Elmore County, Alabama

Elmore County was created on February 15, 1866 from parts of Coosa, Autauga and Montgomery counties and is named for Gen. John Archer Elmore, a Revolutionary War veteran and early Alabama settler [1]. It lies in east-central Alabama and is described as the third-fastest growing county in the state. The seat is Wetumpka, the largest city is Millbrook, and the 2020 census counted 81,526 residents across 622 square miles.

History

The Creek Nation’s territory covered the area. Fort Toulouse was completed in 1717, and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 led to the Treaty of Fort Jackson. William Wyatt Bibb, Alabama’s first governor, lived in the county. In 1864 the Richmond Carbine Factory was moved to the Tallassee Manufacturing Mill [1].

Economy

Early trade centered on agriculture and cotton shipped from Wetumpka, and a railroad reached the county in 1878. The Wind Creek Wetumpka Casino and Hotel opened in December 2013. In 2020 education and health care employed 22.9 percent of workers, retail 13.2 percent and public administration 11.3 percent [1].

Geography and attractions

The county lies in the Piedmont region, and the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers border it. Lake Martin and Jordan Lake were created by dams on these rivers. The Wetumpka Crater is about 83 million years old and nearly five miles wide, the only meteor crater identified in Alabama. Other draws include whitewater at Moccasin Gap, the Coosa River Challenge, the Elmore County Museum and Ellerslie (1818) in Millbrook [1].

Formation and geography

Elmore County was established on February 15, 1866, from parts of Autauga, Coosa, Tallapoosa and Montgomery counties and is named for General John A. Elmore. It covers 657 square miles, including 39 of water, and lies in the Piedmont region as part of the Montgomery metropolitan area. Wetumpka is the county seat and Millbrook the largest city, while Wetumpka and Tallassee are river cities on the fall line.[2]

Population

The 2020 census counted 87,977 residents, with a 2025 estimate of 91,577 and a median age of 40.7. About 71.2 percent of residents live in rural areas. The county adjoins Coosa, Tallapoosa, Macon, Montgomery, Autauga and Chilton counties.[2]

History and economy

The French built Fort Toulouse in 1717 at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, and Andrew Jackson built Fort Jackson on the same site in 1814 after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Over the past two decades the county has shifted from agriculture to one of Alabama’s fastest-growing economies, with manufacturing the largest employer, including firms such as GKN Aerospace and Russell Corporation. The Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women is in Wetumpka.[2]

FAQs

When was it created? February 15, 1866.

What is the seat? Wetumpka.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Elmore County
2. Wikipedia: Elmore County, Alabama

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue