10 Small Towns In Alabama With Big Charm
Long before Alabama became a state, the land was home to Indigenous communities. Sites such as Dust Cave, Russell Cave, and Moundville show how early people hunted, farmed, and built organized settlements across the region. Many modern place names still reflect this history, including the name Alabama, which likely comes from a Native American word linked to land clearing. Over time, groups such as the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw shaped trade routes, villages, and local traditions.
Today, Alabama’s small towns carry that story forward through historic sites like Indian Shell Mound Park, lighthouses like Sand Island Lighthouse, and bridges like the Weeks Bay Covered Bridge. Towns like Dauphin Island, Magnolia Springs, and Mentone are home to historic landmarks, walkable streets, and long-standing businesses with big charm.
Mentone
Mentone sits high on Lookout Mountain and traces its early roots to the mid-1800s, when the area, once called Ellison’s Precinct, formed around a grist mill and the site of today’s St. Joseph’s on the Mountain church.
Long before that, the land belonged to the Cherokee Nation, and Hernando de Soto’s 1540 expedition passed nearby at DeSoto Falls. The town developed in the late 19th century after John Mason founded the community, and his daughter named it Mentone after the French town of Menton.
Today, walk shaded paths at Brow Park, picnic near DeSoto Falls and A.A. Miller Dam inside DeSoto State Park, and explore rotating exhibits at the Mentone Arts Center, which supports local artists and craftspeople.
Dauphin Island
Dauphin Island has a long recorded history that stretches from early Native settlements and European exploration to its role in American coastal defense. It was mapped in 1519, claimed by France in the late 1600s, and later controlled by Spanish, British, and American forces before becoming part of Alabama in 1817.
Explore this layered past at Fort Gaines, where brick walls, cannons, and tunnels overlook Mobile Bay. Offshore, Sand Island Lighthouse stands as a reminder of early navigation routes.
Nature lovers can walk along the Pelican Peninsula, known for its bird nesting areas and quiet shoreline views. At Indian Shell Mound Park, see remains left by early Native communities.
Mooresville
Mooresville’s history began in 1805, when early settlers established homesteads on land once occupied by the Chickasaw. The town was officially incorporated in 1818, making it older than the state of Alabama.
It later grew as a stagecoach and cotton-trading center before remaining small when railroad routes shifted elsewhere. When visiting, walk the brick streets to see the Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, which once served travelers and merchants, and the Mooresville Brick Church that was built in 1839, still maintained by local residents.
The post office remains one of the oldest continuously operating in the state. Several early homes, including one linked to Andrew Johnson, still stand, along with churches where James Abram Garfield once preached. To switch things up a bit, the nearby Cook Museum of Natural Science and Point Mallard Park in Decatur add museums, trails, and water attractions to a quiet historic visit.
Magnolia Springs
Magnolia Springs began developing in the late 1700s along the Magnolia River and expanded in the 1800s as families from northern and southern states built homes, inns, and small businesses near the water.
The town is known for its natural springs, magnolia trees, oak-lined streets, and the Magnolia River remains central to the community, including its rare mail delivery by boat. Stop at the Bemis Bay Community Dock to watch boats and water birds or launch kayaks for short river trips.
Rock Landing serves as another access point for fishing and boating, with views of cypress trees and shoreline homes. A short drive away, the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve features boardwalk trails through wetlands with native plants, fish habitats, and coastal wildlife.
Gordo
Gordo was founded in the 1830s on land that was part of early US land grants issued around 1821, and later grew as a farming, cotton, and timber town along the railroad. The town gets its name from a veteran of the Battle of Sierra Gordo and was officially incorporated in 1900, with its first elections held in 1901.
Walk downtown to see local shops, and the former Gordo City Hall, once used as the mayor’s office, jail, and court, now an art gallery and museum. A mosaic from the Black Belt 100 Lenses project stands in the town center, specifically at 80 N Main St.
Locals gather for ChickenFest in June and the weekend flea market at Vendors @ Gordo Indoor Flea Market. Eat at Cattle On a Flame, visit nearby Lake Lurleen State Park, or drive to the Alabama Museum of Natural History in nearby Tuscaloosa for a well-rounded trip.
