:Dothan, Alabama

Between 1763 and 1783, the region that is now Dothan was part of the colony of British West Florida.The Economy of British West Florida, 1763–1783, by Robin F. A. Fabel (University of Alabama Press, 2002) European-American settlers moving through the area during the late 18th and early 19th centuries discovered the Indian spring, naming it "Poplar Head". Most felt that the sandy soil common to this region would be unsuitable for farming, so they moved on.

A crude stockade was constructed on the Barber Plantation, where settlers could take refuge whenever they felt threatened. Gradually the area received more white settlers. This fort disappeared by the 1840s, after the end of the Indian Wars in Alabama and Indian Removal in the 1830s, when most members of the Five Civilized Tribes were forcibly taken to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Those members of the tribe who stayed in the southeast were considered to have given up their tribal memberships and became state and U.S. citizens.

The first permanent white settlers consisted of nine families who moved into the area during the early 1830s to harvest the abundant timber. Their settlement, named Poplar Head after the spring, failed to thrive. It was all but abandoned by the time of the Civil War. After the war, a local Pony Express route was founded; together with other developments during the Reconstruction Era, the town began to grow. On November 11, 1885, the citizens voted to incorporate, naming their new city Dothan at the suggestion of a local clergyman after discovering that "Poplar Head" was already registered with the U.S. post office for a town in northern Alabama.

On October 12, 1889,{{Cite book

| last = Alabama State Bar

| title = The Alabama lawyer: official organ State Bar of Alabama

| publisher = The Bar

| year = 1942

| page = 261

}} Dothan was the scene of a deadly altercation resulting from a dispute over a tax levied on wagons operating within city limits. Local farmers opposed the levy and united in a body called the "Farmers Alliance". The arrest of some of the alliance's men led to a riot that left two men dead and others seriously wounded.{{Cite news

|last = Cook

|first = Jim

|title = Landmark Park hosts Johnny Mack Brown Festival

|work = Dothan Eagle

|date = May 9, 2009

|url = http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/local/article/landmark_park_hosts_johnny_mack_brown_festival/71837/

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090519233725/http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/local/article/landmark_park_hosts_johnny_mack_brown_festival/71837

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = May 19, 2009

|access-date = August 9, 2009

}} Chief of Police Tobe Domingus was found guilty of murder and sentenced to ten years in prison. Appeals to the Alabama Supreme Court resulted in a new trial,{{Cite book |author=Alabama Supreme Court |title=Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Alabama |pages=9–14 |year=1893 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqsKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 |access-date=December 13, 2013}} and Domingus was acquitted.{{cite conference

| first = Tompkins

| last = Oscar L.

| author-link = Oscar Tompkins

| title = Wiregrass Saga

| date = July 1942

| url = http://www.southern-style.com/Southeast%20Alabama%20Heritage%20Association/Oscar%20Tompkins%20Wire%20Grass%20Sagas.htm

| access-date=August 9, 2009}}

{{anchor|National Peanut Festival}}

In 1893, Dothan secured a stop on the first railroad to be built in the region. This development brought new prosperity and growth, as local farmers had a means to market and transport their produce. The pine forests were harvested for turpentine and wood, which was transformed into ship masts, lumber and other wood products. As the pines were cut and land subsequently cleared, cotton was cultivated as a staple of the local economy. The crops were devastated by the boll weevil in the early 1900s.

Farmers turned to peanut production, which was successful and brought financial gain to the city. It became a hub for the production and transport of peanuts and peanut-related products. Today, one-quarter of the U.S. peanut crop is harvested within {{convert|75|mi|km}} of Dothan.{{cite web |url=http://gardencentral.org/alabama/nss-folder/namethisfolder/History_of_Dothan.pdf |title=Dothan History |publisher=gardencentral.org |access-date=April 26, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Dothan also became a hub for industrial development in the 20th century, with textile and agricultural concerns being joined by manufacturing plants for the Sony, Michelin, and General Electric corporations which began operating facilities in the city.

File:Dothan Alabama Downtown 01.jpg

Dothan also sought out industrial development, with textile and agricultural concerns being joined by manufacturing plants for the Sony, Michelin, and General Electric corporations in the 20th century. The Southern Company constructed the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Generating Station near the city between 1970 and 1981; this 1,776-megawatt facility currently generates approximately 13,000 GW-h per year.{{cite web | url=https://www.world-nuclear.org/reactor/default.aspx/FARLEY-1 | title=FARLEY-1 - World Nuclear Association }} In 2010, Sony announced its closure of its Dothan plant. Pemco Aviation declared bankruptcy in March 2012 and in May that year announced the closing of its Dothan facility.

