Glenville, Alabama Explained

Official Name:Glenville, Alabama
Pushpin Map:Alabama#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alabama
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Russell
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:463
Coordinates:32.1289°N -85.1769°W
Area Code:334
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:119045
Footnotes:
Embed:yes
Glennville Historic District
Nrhp Type:hd
Added:August 7, 1979
Refnum:79000402
Nocat:yes

Glenville (also spelled Glennville) is an unincorporated community in Russell County, Alabama, United States which used to be in Barbour County. During the Civil War, Company "H" of the 15th Regiment Alabama Infantry was raised from Barbour and Dale counties and called the "Glenville Guards".[1] The Glennville Historic District, containing the antebellum core of the community, is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

History

Glennville was the first permanent community in what is today Russell County. It was founded in 1835, after the Muscogee removal, by Methodist preacher James Elizabeth Glenn. The town quickly developed into an economic and cultural center of East Alabama. In addition to the Methodist Church, the community was home to Male and Female Academies and the WeymanSchool for Girls, all of which were renowned throughout the South for their classical curricula. The town also had a post office, stores, a Masonic Lodge, and an inn. The town incorporated in 1854, seeking to attract a rail line, but the line was opposed by many planters in the community. With railroad bypassing Glennville and diminished power and influence of farmers after the Civil War, the town gradually faded.[2]

Geography

Glenville is located in the rural southern portion of Russell County along U.S. Route 431, approximately 17miles north of Eufaula and 26miles southwest of Columbus, Georgia.

Demographics

Glenville appeared on the U.S. Census in 1850 when it was located in Barbour County. It did not reappear again until 1880 with a much-diminished population after the borders were redrawn between Barbour and Russell Counties and it was moved into the latter. It last appeared on the 1890 census.

Architecture

The historic district consists of 32 main structures, 27 outbuildings, and 6 cemeteries. The most prominent are antebellum plantation houses, most of which exhibit Greek Revival style. The Methodist church (built circa 1850) is also Greek Revival, while the Episcopal church (1926) shows Gothic influence. Late 19th- and early 20th-century tenant farmer houses are more modest, and reflect the changing fortunes of the town.[2]

Notable person

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parker. Matt. 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Thomas Legion. March 26, 2015. October 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151002003428/http://thomaslegion.net/15thalabamainfantryregiment.html. live.
  2. Web site: Moore . Sally . [{{NRHP url|id=79000402}} Glennville Historic District ]. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form . National Park Service . March 25, 2015 . May 22, 1979 . https://www.webcitation.org/6XKZ6C1ru?url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/nrhp/text/79000402.pdf . March 25, 2015 . live . See also: Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=79000402|photos=y}} Accompanying photos ]. March 25, 2015 . https://www.webcitation.org/6XKZ82BdS?url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/nrhp/photos/79000402.pdf . March 25, 2015 . live .