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Please add profiles for those who were born, lived or died in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Official Website
Overview
Jefferson County was established on December 13, 1819 by the Alabama Legislature. It was named in honor of former President Thomas Jefferson.
In a study of lynchings in the South from 1877 to 1950, Jefferson County is documented as having the highest number of lynchings of any county in Alabama. White mobs committed 29 lynchings in the county, most around the turn of the century at a time of widespread political suppression of blacks in the state. Notable incidents include 1889's lynching of George Meadows.
Even after 1950, racial violence of whites against blacks continued. In the 1950s KKK chapters bombed black-owned houses in Birmingham to discourage residents moving into new middle-class areas. In that period, the city was referred to as "Bombingham."
In 1963 blacks led a movement in the city seeking civil rights, including integration of public facilities. The Birmingham campaign was known for the violence the city police used against non-violent protesters. In the late summer, city and business officials finally agreed in 1963 to integrate public facilities and hire more blacks. This followed the civil rights campaign, which was based at the 16th Street Baptist Church, and an economic boycott of white stores that refused to hire blacks. On a Sunday in September 1963, KKK members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four young black girls and injuring many people. The black community quickly rebuilt the damaged church. They entered politics in the city, county and state after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed.
Adjacent Counties
Cities
- Adamsville
- Bessemer
- Birmingham (part, County Seat)
- Brighton
- Center Point
- Clay
- Fairfield
- Fultondale
- Gardendale
- Graysville
- Helena (part)
- Homewood
- Hoover (part)
- Hueytown
- Irondale
- Kimberly
- Leeds (part)
- Lipscomb
- Mountain Brook
- Pinson
- Pleasant Grove
Other Towns & Communities: Acipcoville, Adger, Alton, Argo (part), Bayview, Bagley, Bradford, Brookside, Cardiff, Chalkville, Coalburg, Concord, Corner, County Line (part), Crumley Chapel, Docena, Dolomite, Edgewater, Elyton, Ensley, Flat Top, Forestdale, Grayson Valley, Hopewell, Kimbrell, Maytown, McCalla, McDonald Chapel, Midfield, Minor, Morris, Mount Olive, Mulga, New Castle, North Birmingham, North Johns, Palmerdale, Robbins Crossroads, Rock Creek, Sayre, Shannon, Sylvan Springs, Trafford, Watson, West Jefferson and Woodlawn
Links
Watercress Darter Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
National Register of Historic Places