Originally part of Henry County, Alabama, Dothan became the county seat of the newly formed Houston County on May 9, 1903. The city continued to flourish and grow throughout the twentieth century, with the Dothan Regional Airport being constructed in 1965 and Wallace Community College in 1969. Troy University established a Dothan campus in 1961 in the northwestern part of the city.{{cite web | url=http://dothan.troy.edu/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030021513/http://dothan.troy.edu/ | archive-date=October 30, 2011 | title=Troy University Dothan Campus }}

Porter Hardware, the oldest hardware store in the state of Alabama, was located in Dothan from 1889 to 2014. In 2018 it reopened as a museum.{{cite news|title=Porter Hardware opens in Downtown Dothan as a museum |publisher=WTVY|url=https://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Porter-Hardware-opens-in-Downtown-Dothan-as-a-museum--482407901.html|date=2018-05-11|author=Huffman, Dillon}}

Dothan is in northwestern Houston County in southeastern Alabama. The city limits extend north into Henry County and northwest into Dale County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|232.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|231.5|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.8|km2|order=flip}}, or 0.36%, is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0121184| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dothan city, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 1, 2015}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

It is located in the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama, near both the Florida and Georgia state lines. The topography is generally flat and forested, with few small hills that gradually slope downward towards the Chattahoochee River to the east and the gulf coastal plain to the south.

Image:Al210-ccw-past-us084-east.jpg on Dothan's east side]]

Dothan has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). This produces hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with daily average temperatures ranging from {{convert|83.0|°F}} in the summer to {{convert|50.8|°F}} during winter. Precipitation is plentiful throughout the year, ranging from {{convert|6.17|in}} in August, the wettest month, to {{convert|2.70|in}} in October, the driest month. Snowfall is extremely rare; a two-inch snowfall occurs about once every ten years, which results in a yearly average of {{convert|0.2|in}}; the last major snow event occurred on January 21, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Ken |date=2025-01-21 |title=Roads 'impassable' as snow totals mount and worst to come |url=https://www.wtvy.com/2025/01/21/roads-impassable-snow-totals-mount-worst-come/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.wtvy.com |language=en}} Other significant snow events in the city's history occurred in 1973, 1977, 1989, 1993, and 2010.{{cite web|url=https://dothaneagle.com/news/snow-a-rare-sight-in-the-wiregrass/article_efe01fa5-7401-5eb4-8325-fc95ce37bbcb.html |title=Snow! A rare sight in the Wiregrass |website=dothaneagle.com |date=February 13, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2023}} Tornadoes are a frequent risk during the spring, summer and fall; the city's tornado activity is slightly below the Alabama state average, but 79% above the U.S. average.{{cite web |url=https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/dothan |title=Dothan Weather Records |website=extremeweatherwatch.com |access-date=October 23, 2023}}

{{Weather box

|location= Dothan Regional Airport, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 83

