History of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

The historical event in question is the establishment of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Incorporated as a town on December 13, 1819, Tuscaloosa was named after Chief Tuskaloosa, a prominent leader of the Muskogean-speaking people who inhabited the region. Tuskaloosa gained historical significance due to his encounter with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540 during the Battle of Mabila, where his forces were defeated.

Tuscaloosa, a thriving town, capital of Tuscaloosa co., Alabama, on the left bank of the Black Warrior river, at the head of steam boat navigation, 125 miles N.W. from Montgomery, and 818 from Washington. Lat. 83° 12' N., Lon. 87° 42' W. It was formerly the capital of Alabama, and is still one of the principal towns of the state, remarkable for its literary institutions, as well as its active trade. It is the seat of the University of Alabama, founded in 1831, having 9 instructors, 135 under-graduates, and a library of 8000 volumes. The buildings of the University, which are beautifully situated half a mile from the river, cost not less than $150,000. The president's residence cost $35,000. The State Lunatic Asylum is established at this place. Tuscaloosa contains a handsome court house, a number of churches, a United States land-office, 3 or 4 newspaper offices, and several academies or seminaries. The manufacture of cotton and iron is carried on in the vicinity. Large quantities of...

Tuscaloosa, a post-town, capital of Tuscaloosa co., Ala., on the Black Warrior River, at the head of steam boat navigation, and on the Alabama & Chattanooga Rail road, 55 miles S.W. of Birmingham, 420 miles from Mobile, and 75 miles N.N.W. of Selma. It was formerly the capital of Alabama. It contains a court-house, a state lunatic asylum, a national bank, 2 newspaper offices, the Alabama Central Female College, and the Tuscaloosa Female College, and is the seat of the University of Alabama (non-sectarian), which was organized in 1831 and has 10 instructors. Coal is found in the vicinity. Pop. in 1860,3989; in 1870, 1689; in 1880, 2418; in 1890, 4215.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., July 21. - A. R. Nininger, president of the Huntsville Cotton Mill company, has closed a deal with Hon. Frank S. Moody, president of the Tuscaloosa Land company, for six lots on the Warrior river, branch of the Mobile and Ohio railroad.

Mr. Nininger and Mr. C. W. Hughes are here completing the organization of the Tuscaloosa Round Lap Bale company, which will be one of the largest cotton industries in the state.

The company will begin at once the erection of the press, gin and other machinery for turning out cylindrical cotton bales. This immense industry will cost something like $2,000,000.

Tuscaloosa, a city, capital of Tuscaloosa co., Ala., on the Black Warrior River and on the Mobile and Ohio R. and the queen and Crescent Route, 56 miles SW. of Birmingham. The city, which was at one time the capital of the state, has many fine mansions and gardens and a number of notable public building (old state capitol, court-house, State Insane Hospital). It is the seat of the Alabama Central Female College, the Tuscaloosa Female College (opened in 1860), the Verner Military Institute, and the Stillman Institute (colored theological, opened in 1870). The University of Alabama, which was opened in 1831 and which is one of the leading collegiate institutions of the South, lies about 1 mile N> of the centre of the city. Tuscaloosa is engaged in the coal and iron-industries which have been developed in connection with deposits of the Black Warrior region and has manufactures of cotton, but its prosperity is largely due to its position as an important cotton-shipping centre. Pop. in...

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., June 15. - Nineteen persons most of them children, are known to have been drowned, while rescue parties, aided by powerful searchlights tonight were dragging the Warrior river near Tuscaloosa for the bodies of 12 others missing from a pleasure party of 53 who were cast into the water late today when a gasoline launch was overturned in midstream near here.

The boat, the Mary Francis, was owned by SAM ALSTON, a Tuscaloosa capitalist, who had been giving weekly boat rides to children of the city. ALSTON was saved after he had exhausted himself endeavoring to save his guests.

Overcrowding is given as the cause of the accident, though the launch was supposed to have a passenger capacity of 60.

March 21-22, 1932 - An outbreak of terror. There were 10 violent tornadoes which smashed through Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. 37 people were killed near Tuscaloosa, Ala. The final total for the entire outbreak was 330 lives lost.