

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.

Wetumpka fire insurance map, 1885, sheet 11885Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Wanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle
Retake this viewWanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle, 1841

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Wetumpka’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

6 listings protect 32 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
6
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
32
each building in a district counts
first listed
1973
First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist ChurchAlabama State PenitentiaryWetumpka L & N DepotFirst Presbyterian Church Of WetumpkaEast Wetumpka Commercial Historic DistrictFirst Baptist Church of Wetumpka
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Greek Revival2
Italianate1
Gothic1
Tudoresque1
Egyptian Art Deco1
Neoclassical1
First United Methodist ChurchGreek Revival
Alabama State PenitentiaryBuilding
Wetumpka L & N DepotBuilding
First Presbyterian Church Of WetumpkaGothic
East Wetumpka Commercial Historic DistrictTudoresque
First Baptist Church of WetumpkaGothic Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

12 famous people were born in Wetumpka

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
William B. BryantUnited States federal judge · b. 1911
Charles McMorrisUnited States Navy Admiral · b. 1890
J
John Kelly FitzpatrickAmerican painter · b. 1888
F
Frank OliverAmerican gridiron football player · b. 1952
H
Homer FloydAmerican gridiron football player · b. 1936
J
James DanielAmerican football coach · b. 1953
Places that used to be

Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Wetumpka’s post office has been open since 1866.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Blueberry HillHarrogate SpringsTarwaterWallsboroWillow Springs
Gone or out of use
Wetumpka Prisonbuilding
1cemetery inside Wetumpka
Wetumpka City

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Wetumpka’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewWanted to Purchase ad by S J Sorelle: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Blue Ridge1 historic placeC−RedlandIts storyD−

Questions about Wetumpka’s history

What year was Wetumpka founded?

In 1834, according to Wikidata. Wetumpka’s post office opened in 1866, and the census of 1850 counted 3,824 people here.

How does Wetumpka rank for history?

Wetumpka is more historic than 68% of U.S. towns, #44 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 Wetumpka?

6 listings: 5 buildings, among them the First United Methodist Church (listed 1973, the first), and 1 historic district, the East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District, with 26 contributing buildings. 32 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Wetumpka?

4% of Wetumpka’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.8 points), against a typical 3.2% for an Alabama town; the median home was built in 1993.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (18), the National Register of Historic Places (6), 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.