St. Stephens (Territorial Capital)

St. Stephens was the seat of government of the Alabama Territory from 1817 to 1819. The town sat on a limestone bluff above the Tombigbee River, about 67 miles north of Mobile in present-day Washington County, and rocky shoals just below it blocked river traffic farther north [1]. It began as a Spanish fort, became an American trading post and then a territorial capital. Yellow fever and changing river travel led to its decline, and today the site is St. Stephens Historical Park. This entry traces that history.

Spanish beginnings

Spain built Fort San Esteban at the site in 1789, after gaining control of the region following the American Revolution. Under the 1795 Treaty of San Lorenzo, the fort fell within American territory after a boundary survey, and Spain withdrew. The U.S. flag was raised over the fort on May 5, 1799 [1]. The Spanish colonial setting is described in Spanish West Florida.

An American town

A U.S. trading post, the Choctaw Trading House, opened by 1803. Ephraim Kirby became the first judge of the local court district in 1804, and the Mississippi Territory’s legislature chartered the town in 1807. In 1804, St. Stephens and Natchez were the only two white settlements in the territory, which is why St. Stephens figures prominently in Mississippi Territory [1][2].

Territorial capital

When Alabama became a separate territory in 1817, St. Stephens became its seat of government. No permanent capitol was built, and officials used existing buildings. In 1819, when Alabama became a state, Cahaba replaced St. Stephens as capital [1]. The territory is described in Alabama Territory.

Decline

Shallow-draft boats allowed travelers to bypass the shoals, which removed the town’s advantage as a river port. Yellow fever epidemics in the 1820s and 1830s hit the town hard. By 1833 most residents had moved two miles west to New St. Stephens, and the original town was in ruins by the Civil War [1].

The park today

The site is St. Stephens Historical Park, which the Encyclopedia of Alabama calls one of the most important archaeological sites in the state. The St. Stephens Historical Commission was incorporated in 1988 to support research there. Archaeologists study the foundations, wells and artifacts of the town, and the park interprets the Spanish, American and territorial periods [1].

Why it matters

St. Stephens connects the Spanish, American and territorial eras in one place. It also shows how rivers shaped early settlement and how health and transport changes could end a town’s importance. Read it with Capitals of Alabama and the main Alabama profile [1][3].

FAQs

Where was St. Stephens? On the Tombigbee River in Washington County, about 67 miles north of Mobile.

When was it the capital? From 1817 to 1819.

Why did it decline? Boats bypassed the shoals and yellow fever epidemics hit the town.

Can I visit? Yes. It is St. Stephens Historical Park.

Who built the first fort? Spain, in 1789.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: St. Stephens
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Territorial Period and Early Statehood
3. Encyclopedia of Alabama: State Capitals (collection)

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