Erie
Erie was the first county seat of Greene County and the first incorporated municipality in the count
State: Alabama
County: Hale County (originally Greene County)
Founded: 1820
Abandoned: Late 1830s-1933
Peak Population: 1,500
Erie was the first county seat of Greene County and the first incorporated municipality in the county (1820). This thriving cotton port on the Black Warrior River had about 1,500 residents before yellow fever, poor water, and the relocation of the county seat sealed its fate. The last house burned in 1933.
Timeline
- 1820 - Founding and Incorporation Erie was established and incorporated as the first municipality in Greene County. Its location on the Black Warrior River made it an ideal shipping port for the cotton-growing region.
- 1820s-1830s - Prosperity The town grew to approximately 1,500 residents and became a thriving cotton trading center. Erie boasted stores, shops, a hotel, a jail, and its own newspaper called 'The Democrat.' The town served as the first county seat of Greene County.
- Late 1830s - Yellow Fever Epidemic A devastating epidemic struck Erie after a sick man was taken from a steamship docked at the town's wharves. Residents attributed the outbreak to yellow fever, and many died or fled.
- 1838 - County Seat Relocated The county seat was moved from Erie to Eutaw. Erie's location was deemed inconvenient and non-central, especially as the western part of the county grew. The town also suffered from 'little and bad water' and frequent flooding from the river.
- Post-1838 - Decline Without county government business and reeling from disease, most residents relocated to Eutaw or Greensboro. Erie began its long slide into obscurity.
- 1867 - New County After the Civil War, Hale County was formed from parts of Greene, Marengo, Perry, and Tuscaloosa counties. Erie, or what remained of it, became part of Hale County.
- 1933 - Final Structure Burns The last remaining house in Erie burned down in 1933, completing the town's transformation from thriving county seat to true ghost town.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Spring or fall
Difficulty: Moderate - site is on private land
Time Needed: 30 minutes for cemetery visit
Tips
- The town site is on private property - permission required
- Erie Cemetery is nearby and accessible via County Road 15 to Erie Road
- Some old stones and bricks can still be found on the former town site
- The Black Warrior River is visible nearby
- Archives of 'The Democrat' newspaper are held in Greene County
Quick Facts
- Erie was the first incorporated municipality in Greene County
- The town had its own newspaper called 'The Democrat' - copies still exist in county archives
- Poor water quality was described as 'little and bad water' - a major factor in the town's decline
- The last house didn't burn until 1933, nearly a century after most residents had left
- Erie is now in Hale County, but it was originally the seat of Greene County
Location
Address: Near Sawyerville, Hale County, Alabama
Coordinates: 32.7177, -87.7973