Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 6

29 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 OPELIKA, Alabama The joy of reinvention S mall, friendly, and resilient, the City of Opelika, Alabama has much to offer. The original settlement was established as “Lebanon” in the mid-19th century, and eventually renamed Opelika, which translates to “large swamp” in the language of the Muskogee people, the first occupants of the land. While accurate way back when, the description certainly belies the natural beauty inherent in this thriving community today. It’s a story of progress, that dates back to 1851, when the Montgomery and West Point Railroad connected Opelika to Georgia, creating a direct route to the Eastern Seaboard. Opelika was suddenly a hub of activity as a primary trade line and the community grew rapidly. In 1854, Opelika was incorporated as a town. During this time of prosperity, warehouses were built for storing cotton and other goods – the buildings were later converted to supply depots during the Civil War and were eventually destroyed