Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present-day Cherokee.
The county seat of Colbert County is Tuscumbia. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". As of 2020, 57,227 people lived there.
History
Colbert County was first formed on February 6, 1867. It split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War. It was ended but was reestablished on February 24, 1870. It is also the location of Ivy Green, the birthplace of noted author Helen Keller. Colbert County is also home of the towns Sheffield and Muscle Shoals where many popular musicians such as Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones recorded music.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of . (or 95.34%) is land and (or 4.66%) is water.
Major Highways
U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 72
State Route 20
State Route 157
State Route 247
Natchez Trace Parkway
National protected area
Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
Rail
Norfolk Southern Railway - freight lines going South, East, and West.