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Rural Southwest Alabama: Attractions

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Old St. Stephens Historical Park near present-day St. Stephens, AL (site of Alabama’s only territorial capital)

Bird Watching, Parks & Campgrounds | St. Stephens in Washington County  

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This park is located in southwest Alabama on the Tombigbee River at the site of old St. Stephens which played an important part in early Alabama’s history. The settlement that became known as St. Stephens began as a Spanish fort in 1789 and later served as one of the main thoroughfares for settlers migrating to the new southwest frontier. In 1817 when the Alabama Territory was established, St. Stephens was selected as its territorial capital. St. Stephens served as the territorial capital for only a brief period from 1817 to 1819 but this is “Where Alabama Began.” St. Stephens declined rapidly to a ghost town soon after the capital was moved away.

On this site today is located the Old St. Stephens Historical Park. The park offers many recreational activities available for visitors, including fishing, RV camping, primitive camping, biking, bird watching, sightseeing, picnicking, and hiking. A 100-acre quarry lake provides visitors with a fine place to swim, fish, boat, and relax. Take a hike through the woods to view the town ruins, or cool off on the sugar-white beach on an aquamarine lake. There is a boat ramp available to those who want to fish, or who just want to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the water. Bird watchers will want to make sure they bring their binoculars and cameras! The park is a featured site on Alabama Birding Trails.

This park is located approximately two miles northwest of present-day St. Stephens on the Tombigbee River (GPS Coordinates 31.555730, -88.037452).

Captions on pictures provide additional details.

For additional details about the features of this park, visit www.oldststephens.net

Sources: 1) encyclopediaofalabama.org (Old St. Stephens); 2) wikipedia.org/St._Stephens,_Alabama

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Tags: alabama, bird watching, black belt, park, st. stephens

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About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama’s Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.

We hope that you enjoy this website.

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Dedicated to the memory of Stacy Milstead Henson (1978-2008) & Inez “Sis” Watts (1924-2007).

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