Girard, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Girard, Alabama
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 Girard, Alabama
Location in Alabama
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Russell |
| Elevation | 351 ft (107 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| GNIS feature ID | 119451 |
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Girard Historic District
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| MPS | Phenix City MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003481 |
| Added to NRHP | November 3, 1983 |
Girard, Alabama was once a city located in the far northeast part of Russell County, Alabama. It was situated across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia.
Contents
A Look Back at Girard's History
Girard was named after Stephen Girard, a banker from Philadelphia. He bought a lot of land in the area that later became Russell County. The town of Girard became the first main city (county seat) for Russell County. This was from 1832 to 1839. The town officially became a city around 1833.
Key Events in Girard's Early Days
During the Creek War of 1836, a fort called Fort Ingersoll was built in Girard. This fort helped protect the interests of white settlers in the area. Later, in 1865, Girard saw a lot of fighting during the Battle of Columbus. This battle ended with the Dillingham Street bridge being burned by soldiers from the South. Columbus was then captured.
Changes and Mergers in the 20th Century
In 1915, Alabama made it illegal to sell alcohol. Because of this, Girard became a place where people made and sold alcohol illegally. Even after alcohol sales became legal again, Girard and a nearby city, Phenix City, were known for certain businesses. These businesses grew because of Fort Benning (now Fort Moore) across the river.
In 1923, Girard joined together with its neighbor, Phenix City. Then, in 1933, the border of Russell County was moved north. This change made sure that all of Phenix City was inside Russell County. Before this, some parts of Phenix City were in Lee County.
Exploring the Girard Historic District
The Girard Historic District covers about 23 acres of what used to be downtown Girard. A historic district is a special area where buildings are protected because they are old and important.
Buildings and Architecture in the District
The part of the district closer to the river has several buildings from the early 1900s. One example is the Citizens' Bank, built in 1909. It was designed in a style called Renaissance Revival.
The Collins–Scott House was built in 1852. It is in the Greek Revival style. Many people believe it is the oldest house in Russell County. You can also see several shotgun houses. These were simple homes built for workers at the cotton mills. Further up the hill from the river, there are more fancy Victorian cottages. The entire district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Girard's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 748 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,840 | — | |
| 1910 | 4,215 | 9.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,942 | 17.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Girard first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1850. At that time, it was a city with 748 people. Even though it grew to more than 1,000 people after 1860, it wasn't counted separately again until 1900. By 1900, it had almost 4,000 residents.
For comparison, the population of the larger Girard area (called a Beat/Precinct) was:
- 1870: 3,984 people
- 1880: 4,637 people
- 1890: 5,486 people
- 1900: 6,440 people
Girard officially stopped being a separate city in 1923. This happened when it merged with Phenix City.
Notable People from Girard
Albert C. Baker was born in Girard. He was a very important person in Arizona's legal system. He was the only person to serve on both the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court and the Arizona Supreme Court.
