Gainestown, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Gainestown is an unincorporated community
on the Alabama River
in Clarke County
, Alabama
, United States
. It was named for George Strother Gaines
. Gaines established an Indian
trading post
here in 1809.
The exact date for the founding of the town is unclear. However, the community was being referred to as Gainestown by 1815, following the end of the Creek War
and subsequent closure of the trading post in 1814. Gainestown grew to be a large town during the heyday of river-based transport, but a slow decline began after the American Civil War
.
A tornado on March 26, 1911 destroyed at least 12 homes and much of the town. A contemporaneous account of the storm stated that a dry goods
store at Gainestown was destroyed, with fragments of its products found as far away as 30 miles to the east, in Monroe County
.
Gainestown has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places
, the Gainestown Methodist Church and Cemetery
, Gainestown Schoolhouse
, and the Wilson-Finlay House
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
on the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
in Clarke County
Clarke County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*54.5% White*43.9% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*0.7% Two or more races*1.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was named for George Strother Gaines
George Strother Gaines
George Strother Gaines was a leader in the Mississippi Territory and in both states formed from it, Mississippi and Alabama. He was a longtime trader among the Choctaws, and was trusted by them...
. Gaines established an Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
here in 1809.
The exact date for the founding of the town is unclear. However, the community was being referred to as Gainestown by 1815, following the end of the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
and subsequent closure of the trading post in 1814. Gainestown grew to be a large town during the heyday of river-based transport, but a slow decline began after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
A tornado on March 26, 1911 destroyed at least 12 homes and much of the town. A contemporaneous account of the storm stated that a dry goods
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
store at Gainestown was destroyed, with fragments of its products found as far away as 30 miles to the east, in Monroe County
Monroe County, Alabama
Monroe County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. As of 2010, the population was 23,068. Its county seat is Monroeville. It is a dry county, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or...
.
Gainestown has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, the Gainestown Methodist Church and Cemetery
Gainestown Methodist Church and Cemetery
The Gainestown Methodist Church and Cemetery is a historic United Methodist Church building and its adjacent cemetery in Gainestown, Alabama, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 1999, due to its architectural significance.-History:Gainestown...
, Gainestown Schoolhouse
Gainestown Schoolhouse
The Gainestown Schoolhouse is a historic school building located on Clarke County Road 29 in Gainestown, Alabama. It was built in 1919 as a one-room schoolhouse and now serves as a guesthouse for the Wilson-Finlay House, located across the road...
, and the Wilson-Finlay House
Wilson-Finlay House
The Wilson-Finlay House, also known as the Joshua Wilson House and Finlay House, is a historic plantation house in Gainestown, Alabama. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on September 17, 1976...
.