Silverhill
Located in Baldwin County, Alabama’s largest county by total area, Silverhill is a small town of about 926 residents. It was founded in 1896 by Swedish immigrants and incorporated in 1926.
Despite being close to Mobile, the state's second-largest city, Silverhill has several quiet community spaces. Explore the Oscar Johnson Memorial Library, housed in a former land office and schoolhouse, where historical artifacts are displayed upstairs.
Nearby, Brodie’s Cream & Bean serves coffee and ice cream in a family-run setting that also supports clean water projects in Tanzania. Oscar Johnson Park offers picnic shelters, a wooden playground, and access to the Watershed of Weeks Bay Covered Bridge, one of the few covered bridges in the county.
Blountsville
Blountsville is located in Blount County in northern Alabama between Gadsden and Cullman and operates under a mayor and city council system. Settled in 1816 and once called Bear Meat Cabin, it became the county seat in 1820 and remained so until 1889.
The town developed as a stagecoach and trade center, with several major roads passing through by the mid-1800s. Today, its history is reflected in places like Blountsville Historical Park, where restored log cabins, a covered bridge, and original structures show early settlement life.
To relax outdoors, Mardis Mill Falls, located just outside town, features a wide rock ledge and shallow pools popular for walking and photography. For those who prefer something a little more upbeat, the Spring Valley Beach, which is a seasonal water park, comes packed with slides, pools, and picnic areas.
Florala
Florala is located in southern Covington County in south-central Alabama, along the Alabama-Florida state line. The town traces its roots to early settlement after the Creek War and grew into a lumber and railroad center in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today, much of its identity centers on Lake Jackson, where swimming, fishing, boating, and walking along the lakeside boardwalk are popular. To relax, the Florala City Park is a welcoming spot with large trees and open space near the lake.
Nearby, Florida’s Highest Point marks the state’s northern boundary, while Fink’s Mill shows early milling history. Before leaving, don’t forget to check out the Warehouse Market Mall flea market, which draws weekend shoppers, to take home a quirky souvenir.
Cedar Bluff
Cedar Bluff was founded in the 1830s and grew around farming, fishing, and river trade before Weiss Lake was created in the early 1960s. Today, the lake remains the town’s main attraction and has earned the title “Crappie Capital of the World” for its major fishing tournaments and strong bass and crappie population.
Fed by the Coosa, Little, and Chattooga Rivers, Weiss Lake covers more than 30,000 acres and draws boaters, anglers, and retirees throughout the year. Fish, kayak, or relax at Cedar Bluff Town Park, which offers picnic tables and direct lake access.
Cornwall Furnace Memorial Park preserves a restored Civil War-era iron furnace with walking paths and historical markers. The nearby Cherokee Historical Museum (in the town of Centre) displays regional artifacts and settlement history. For outdoor breaks, check out the nearby Canyon Mouth Picnic Area, which offers shaded tables, waterfalls, and well-marked hiking trails.
Flomaton
Flomaton is located in south-central Escambia County in southwestern Alabama, less than a mile from the Florida border, and has long been shaped by its railroad roots. The town began in 1869 at a major rail junction and later became known as Flomaton, combining “Florida” and “Alabama.” The “ton” was added by the US Postal Service.
Despite fires, floods, and economic setbacks, it remained active through timber, rail service, and, later, energy production. Today, learn about this history at the Flomaton Welcome Center and Railroad Museum, which serves as the city’s welcome center and features railroad-era exhibits and memorabilia.
The nearby Turtle Point Science Center focuses on hands-on exhibits about local wildlife, rivers, and environmental studies. A walk through downtown reveals early 20th-century buildings, while the Big Escambia Creek supports fishing and boating. Flomaton is also proud to be the hometown of Medal of Honor recipient Sidney E. Manning.
These towns show how Alabama’s history remains part of everyday life, not just something preserved in museums or monuments. Each one represents a different period, from early Native settlements and river travel to railroads, farming, and coastal protection. Their streets, parks, and public buildings continue to serve residents, much as they did decades ago. While larger cities have developed rapidly, these communities have changed more gradually. Visiting them allows one to see how earlier traditions and modern life continue to exist side by side.
