Wilcox County

Wilcox County is an administrative division in southwestern Alabama covering gently rolling land and open prairies along the Alabama River. The county includes five towns: Camden, the county seat; Pine Hill; Pine Apple; Yellow Bluff; and Millers Ferry, connected by small roads and rural pathways.

The county was established in 1819 on Creek Nation land and named after Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox, a Connecticut officer from the Creek War; early settlers arrived from Georgia and Tennessee to establish farms. Cotton farming dominated the economy for over a century, with steamboats transporting goods along the Alabama River until a bridge completed in the 1930s changed transportation patterns.

Gee's Bend, a community on a bend of the Alabama River, is known for its tradition of quilt-making by local women, with patterns displayed in museums across the country. The quilts represent generations of craft passed down through families and remain central to how visitors and residents understand the area's creative heritage.

The county sits at the intersection of three main highways, making it accessible by car, though distances to larger airports and services require planning ahead. Outdoor facilities including state parks, boat launches, and camping areas are spread throughout, with most amenities concentrated in Camden.

The county's history includes documented struggles during the Civil Rights era and ongoing efforts toward healing from that past, with multiple historic sites and museums dedicated to education and community stories. Visitors often encounter reminders of this complex history through preserved buildings and local narratives that remain woven into daily life.