|Feb record high F = 86

|Mar record high F = 90

|Apr record high F = 95

|May record high F = 104

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 105

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 102

|Oct record high F = 100

|Nov record high F = 88

|Dec record high F = 84

|year record high F = 105

|Jan avg record high F = 76.1

|Feb avg record high F = 78.8

|Mar avg record high F = 83.9

|Apr avg record high F = 87.9

|May avg record high F = 94.6

|Jun avg record high F = 97.1

|Jul avg record high F = 98.3

|Aug avg record high F = 97.4

|Sep avg record high F = 94.9

|Oct avg record high F = 89.8

|Nov avg record high F = 82.8

|Dec avg record high F = 78.0

|year avg record high F = 99.3

|Jan high F = 61.7

|Feb high F = 65.8

|Mar high F = 72.9

|Apr high F = 79.3

|May high F = 87.2

|Jun high F = 91.3

|Jul high F = 93.3

|Aug high F = 92.0

|Sep high F = 88.4

|Oct high F = 80.8

|Nov high F = 71.1

|Dec high F = 63.8

|year high F = 79.0

|Jan mean F = 50.8

|Feb mean F = 54.6

|Mar mean F = 60.8

|Apr mean F = 67.2

|May mean F = 75.6

|Jun mean F = 81.1

|Jul mean F = 83.0

|Aug mean F = 82.0

|Sep mean F = 77.9

|Oct mean F = 68.9

|Nov mean F = 58.9

|Dec mean F = 53.1

|year mean F = 67.8

|Jan low F = 39.8

|Feb low F = 43.3

|Mar low F = 48.8

|Apr low F = 55.2

|May low F = 64.0

|Jun low F = 70.8

|Jul low F = 72.7

|Aug low F = 72.0

|Sep low F = 67.3

|Oct low F = 56.9

|Nov low F = 46.7

|Dec low F = 42.4

|year low F = 56.7

|Jan avg record low F = 23.1

|Feb avg record low F = 27.2

|Mar avg record low F = 32.3

|Apr avg record low F = 41.0

|May avg record low F = 51.0

|Jun avg record low F = 63.5

|Jul avg record low F = 68.5

|Aug avg record low F = 66.0

|Sep avg record low F = 55.8

|Oct avg record low F = 40.4

|Nov avg record low F = 31.0

|Dec avg record low F = 27.6

|year avg record low F = 20.9

|Jan record low F = 4

|Feb record low F = 12

|Mar record low F = 19

|Apr record low F = 31

|May record low F = 44

|Jun record low F = 49

|Jul record low F = 57

|Aug record low F = 59

|Sep record low F = 43

|Oct record low F = 30

|Nov record low F = 17

|Dec record low F = 7

|year record low F = 4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.76

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.82

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.72

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.79

|May precipitation inch = 2.92

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.08

|Jul precipitation inch = 5.95

|Aug precipitation inch = 6.17

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.27

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.70

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.91

|Dec precipitation inch = 4.76

|year precipitation inch = 53.85

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.5

|Feb precipitation days = 9.9

|Mar precipitation days = 8.8

|Apr precipitation days = 7.4

|May precipitation days = 7.9

|Jun precipitation days = 12.8

|Jul precipitation days = 13.8

|Aug precipitation days = 13.4

|Sep precipitation days = 8.4

|Oct precipitation days = 7.0

|Nov precipitation days = 8.4

|Dec precipitation days = 10.7

|year precipitation days = 119.0

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=tae

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013839&format=pdf

| title = Station: Dothan RGNL AP, AL

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 247

|1900= 3275

|1910= 7016

|1920= 10034

|1930= 16046

|1940= 17194

|1950= 21584

|1960= 31440

|1970= 36733

|1980= 48750

|1990= 53589

|2000= 57737

|2010= 65496

|2020= 71072

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 20, 2013}}
2018 Estimate{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2018}}

}}

The state-recognized Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians were in Dothan.{{cite web|url=http://aiac.alabama.gov/ByLaws.aspx |title=AIAC Bylaws |work=Alabama Indian Affairs Commission |publisher=State of Alabama |access-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918101025/http://aiac.alabama.gov/ByLaws.aspx |archive-date=September 18, 2012 }} They descended from members of the Cherokee and Creek peoples who occupied this area and resisted removal to Indian Territory in the 1830s.{{cite web|url=http://www.aiac.state.al.us/tribes_Cherocreek.aspx |title=CheroCreek |access-date=September 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003045124/http://www.aiac.state.al.us/tribes_Cherocreek.aspx |archive-date=October 3, 2013}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 71,072 people, 27,103 households, and 16,607 families residing in the city.

Image:Houston County Courthouse.jpg

Dothan is governed by a mayor and city council (called the "board of commissioners"), with a city manager employed to manage city affairs.[http://www.dothan.org/ City of Dothan]. Retrieved April 27, 2009. The city is divided into six council districts, with one commissioner elected from each single-member district to a four-year term. Members of the commission serve part-time and are responsible for drafting all city ordinances and policies and appropriation of city funds. Dothan's mayor is elected at-large for four years and serves as a member of the board of commissioners. The city manager implements the board's policies and manages the city's day-to-day operations, including hiring, managing and firing the heads of city government departments. A total of 999 full-time and 215 part-time employees work for Dothan's city agencies, including police, fire, clerical, judicial, finance, public works and utilities.{{cite web |url=http://www3.dothan.org/docs/2007CityOfDothanCAFR_1_.pdf |title=City of Dothan Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |year=2007 |access-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724002649/http://www3.dothan.org/docs/2007CityOfDothanCAFR_1_.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}

As of 2024, the mayor was Mark Saliba and the city manager was Open. Larry H. Williams served as city fire chief and Will Benny was police chief.[http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/81239157.html] {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}[http://www.mike4dothan.com/ Mike Schmitz for Mayor of Dothan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181833/http://www.mike4dothan.com/ |date=March 3, 2016}}. Retrieved August 7, 2009.

