Wetumpka

Wetumpka is a small town on the Coosa River in central Alabama, spreading across both banks of the waterway. The center gathers around a main street with traditional storefronts and residential neighborhoods that spread over the surrounding hills.

The French built Fort Toulouse nearby in 1714 to establish trade relations with Creek tribes along the river system. The present town was founded in the early 19th century and developed around a ferry crossing that connected both banks.

The name comes from the Muscogee language and means rumbling waters, referring to the sound made by rapids along the river. Main Street passes through a row of 19th-century brick buildings now housing small shops and cafés.

The river offers several access points for water activities such as kayaking and fishing during most months. Visitors should be mindful of high water during spring when the river level rises noticeably.

A meteorite crater formed 83 million years ago lies partly beneath the town and remains one of the few visible impact sites in the United States. Geologists have mapped the structures around the downtown area, where the circular deformation is still visible in the terrain.

Location: Elmore County

Inception: 1834

Elevation above the sea: 61 m

Website: http://cityofwetumpka.com

GPS coordinates: 32.54097,-86.20773

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:29