Verbena, Alabama

Verbena, also known as Summerfield, is an unincorporated community in southeastern Chilton County, Alabama, United States. Named for the indigenous flower, Verbena developed into a popular resort location for the more affluent citizenry of Montgomery, the state's capital, during the yellow fever outbreaks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many stately homes, some of which have undergone recent renovation and restoration, line the streets of the town as a reminder of this historic past.

Verbena, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Verbena, Alabama
Location within the state of Alabama
Verbena, Alabama
Verbena, Alabama (the United States)
Coordinates: 32°45′10″N 86°30′43″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyChilton
Elevation
482 ft (147 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)205, 659
GNIS feature ID153838[1]
Verbena
Summerfield, one of several early houses in Verbena
Built1873
NRHP reference No.76002238[2]
Added to NRHPJanuary 19, 1976

The town was built beside the railroad currently owned by CSX Transportation. In its heyday, Verbena had two hotels, a bank, a post office, and a general store. Many of those buildings are gone or boarded up today, but the Verbena United Methodist Church still stands on County Road 59 near the town's center.[3]

According to the U.S. Census in 1890, Verbena showed a population of 756, making it the largest community in Chilton County at that time.

Modern era

Today, Verbena is a quiet community on the outskirts of Clanton. The town is located on U.S. Route 31 nine miles south of Interstate 65 exit 205. It has a USPS Post Office (ZIP Code 36091), several small specialty stores, and numerous churches. The local school is Verbena High School (K5-12), home of the Red Devils. The community is served by the Chilton County Sheriff's Department and Verbena Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

Other communities in the area that are typically considered to be a part of Verbena are Cooper (pronounced "Coopers" by many locals), Enterprise (not to be confused with the city of Enterprise in South Alabama), and Midway.

The town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Verbena United Methodist Church.
  • Wingate-Weir House.
  • Verbena High School.
  • Dennis-Howard House.
  • Peach Blossom.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Verbena has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [4]

References
  1. "Verbena". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. "Verbena UMC Verbena, Alabama Built in 1876". Historic Churches. The Alabama-West Florida Conference Commission on Archives and History. Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  4. Climate Summary for Verbena, Alabama
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