Dothan is in Alabama's 2nd congressional district; its representative (as of 2021) is Barry Moore. The city is divided among three different state senate districts (28, 29 and 31){{cite web |url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senatemaps2001/senate_districts_2001.pdf |title=2001 Alabama Senate District Map |access-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326185356/http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senatemaps2001/senate_districts_2001.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2009 }} and four state representative districts (85, 86, 87 and 93).{{cite web|url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/housemaps2001/house_districts_2001.pdf |title=2001 Alabama House District Map |access-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326185401/http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/housemaps2001/house_districts_2001.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2009}}

Most K-12 students in Dothan and Houston County attend Dothan City Schools{{cite web|url=http://www.dothan.k12.al.us/ |title=Dothan City Schools |publisher=Dothan.k12.al.us |access-date=November 13, 2011}} or Houston County Schools.{{cite web|url=http://hcboe.us/HCBOE/CentOff/index.html |title=Your Site or Page Name Here |access-date=April 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430112126/http://hcboe.us/HCBOE/CentOff/index.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009 }} Others attend local private schools, such as Houston Academy,{{cite web|author=Houston Academy |url=http://www.houstonacademy.com/ |title=Houston Academy |publisher=Houston Academy |access-date=November 13, 2011}} Providence Christian School,{{cite web|url=http://www.providencechristianschool.com/ |title=Providence Christian School |publisher=Providence Christian School |access-date=November 13, 2011}} Northside Methodist Academy,{{cite web|url=http://www.nmacademy.net/ |title=Northside Methodist Academy |publisher=Nmacademy.net |access-date=November 13, 2011}} Emmanuel Christian School,{{cite web|url=http://www.emmanuelchristian.org/ |title=Emmanuel Christian School |publisher=Emmanuelchristian.org |access-date=November 13, 2011}} and Westgate Christian School.{{cite web|url=http://www.westgatechurchofchrist.org/westgate-christian-school |title=Westgate Christian School |access-date=April 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521074223/http://www.westgatechurchofchrist.org/westgate-christian-school |archive-date=May 21, 2010 }} Institutes of higher education include Fortis College, Troy University Dothan Campus,{{cite web |url=http://dothan.troy.edu/ |title=Troy University in Dothan |publisher=Dothan.troy.edu |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030021513/http://dothan.troy.edu/ |archive-date=October 30, 2011 }} Wallace Community College, Bethany Divinity College & Seminary,{{cite web|url=http://www.bethanybc.edu/ |title=Bethany Divinity College & Seminary |publisher=Bethanybc.edu |access-date=November 13, 2011}} and the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine.{{cite web |title=Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) |url=http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2013cib/2013cib_supplement.pdf |publisher=American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine |date=2012 |pages=2–3

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319051329/http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2013cib/2013cib_supplement.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Dothan Regional Airport is served by Delta Air Lines and Aero-One Aviation as of September 2017. The airport was established at the former Army airbase at Napier Field in 1965, after then-Mayor Richmond McClintock started a push to move the airport in the early 1950s. Jet services began in 1968 with Southern Airways' acquisition of DC-9 aircraft, and continue today using the CRJ-200 regional passenger jet.{{cite web

|title=Welcome

|publisher=Dothan Regional Airport

|url=http://www.flydothan.com/

|access-date=August 10, 2009 |url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923075121/http://creports.capnhq.gov/airfield/ViewAirport.asp?view=Thumb&state=AL&code=DHN&filetype=_

|archive-date=September 23, 2006 }}

Unlike many municipal airports in the U.S., the Dothan airport is entirely self-supporting, operating without tax-generated funding. All airport revenue is generated by rental and other user fees charged to patrons and tenants of the facility.{{cite web

|title = About DHN

|publisher = Dothan Regional Airport

|url = http://www.flydothan.com/about_dhn.html

|access-date = August 10, 2009

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130123093550/http://www.flydothan.com/about_dhn.html

|archive-date = January 23, 2013

|df = mdy-all

}}

The airport serves as the local National Weather Service's weather observation station.{{Cite web |url=http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/AL_cc_us.html |title=Alabama Weather |access-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107065944/http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/AL_cc_us.html |url-status=dead }}

U.S. Routes 84, 231, and 431 run through Dothan along various parts of Ross Clark Circle (AL-210), the bypass encircling the city. U.S. 84 runs along the northern part of the bypass from west to east, leading east {{convert|55|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Bainbridge, Georgia and west {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Enterprise. U.S. 231 runs along the western part of the bypass from south to north, leading northwest {{convert|56|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Troy and south {{convert|83|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Panama City, Florida. U.S. 431 begins its path northward at the southern end of Ross Clark Circle, and runs along the eastern part of the bypass, leading north {{convert|51|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Eufaula. Other highways that run through Dothan include Alabama State Routes 52 and 53. Dothan is currently the only city in Alabama's top ten largest that does not have Interstate access, with the closest Interstate being Interstate 10 that runs 32 miles to the south.

