Named for founder John Gunter, the town originally known as Gunter's Landing was settled in 1848. John Gunter was the wealthy owner of a salt mine and married a local Cherokee woman to solidify his land holdings. Many of the local residents worked for the nearby cotton mill. The town now has less than 10,000 residents and brings in fishermen for Lake Guntersville. … [Read more...] about Small Town Saturday: Guntersville, AL
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Small Town Saturday: Fort Payne, AL
Founded in the 1800s, the area now known as Fort Payne was home to a thriving Cherokee community until their removal. The town was named for Major Payne, who built the internment camp for the Native Americans. The completion of rail lines between Birmingham and Chattanooga increased the population. The band Alabama hails from Fort Payne and a number of attractions are … [Read more...] about Small Town Saturday: Fort Payne, AL
Small Town Saturday: Denver, NC
The area around Lake Norman is full of small towns, but Denver, North Carolina is just one. Originally known as Dry Pond, the unincorporated community is a part of Lincoln County. Originally settled in 1770 by Scots-Irish and Germans, Catawba and Cherokee tribes also lived here. The area was home to a Revolutionary War battle at Cowan's Ford. While the town lost its … [Read more...] about Small Town Saturday: Denver, NC
Small Town Saturday: Zebulon, GA
The small town of Zebulon, Georgia was originally founded in 1825 and named for Zebulon Pike, an American explorer. Today, it has a population of fewer than 1,200 people. Centered around the red brick historic courthouse built in 1895, a number of structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Old Zebulon Depot and the Franklin House. The … [Read more...] about Small Town Saturday: Zebulon, GA
Small Town Saturday: Thomaston, GA
Thomaston, Georgia was founded in 1825 and named for General Jett Thomas, an Indian fighter in the War of 1812. Like many other Southern towns, the courthouse is at the center with a grid surrounding it. A cannonball sits on the grounds that is believed to be the first "shots fired" from Fort Sumter, signaling the beginning of the Civil War. The area was looted after the … [Read more...] about Small Town Saturday: Thomaston, GA
