Victoria, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Victoria, Alabama
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 Victoria, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Victoria, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Coffee |
| Elevation | 492 ft (150 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| GNIS feature ID | 153842 |
Victoria is a small place in Coffee County, Alabama, in the United States. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
Victoria is also called Smut Eye or Buzbeeville. You can find it along Alabama State Route 125, about 10.8 miles (17.4 km) northeast of a town called Elba.
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Victoria's Interesting History
The community of Victoria has had a few different names over the years! Each name tells a little story about the people who lived there.
How Smut Eye Got Its Name
Originally, this area was known as Smut Eye. People say this name came from a funny tradition. Men would gather around a fire outside the local store. As they talked, they would get covered in soot from the smoke. This made their eyes look "smutty" or dirty.
From Smut Eye to Buzbeeville
Later, the name changed to Buzbeeville. This new name honored a man named William Buzbee. He was an important person in the community because he served as the postmaster. A postmaster is the person in charge of the local post office.
Victoria: The Final Name
Finally, the community's name was changed to Victoria. This name was chosen to honor Victoria Winslow, who was a local citizen. The post office in the area used these names too. It was called Smut Eye from 1850 to 1853, Buzbeeville from 1853 to 1868, and Victoria from 1868 until it closed in 1927.
Local Heroes: The Coffee County Rangers
During the American Civil War, a group of soldiers from this area became famous. They were called the "Coffee County Rangers." This group was Company D of the 12th Regiment Alabama Infantry. John Canty Brown, who was from Buzbeeville, helped organize them.
These brave soldiers fought in many important battles. Some of these included the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Gettysburg. The Coffee County Rangers were part of the 12th Regiment Alabama Infantry until the end of the war. They surrendered after the Battle of Appomattox Court House.