Although passenger trains no longer operate through Dothan, the 1907 Dothan station still stands. Greyhound Bus Lines maintains a station in town.[http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/alabama/dothan/bus-station-420354 Dothan, AL Greyhound Station] Intercity Bus Service Dothan does not have regularly scheduled public transportation, but offers dial-a-ride service through its nonprofit Wiregrass Transit Authority.{{cite web|title=Wiregrass Transit Authority |url=http://www.sanman.net/searpdc/transit/transit.htm |access-date=August 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826182700/http://www.sanman.net/searpdc/transit/transit.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2009}}

The largest Christian denomination in Dothan is the Southern Baptist church.{{cite web| url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/01069_2000.asp |title=County Membership Report|publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=December 13, 2013}} There are also Anglican, Churches of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, AME, Freewill Baptist, Episcopal, United Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventist and various Evangelical churches serving Dothan's Protestant community.

Saint Michael's Orthodox Church[https://www.stmichaelchurchdothan.com// St. Michael's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Dothan, AL] is an Antiochian Orthodox Church, serving the orthodox community in Dothan and the Wiregrass.

St. Columba Catholic Church serves Dothan's Roman Catholics.{{cite web |url=http://www.stcolumbacatholic.com/ |title=St. Columba Catholic Church |publisher=Stcolumbacatholic.com |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928140535/http://www.stcolumbacatholic.com/ |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }} Dothan hosts a Reform Judaism synagogue, Temple Emanu-El,{{cite web|url=http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/al/dothan.html|title=ISJL – Alabama Dothan Encyclopedia|work=Institute of Southern Jewish Life|access-date=October 18, 2014}} which became nationally famous in 2008 when the congregation offered Jewish families as much as $50,000 to relocate to Dothan to build up the community.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/24/jews.dothan/index.html?iref=mpstoryview|title=Jewish families offered $50,000 to move to Alabama|website=CNN|access-date=October 18, 2014}} The city is also home to two mosques,{{cite web |url=http://islamicvalley.com/prod/entityView.php/t/09L/i/wGH |title=Islamic Center of Dothan |publisher=Islamicvalley.com |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630132617/http://islamicvalley.com/prod/entityView.php/t/09L/i/wGH |url-status=dead }} two Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,{{cite web| title=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints| url=https://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=np&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=dothan+al+lds+church&fb=1&gl=us&hq=lds+church&hnear=0x88928d5403c2a58d:0x2e2fb2bdc3c127af,Dothan,+AL&cid=63689983505293450&ei=rgobT4WvJfTfsQLmhuG2Cw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=map-marker-link&resnum=4&ved=0CFwQrwswAw| work=maps.google.com}} a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.{{cite web| title=jehovahs witnesses near Dothan, AL| url=https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=c61&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&prmd=imvns&biw=1366&bih=612&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=jehovahs+witnesses+dothan+al&fb=1&gl=us&hq=jehovahs+witnesses&hnear=0x88928d5403c2a58d:0x2e2fb2bdc3c127af,Dothan,+AL| work=maps.google.com}}

