Northport, Alabama

AT A GLANCE NORTHPORT, ALABAMA WHAT: A city of 26,000 WHERE: On the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa County WEBSITE: www.cityofnorthport.org NORTHPORT, ALABAMA N orthport, Alabama, a city in Tuscaloosa County, is located on the Black Warrior River, across from downtown Tuscaloosa, in the west-central part of the state. In the early 1800s, the area was the head of navigation with cotton warehouses located on both sides of the river. Cargo was carried by steamboats to Mobile and then by ship to the northern states and Europe. The port was also used for shipping and receiving freight, furnishing the Alabama Territory with salt, sugar, molasses, rice, calico, whiskey, nails, plows, and more. While Northport’s early history revolved around the river, the little town continued to grow after railroads and highways surpassed river traffic in the volume of transportation. During the Civil War, Northport suffered many losses as did most Southern cities. General Craxton’s raiders approached the City of Tuscaloosa through Northport and destroyed the bridge between the two towns. Incorporated as a city in 1871, today, Northport is a community of 26,000, and one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama. Northport is also the site of the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts, a long established, nationally- recognized event which draws people to the area from across the country. The two-day event features 300 invited arts, legendary music, southern folk life, and outstanding children’s activities. Historic Downtown Northport boasts a collection of art galleries, stores, museums, and quaint restaurants, and many of the merchants there are descendents of some of the town’s original business owners and builders. Most recently, according to Max Snyder, the city’s P R E S E RVA T I O N A N D P RO G R E S S