Troy, Alabama

Troy is the seat and largest town of Pike County [1]. The land was originally Creek territory, first settled in the early 1830s and known as Deer Stand Hill, and William Soles was the first recorded white settler in 1835. In 1838 landowners John Hanchey and John Coskrey helped move the county seat from Monticello to their more central property. The town was first named Troy on October 9, 1838 and incorporated on February 4, 1843.

Growth

The first courthouse was built in 1839, and the Troy Messenger, established in 1866, is one of the state’s oldest newspapers. Major growth came in the 1870s, when the population rose from under 500 to about 3,000 within a decade after a railroad extension from Columbus, Georgia. The Atlantic Coast Line railway, completed in 1892, linked Bainbridge, Georgia and Montgomery through Troy [1].

Troy University

Troy University traces its origins to a state teacher’s college established in 1887 and is now a public university with campuses in several other Alabama cities. The Troy University Arboretum has over 300 tree species and a 2.5-mile trail [1]. See Dothan and Phenix City.

Attractions

Attractions include the Johnson Center for the Arts, the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Bicentennial Park and TroyFest, an arts and crafts festival that draws nearly 10,000 visitors downtown [1].

Name and incorporation

Troy was first settled in the early 1830s as Deer Stand Hill; its first recorded white settler was William Soles in 1835, and the county seat moved there from Monticello in 1838. It was called Zebulon and Centreville before being named Troy on October 9, 1838, with accounts differing on whether the name honors Alexander Troy or a man from Troy, New York. It was incorporated on February 4, 1843.[2]

Growth and university

The 1870s railroad extension from Columbus, Georgia, made Troy a regional trade center, and its population grew from under 500 to about 3,000 within a decade. A state teachers college founded in 1887 became Troy University. The 2020 census counted 18,995 residents, and educational services, health care and social assistance employ 28.2 percent of workers.[2]

Landmarks

Landmarks include the Troy University Arboretum, the Johnson Center for the Arts, the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Bicentennial Park and Trojan Oaks Golf Course. The annual TroyFest draws nearly 10,000 people. The city is served by U.S. 231 and U.S. 29.[2]

FAQs

When was Troy named? October 9, 1838.

What university is here? Troy University.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Troy
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Troy

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