Dothan is served by a daily newspaper, the Dothan Eagle,{{cite web |url=http://www.dothaneagle.com/ |title=Dothan Eagle |publisher=Dothan Eagle |date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}} a weekly newspaper, the Dothan Progress,{{cite web |url=http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/dothan_progress/ |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080713034452/http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/dothan_progress/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2008 |title=Dothan Progress |publisher=Dothaneagle.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 }} and a blog, Rickey Stokes News.{{cite web| url=http://www.rickeystokesnews.com |title=Welcome to RickeyStokesNews.com! :: Sharing Local News with Friends |publisher=Rickeystokesnews.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}} It has four television stations, WRGX-LD 23 (NBC),{{cite web|url=http://nbcwiregrass.com/ |title=WRGX nbcwiregrass.com |publisher=nbcwiregrass.com |access-date=February 20, 2014}} WDFX 34 (FOX),{{cite web|url=http://www.wdfxfox34.com/ |title=WDFX 34 |publisher=Wdfxfox34.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}} WDHN 18 (ABC) and the oldest television station in southeastern Alabama, WTVY 4 (CBS/MyNetworkTV/CW). WOW!, Comcast and Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) provide cable television service. DirecTV and Dish Network provide direct broadcast satellite television, including local and national channels. The city is also served by several radio stations; among the oldest is 560 WOOF-AM, which went on the air as an AM station in 1947; 99.7 WOOF-FM went on the air in 1964.[http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Founder_of_WOOF_Radio_Dies_148607135.html Ashton King. "Founder of WOOF Radio Dies. WTVY.com, April 24, 2012] As of 2020, the radio formats in Dothan are top 40/CHR/pop (106.7 WKMX), adult contemporary (107.7 W299BX, 99.7 WOOF-FM), classical (88.7 WRWA), Christian (94.3 WIZB), rock (100.5 WJRL-FM), classic hits (102.5 WESP), country (95.5 WTVY-FM, 105.3 WECB), rap/hip hop/urban (700/105.9 WARB/W290DG), urban adult contemporary (93.1 WBBK-FM), talk radio (103.9 WDBT), and sports (560/101.1/107.1 WOOF-AM/W261AT/W296DQ).{{cite web| url=http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/Dothan_AL.aspx| title=OnTheRadio.Net| access-date=October 18, 2014}} Dothan Magazine{{cite web| url=http://www.dothanmagazine.com| title=dothanmagazine.com| access-date=October 18, 2014}} offers a bimonthly, people-focused viewpoint of the Dothan area keeping readers up to date on the latest community events, trends and issues. Archived issues of Dothan Magazine are online.{{cite web| url=http://www.DothanMagazine.com| title=dothanmagazine.com| access-date=October 18, 2014}}

Dothan hosted minor league baseball teams from 1915 to 1917, with the Dothan team (AL-FL-GA League and Dixie League) and from 1936 to 1962 (AL-FL League, GA-FL League and AL State League). Teams were known at varying times as the Boll Weevils, Dothan Browns, Rebels, Cardinals and Phillies. Major League affiliations were maintained in later years with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies. All teams played at the "D" league level, a defunct minor-league classification that represented the entry or "rookie" level in the minors. Ballparks included Baker Field, City Park, Stadium Park, Jill Alexander Miracle Field and the Wiregrass Memorial Stadium.{{cite web

| title = Dothan, Alabama Minor League City Encyclopedia

| website = Baseball-Reference.com

| url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Dothan&state=AL&country=US

| access-date=August 10, 2009}}

The city served host to the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 7, 1997, at the Dothan Civic Center Arena.{{cite web

| title = UFC 12

| publisher = Sherdog.com

| url = http://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-12-Judgement-Day-20

| access-date=November 30, 2012}}

Dothan was selected as one of 11 Alabama sites for a course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.{{cite web |url=http://www.rtjgolf.com/trail/ |title=RTJ Golf Trail - Explore the Trail |website=www.rtjgolf.com |access-date=April 30, 2009}}

{{Further|Dothan National Golf Club}}

In 2007–10, Dothan was recognized as part of the "Playful City USA" initiative by KaBOOM!, created to honor cities that ensure that their children have great places to play.{{cite web|url=http://preschoolers.about.com/b/2010/08/19/kaboom-lists-top-cities-for-play.htm|title=Types of Play|work=About|access-date=October 18, 2014|archive-date=April 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414065004/http://preschoolers.about.com/b/2010/08/19/kaboom-lists-top-cities-for-play.htm|url-status=dead}}

Dothan has a diverse economy. Agriculture is the largest industry, though retail sales and restaurants have experienced a rapid growth in recent years. Peanut production remains a mainstay of the agricultural sector, but cotton is gaining in importance. Tomato production is significant as well, especially in the nearby town of Slocomb, which styles itself "the Tomato Capital of the World".{{cite web | title=Alabama town of Slocomb celebrating 20 years of tomatoes - JCFLORIDAN | website=archive.ph | date=September 10, 2012 | url=http://www2.jcfloridan.com/news/2008/jun/17/alabama_town_of_slocomb_celebrating_20_years_of_to-ar-59807/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910181851/http://www2.jcfloridan.com/news/2008/jun/17/alabama_town_of_slocomb_celebrating_20_years_of_to-ar-59807/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 10, 2012 | access-date=April 26, 2021}}

According to the city's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,{{cite web |url=http://www.dothan.org/DocumentCenter/View/51 |title=City of Dothan CAFR |access-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213193920/http://www.dothan.org/DocumentCenter/View/51 |url-status=dead }} the top employers in the city are:

