Tuscumbia
Alabama
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City Of Tuscumbia
History:
Nested near a bountiful big spring in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains can be found the city of Tuscumbia, Alabama. The French first settled the area near the Tennessee River in the 1700's only to have their town destroyed in 1786. The Chickasaw Indians moved here next building their town near the spring. They were soon followed by the Michael Dickson Family circa 1815.
The Federal Government built a military road through the town in 1817-1819. This was the super highway of its day opening the area for trade. The town incorporated as Ococoposa 1820. The name was soon changed to Big Spring. This name still did not seem to do the town justice. In 1822, a vote was taken to change the name to either Anniston/Annisville after the first white child born in town or Tuscumbia in honor of the Chickasaw Indian chief living here. Tuscumbia won by one vote. Legend tells the story of Chief Tuscumbia giving little Anne a pair of moccasins after his name was chosen.
The introduction of steamboats on the Tennessee River offered a new opportunity. Tuscumbia built a landing on the river in 1824 just two miles from town. An immense trade business grew. The river landing soon became too small. The merchants decided to build another landing up river connected to town by rail. In 1830, the Tuscumbia Railway Co. was formed. This was the first railroad on the American frontier. The success of this line gave many of these same men another vision - to build another railroad from Tuscumbia to Decatur, Alabama. This was to transverse around a forty-three mile stretch of shallow rapids in the Tennessee River known as the Muscle Shoals. This line, the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad, was completed in 1834.
Nested near a bountiful big spring in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains can be found the city of Tuscumbia, Alabama. The French first settled the area near the Tennessee River in the 1700's only to have their town destroyed in 1786. The Chickasaw Indians moved here next building their town near the spring. They were soon followed by the Michael Dickson Family circa 1815.
The Federal Government built a military road through the town in 1817-1819. This was the super highway of its day opening the area for trade. The town incorporated as Ococoposa 1820. The name was soon changed to Big Spring. This name still did not seem to do the town justice. In 1822, a vote was taken to change the name to either Anniston/Annisville after the first white child born in town or Tuscumbia in honor of the Chickasaw Indian chief living here. Tuscumbia won by one vote. Legend tells the story of Chief Tuscumbia giving little Anne a pair of moccasins after his name was chosen.
The introduction of steamboats on the Tennessee River offered a new opportunity. Tuscumbia built a landing on the river in 1824 just two miles from town. An immense trade business grew. The river landing soon became too small. The merchants decided to build another landing up river connected to town by rail. In 1830, the Tuscumbia Railway Co. was formed. This was the first railroad on the American frontier. The success of this line gave many of these same men another vision - to build another railroad from Tuscumbia to Decatur, Alabama. This was to transverse around a forty-three mile stretch of shallow rapids in the Tennessee River known as the Muscle Shoals. This line, the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad, was completed in 1834.