Tuscaloosa, Alabama radiates old-fashioned Southern charm while transforming into one of America's most progressive cities. Situated on the banks of the mighty Black Warrior River, just at the fall line where the Appalachian Highlands meet the Gulf Coastal Plain, Tuscaloosa’s terrain shows diversity as well, with forested rolling hillsides in the north and east, and low-lying marshes to the south and west.
First mentioned in the journals of Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto in the early 1500’s, the vicinity of Tuscaloosa took its name from the Choctaw Indian chief, Tushka Lusa, said to have stood almost 7 feet tall. In 1817, Alabama became a United States territory, and territorial legislature incorporated Tuscaloosa as a town on Dec. 13, 1819. The following day, Congress declared Alabama a state, so Tuscaloosa is actually one day older than the State of Alabama.
The powerful Black Warrior River is Alabama’s longest and largest waterway, with the southernmost fordable point being Tuscaloosa. Many Indian trails converged here, and later, the pioneers followed. In the 1890’s, the U.S. Corps of Engineers constructed a series of locks and dams, and Tuscaloosa became a vital transportation link to Alabama’s important Gulf Coast seaport of Mobile. The mining and metallurgical industries flourished in western Alabama, with Tuscaloosa as the commercial and transportation hub. Tuscaloosa has kept a strong and steady economy, which has increased in modern times.
Today, Tuscaloosa is home to manufacturing plants from such global firms as JVC America, Michelin Tires and Chrysler Mercedes. Tuscaloosa is western Alabama’s educational center also, as the site of the University of Alabama, founded in 1831. The well-loved Bryant-Denny Stadium showcases all the university’s sport teams, especially the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Also found in Tuscaloosa are Stillman College and Shelton State Community College.
The city of Tuscaloosa, AL reported 78,000 residents in the 2000 Census. It serves as the seat of Tuscaloosa County, population 161,000. Residents here enjoy a southern subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, featuring hot summer temperatures and the rare and magical snowfall in the wintertime.
The city of Tuscaloosa covers 67 square miles, 10 of which are water. This includes the Black Warrior River and the lovely Lake Tuscaloosa, found completely within the city limits and renowned for its excellent fishing opportunities. Just outside of the city awaits Lake Lurleen State Park, site of the Annual Youth Fishing Tournament and the Lake Lurleen Triathlon. Tuscaloosa contains six outstanding golf courses and the North River Yacht Club. Thirty-three parks grace the city of Tuscaloosa, complete with walking and cycling trails.
As the cultural hub for western Alabama, Tuscaloosaoffers a plethora of museums and fine art venues. Patrons can take a driving or walking historic tour, viewing fifteen distinguished properties carefully refurbished as sentinels of Alabama’s gracious past. A vast array of dining establishments awaits the hungry patron, and Tuscaloosa’s shops and boutiques lure people from all around the region.