According to records available on a police violence tracking website, police have killed 20 people directly or indirectly between 2000 and 2020. Most of the victims were shot, tasered or asphyxiated.{{Cite web|title=Fatal Encounters – A step toward creating an impartial, comprehensive and searchable national database of people killed during interactions with police |url=https://fatalencounters.org/|access-date=February 23, 2021|language=en-US}} Particularly brutal was the killing of a man at a local animal shelter over his refusal to show proper identification to police.{{Cite web|date=December 31, 2014|title=Man shot by Dothan police officer outside animal shelter has died|url=https://www.al.com/news/montgomery/2014/12/man_shot_by_dothan_police_offi.html|access-date=February 23, 2021|website=al|language=en}} A federal judge cleared the police officer after body camera footage showed that the man had taken the officer's taser and attempted to use it on the officer during an altercation.{{Cite web |last=AL.com |date=November 10, 2018 |title=Judge: Officer did no wrong when she shot a sovereign citizen |url=https://www.al.com/news/2018/11/federal-judge-rules-dothan-officer-did-no-wrong-when-she-shot-a-sovereign-citizen.html |access-date=October 20, 2022 |website=al |language=en}} In 2021, the city of Dothan settled a lawsuit with a payment of $250,000.{{cite news |url=https://www.wtvy.com/2021/03/15/dothan-will-write-250000-check-to-settle-police-shooting-lawsuit/ |publisher=WTVY |accessdate=October 20, 2022 |title=Dothan writes $250,000 check to settle police shooting lawsuit |date=March 15, 2021}}

The National Peanut Festival occurs annually in November and attracts up to 200,000 visitors. The festival hosts a wide variety of carnival rides, games, live music, and competitions. A large midway, entertainment by nationally known recording artists, and the largest parade in the area are featured attractions. On the last day of the fair, a peanut festival parade takes place in downtown Dothan.{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalpeanutfestival.com/p/about#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20National%20Peanut%20Festival,livestock%20shows%20and%20a%20parade. | title=About }}

Dothan is also home to two professional barbecue competitions. The Tri-State BBQ Festival is held the second weekend in April, and is sanctioned by the Florida Bar-B-Que Association. It was begun in 2006 and is currently put on at the Houston County Farm Center. PorktoberQue, an Oktoberfest and Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event, is held the last weekend of September in Dothan at the same location as the Peanut Festival.

The US Army Aviation Museum, at nearby Fort Novosel, houses one of the largest helicopter collections in the world. The museum focuses on the role of fixed and rotary-wing flight in the U.S. Army. The exhibits depict over 100 years of Army aviation, and include a number of life size dioramas, films, and interpretive material.

The George Washington Carver Museum relates the story of the African-American genius and offers information on African cultures and their influences on the world, prominent African-American scientists, explorers and inventors, and the positive contributions African Americans have made in military affairs and social development.{{cite web |url=http://www.gwcarvermuseum.org/ |title=George Washington Carver Museum |publisher=Gwcarvermuseum.org |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103001814/http://www.gwcarvermuseum.org/ |archive-date=November 3, 2011 }}

The Wiregrass Museum of Art, in the city's original power and water plant (1913), features ongoing exhibitions of visual and decorative art. Its permanent collection includes works by contemporary Southeastern artists such as Dale Kennington, Frank Flemming, Dale Lewis and Cal Breed, as well by nationally recognized artists including Frank Stella and Jim Dine. The museum was organized in 1989 by private citizens and the City of Dothan; it is operated by the Wiregrass Museum of Art, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization.{{cite web| url=http://wiregrassmuseum.org/ |title=Wiregrass Museum of Art |publisher=Wiregrassmuseum.org |access-date=November 13, 2011}}

File:Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, Alabama.jpg

Southeast Alabama Community Theater offers live entertainment and theatrical productions for the Dothan community.{{cite web|url=http://www.seact.com/ |title=Southeast Alabama Community Theater |publisher=Seact.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}

Spark Theater Company is a nonprofit theater company and performing-arts educational program. Spark Theater offers several public theater productions each year by Dothan-area youth and teens, an after-school theater program, as well as supplemental theater classes for the public school system.{{cite web|url=http://www.sparktheatercompany.com/ |title=Spark Theater Company |publisher=SparkTheaterCompany.com |access-date=December 31, 2016}}

