ABOUT
SUMTER COUNTY
Sumter County lies in the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt, at the intersection of history, culture, and a future as bright as the chalky limestone bluffs on the nearby Tombigbee River. The warmth of its people trumps the warmth of the weather. It is a place that you instantly connect with upon arrival. You feel at home.
EXPLORE THE COMMUNITIES OF
Sumter County, Alabama
Bellamy
Belmont
Coatopa
Cuba
Emelle
Epes
Gainesville
Geiger
Intercourse
Livingston
Panola
Sumterville
Ward
Warsaw
York
Sumter County was established on December 18, 1832. From 1797 to 1832, Sumter County was part of the Choctaw Nation, which had four main villages. The first settlers in Sumter County were French explorers who had come north from Mobile. They built and settled at Fort Tombecbee, near the modern-day town of Epes. In 1830, with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaw Indians ceded the land that is now Sumter County to the government. Its name is in honor of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. Our county seat is Livingston.
The Tombigbee River runs along Sumter County’s eastern border. The river is one of the most biologically diverse in the nation and is home to a number of at-risk species. A series of locks and dams constructed beginning in the 1930s along the Tombigbee River facilitate river traffic and provide scenic views and recreational opportunities.It serves as a hub for the tens of thousands of outdoors enthusiasts that come to hunt and fish in Sumter County.
Livingston’s strategic location on Interstate 20/59, proximity to the Port of Epes on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, mainline rail service from Norfolk-Southern, and positioning amongst the timber and cattle industries creates a perfect storm for growth potential.
It is halfway between Atlanta and New Orleans, Jackson and Birmingham, and Dallas and Charlotte. Four of the South’s key auto manufacturers lie within a two-hour drive: Mercedes-Benz (Vance, Alabama), Toyota (Tupelo, Mississippi), Hyundai (Montgomery, Alabama), and Nissan (Canton, Mississippi). Over 5 million people live within a two-hour radius of Livingston.
The Sumter County Courthouse is located in Livingston, Alabama, established in 1833. Livingston was named the Sumter County seat in 1832, and the first county courthouse was completed in 1833. The current courthouse was built in 1903. There was record loss due to a courthouse fire in 1901.
Contact Us
Contact
Address
PO Box 1619
UWA Lyon Hall • Station 8
Livingston, AL 35470