Description

Formed in 1818, Marion County was named for Francis Marion of South Carolina, known as the Swamp Fox during the Revolutionary War. This scenic county lies in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in the hill country of northwest Alabama. Rich with history, there are three Chickasaw Indian mounds preserved on the banks of the Buttahatchee River in the county seat of Hamilton. The Andrew Jackson Military Road, which runs through the county, was built as a shortcut from Nashville to New Orleans in the early 1800s. Standing on the bank of the river, wagon-wheel marks left from pioneer travel are visible in the rock bed of the river. Images of America: Marion County pays homage to the coal mining history of Brilliant and the ghost town of Pikeville with an 1820s courthouse standing today; Bear Creek with the Allen's Factory history; Guin, rich with railroad and lumber history; and Winfield, named in honor of Gen. Winfield Scott. These treasured photographs provide a look back into history, featuring people with a strong independent spirit and people who believed in our United States of America.