 Remembering the past...Headland, Alabama; a growing city located in the southwestern section of Henry County in the southeastern section of the State of Alabama! The city was named after Dr. James Joshua Head who registered his cleared area of 160 acres in Montgomery in 1865; this land became the largest and earliest settlement, known as Head's Land. The Post Office created a postmark for the town and put "Headland" for its name. The town was founded in 1871 and was incorporated in 1884.
Headland—Looking to the future, honoring the past
Since Dr. Joshua J. Head purchased the land upon which Headland sits in 1871, the area first known as “Head’s Land” has prospered. From the initial timber industry, which furnished a living for early residents, to today’s agricultural, commercial and manufacturing endeavors, Headland has been a progressive city. The removal of local trees led to the planting of corn, cotton and finally peanuts to the area. As with many other southeast Alabama towns, the peanut brought prosperity to Headland, and laid the groundwork for an agribusiness-based economy that continues to this day. Accompanying the agriculture outlook today are numerous manufacturing, service and retail endeavors which work together to keep the economic outlook bright. It’s location near highway, rail, water and air centers serves the city well in promoting industry. Headland was incorporated as a town in 1884 and a city in 1893. Moving into its second hundred years the city is enjoying a rebirth as a new generation of native Headland residents is joined by many residents relocating from other areas. New ideas are bringing change to Headland, and the city is opening its doors to progress. Moving deeper into the new millennium, you are invited to become part of our growing city. Bring your ideas. Bring your creativity. Bring your optimism. And be sure that you and your families will be welcome as Headland continues to open its doors to the future.
 Living the present....The City of Headland has received grant funding for a major redesign of our town square area including a new modern sidewalk design, landscaping and lighting. This will benefit our citizen, merchants and visitors as come downtown to shop at one of our fine stores, eat at one of our wonderful restaurants, visit our libray or attend to government business at our city hall. Our citizens will have an even more enjoyable walk around our town square on a cool summer afternoon.
 Planning for the future...A city which will not plan for the future is, in effect, living in the past. For that reason, the City of Headland is at the present working on plans for a prosperous future. A number of public meetings have been held to gauge the public’s support of and ideas for the project. Groups such as Renaissance Headland have been working with the city government and engineering concerns to create a design which will appeal to all city residents. A plan for the work, which is scheduled to get under early summer and hopefully be completed around Thanksgiving, is available for viewing in the lobby of the city hall.
The city recognizes many of its infrastructure features are lagging behind as the city is experiencing growth. To remedy this, Headland is seeking grant funding which will help with needed upgrading of the city’s sewage facilities from East Church Street north to the lagoon and lift station. The grant preparation is underway at this time and city officials are optimistic funding will be received. Plans such as the aforementioned sidewalk and sewage projects are only a small part of what will soon be the city’s history. Without a plan to coordinate such projects, it will be hard to coordinate needed work and tie it all into an organized package which will benefit all the city’s population in an orderly fashion. To ensure such order, Headland has contracted with the KPS Group of Birmingham to create a comprehensive plan for the growth of Headland. This plan will set in writing the ways and means of city operation for the next 25-plus years. Zoning ordinances, street and sewer plans, building rules… all are but a part of the comprehensive plan which will, in effect, be the framework for the future of Headland. As Headland eyes and reveres its past, the city realizes the lessons learned as it lives in the present. But, it is also open to new ideas which will provide growth and prosperity as the future arrives.
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Downtown Sidewalk and Street Projects |
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Final photos! The downtown sidewalk project is complete and it looks great! At the same time, the State of Alabama has made changes to the streets and parking around the square. We urge everyone to be aware of these changes and to take care as we now have some parallel parking in Headland. We ask that all parallel parking on the west side be towards the south end of the park.
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Read more...
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 Square Tales is a collection of stories about growing up in a small southern town during the 1950s and 1960s. Most chapters were taken from the author's column for a local newspaper, Memories from Main Street. The book shows us how drastically life has changed from the simple, quiet rhythms of the past to the frenetic demands of life in the computer age. To order, click the image of the book!
About the Author:
Gary Lloyd Smith was born in Headland, Alabama, in 1947. After graduating from Headland High School, he attended Wallace College, Troy University and served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Smith was engaged in real estate development and restoration for many years and authored, Look! There's Your House, published by Llumina Press in 2009. His love of the past prompted the writing of this book. |
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Dwight Grooms - Alabama Officer of the Year |
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Corporal Dwight Grooms of the Headland Police Department has been chosen as the Alabama Statewide Officer of the Year for his actions on April 24, 2009 in southern Henry County just east of Headland. Cpl Grooms was nominated for the award by Headland Police Chief Mark Jones for what he states was heroic and professional behavior during a shootout that left Officer Dexter Hammon dead and Henry County Sheriff's Deputy Ted Yost critically injured after Fred Davis opened fire on the officers in the Granberry Crossing Community.
“I thought about getting out, but I told my wife Dexter died for me,” Grooms said. “I got to thinking Dexter wouldn’t quit if I got killed. I’d rather have Dexter back than all the awards in the world.”
Links to related articles:
Dothan Eagle
Montgomery Advertiser
Dothan First - WDHN
WTVY News 4 |
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The City of Headland Water Department has announced a change in the date for water bill late charges.
Corporal Dwight Grooms of the Headland Police Department has been chosen as the Alabama Statewide Officer of the Year for his actions on April 24, 2009 in southern Henry County just east of Headland. Cpl Grooms was nominated for the award by Headland Police Chief Mark Jones for what he states was heroic and professional behavior during a shootout that left Officer Dexter Hammon dead and Henry County Sheriff's Deputy Ted Yost critically injured after Fred Davis opened fire on the officers in the Granberry Crossing Community.
City of Headland 2003-2010