The Joseph statue at Millennium Park is a ten-foot cast bronze sculpture in the downtown area. It represents the Bible verse "For I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan" (Genesis 37:17), on which the town based its name.{{cite web |url=http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/alabama-attractions/joseph_statue.html |title="Joseph" Statue at Millennium Park |publisher=800alabama.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320001413/http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/alabama-attractions/joseph_statue.html |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Peanuts Around Town is a public art project organized by The Downtown Group, consisting of {{convert|5|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}}, life-sized peanut sculptures decorated in various fashions and displayed around Dothan.[http://www.thedowntowngroup.com/peanuts.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121113855/http://www.thedowntowngroup.com/peanuts.html|date=November 21, 2010}}

"Wiregrass Festival of Murals" is an ongoing project offering historic murals painted by nationally and internationally acclaimed muralists on walls of buildings in the downtown historic district. Guided tours are available upon request.[http://www.thedowntowngroup.com/tours.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121120741/http://www.thedowntowngroup.com/tours.html|date=November 21, 2010}}

The Dothan Opera House, built in 1915, features theatre performances, concerts, symphonies, ballet performances, and other cultural events. Tours are available upon request.[http://www.dothan.org/depts/civiccenteroperahouse/perfartsopera.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004202201/http://www.dothan.org/depts/civiccenteroperahouse/perfartsopera.htm|date=October 4, 2008}}

Music South, formerly the Southern Alabama Symphony Association, offers a wide variety of musical performances, from classical symphony performances to jazz, African and other musical styles. "Music by Moonlight" offers four free concerts per year at Dothan's Landmark Park, featuring classical, jazz, Celtic and bluegrass musicians, among others.[http://www.musicsouth.com/cms/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722172005/http://www.musicsouth.com/cms/|date=July 22, 2009}}

Patti Rutland Jazz is a professional contemporary jazz and hip-hop dance company in Dothan. The company produces two full-length jazz and hip-hop theatrical dance productions yearly (one in late February and one in early June) at its home in the Cultural Arts Center,{{cite web|url=http://www.theculturalartscenter.com/ |title=Cultural Arts Center |publisher=Cultural Arts Center |access-date=November 13, 2011}} as well as at Dothan's historical landmark Opera House. Patti Rutland Jazz operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose core mission is to offer its dancers to the Wiregrass Region to assist underserved youths with free dance classes. This mutually beneficial program hopes to make Dothan a destination for, and a source of, future professional dance talent in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.pattirutlandjazz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=57|title=Patti Rutland Jazz|access-date=October 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213185157/http://www.pattirutlandjazz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=57|archive-date=December 13, 2013}}

File:DABG.jpg

• The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens include 50 acres (20 ha) of cultivated gardens and undeveloped, wooded landscapes.
• Landmark Park is a 135-acre (55 ha) park built to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of southeast Alabama's Wiregrass Region and serves as Alabama's official museum of agriculture.
• Highland Oaks Golf Course is part of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.{{cite web

| title = RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks

| publisher = RTJ Golf

| url = http://www.rtjgolf.com/highlandoaks/

| access-date=August 10, 2009}}

• The "World's Smallest City Block" is behind the Dothan City Civic Center between North Appletree Street, North College Street, and East Troy Street.{{cite news| url=http://www.dothaneagle.com/what-is-the-story-behind-the-smallest-city-block-monument/article_e2cd4d76-71e3-11e4-a355-af268037aa49.html| title=What is the story behind the smallest city block monument?| newspaper=Dothan Eagle| publisher=Berkshire Hathaway| location=Dothan, Alabama| date=December 23, 2014| access-date=July 14, 2015}}

• John Rainey Adkins (1941–1989), self-taught guitarist and songwriter
• Johnny Mack Brown (1904–1974), film actor
• Donna D'Errico (born 1968), actress and model
• Dancin' Dave (1927–2015), local street performer
• Matt Cain (born 1984), Major League Baseball pitcher
• Trent Forrest (born 1998), National Basketball Association player
• Bobby Goldsboro (born 1941), singer and songwriter
• Clay Holmes (born 1993), Major League Baseball pitcher
• Jamie Thomas (born 1974), professional skateboarder
• Haywood Sullivan (1930–2003), Major League Baseball catcher and owner

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Dothan}}

• {{Official website|http://www.dothan.org/ }}
• [http://www.dothan.com/ Dothan Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.ircusa.com/gainesphoto/historical.html Historic photos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192140/http://www.ircusa.com/gainesphoto/historical.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}
• [http://www.landmarkparkdothan.com Landmark Park]

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