Nauvoo Alabama

Nauvoo is a town in Walker and Winston counties. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 221, down from 284 in 2000.

The town of Nauvoo began as a small agricultural community known as Blackwell’s Crossing. The construction of the Northern Alabama Railway through the area in 1888 led to increased exploitation of the area’s abundant coal and timber resources.

Nauvoo Alabama Camp McDowell

Camp McDowell, the official camp and conference center of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, is located here.

Nauvoo Alabama History

Nauvoo was founded as Ingle Mills in 1888, during the construction of the Northern Alabama Railway, and was formerly a center of coal mining. For unknown reasons, resident Tom Carroll renamed it for Nauvoo, Illinois, a city founded by Mormon prophet Joseph Smith in 1839. According to 1910 U.S. Census records, Nauvoo incorporated in 1906.

By 1891, Nauvoo boasted three stores and one steam cotton gin, and coal and timber were shipped from the nearby depot. The Harbin Hotel was constructed in 1923 and primarily served business travelers using the railroad. The area’s economic dependence upon coal mining, however, meant that the ever-shrinking market for coal over the rest of the twentieth century led to an exodus of citizens from the town who sought more stable employment elsewhere. Nauvoo’s historical museum opened in 1997; it is adorned with a mural that constitutes a walk through the town’s history.

Nauvoo Alabama Events and Places of Interest

Bankhead National Forest is located about three miles northeast of town. The Harbin Hotel (ca. 1923) in Nauvoo is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. Nauvoo has held an annual antique car show the third Saturday in June since 1995. The Nauvoo Depot Museum is a replica of the original structure and is located at the site of the first depot. The Episcopal Church in Alabama maintains a facility in Nauvoo that includes a conference center, camping facilities, educational programming, and the Alabama Folk School, a series of workshops in traditional music, crafts, cooking, storytelling, and other skills.

Old Man Rabbit Expedition in Nauvoo Alabama

Kilgore Cousins

Nauvoo Alabama Directions

Nauvoo Alabama News

Nauvoo is covered by the Northwest Alabamian Newspaper

Nauvoo Alabama Zip Code

35578