Sandfort, Alabama

Sandfort, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Henry Schenck Tanner's 1841 map showing Lexington (Sandfort) located along the Federal Road
Henry Schenck Tanner's 1841 map showing Lexington (Sandfort) located along the Federal Road
Sandfort, Alabama is located in Alabama
Sandfort, Alabama
Sandfort, Alabama
Sandfort, Alabama is located in the United States
Sandfort, Alabama
Sandfort, Alabama
Coordinates: 32°20′17″N 85°13′23″W / 32.33806°N 85.22306°W / 32.33806; -85.22306
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyRussell
Elevation
505 ft (154 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area codeArea code 334
GNIS feature ID158079[1]

Sandfort, also rendered Sand Fort or Sanfort and also known as Lexington,[2] is an unincorporated community in Russell County, Alabama, United States.[1]

History

The community was named for a fort built on the Federal Road, which was constructed ten miles west of Fort Mitchell and six miles northwest of Seale.[3] Sandfort was one of the earliest settled areas of Russell County and home to one of the earliest post offices in the county.[4] A post office operated under the name Sandfort from 1840 to 1866, with Robert Allen serving as the first postmaster.[2][5] A Mr. Royston operated Royston's Inn in Sandfort, which became a stop on the Federal Road. During the Creek War of 1836, Mr. Royston was held captive in his store by hostile Creeks for two weeks.[6]

Sand Fort

The Sand Fort was constructed along the Federal Road and named for the sandy soil used in its construction.[7] Sources differ on when it was constructed, with some reporting it was built by General John Floyd and the Georgia Militia he commanded in 1814 as a rendezvous and supply depot during the Creek War, while others conclude it was constructed during the Creek War of 1836 by General Thomas Jesup or General Winfield Scott to provide protection to local settlers.[2][7][8]

The fort site was eventually destroyed by farming.[2] No evidence of the fort exists today.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sandfort". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c d Brannon, Peter A. (September 2, 1934). "Old Sand Fort". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Harris, W. Stuart (1977). Dead Towns of Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press. p. 49. ISBN 0-8173-1125-4.
  4. ^ Brannon, Peter A. (1924). Brannon, Peter A. (ed.). "Russell County Place Names". Arrow Points. 8 (1): 10.
  5. ^ "Russell County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Russell County Historical Markers". histchattcom.wixsite.com. Historic Chattahoochee Commission. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Waselkov, Gregory; Christopher, Raven (April 2012). Archaeological Survey of the Old Federal Road in Alabama (Technical report). Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Transportation. p. 225. Submitted by the Center for Archaeological Studies University of South Alabama.
  8. ^ Roberts, Robert B. (1988). Encyclopedia of Historic Forts. New York, New York: Macmillan. p. 14. ISBN 0-02-926880-X.