Covin, Alabama

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Covin, Alabama

|settlement_type = Unincorporated community

|pushpin_map =USA Alabama

|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alabama

|pushpin_label = Covin

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_name1 = Alabama

|subdivision_name2 = Fayette

|elevation_ft = 335

|population_as_of =

|population_total =

|timezone = Central (CST)

|utc_offset = -6

|coordinates = {{coord|33|41|24|N|87|53|21|W|type:city_region:US-AL_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}

| coor_pinpoint =

| coordinates_footnotes =

|timezone_DST = CDT

|utc_offset_DST = -5

|postal_code_type =

|postal_code =

|area_code = 205, 659

|blank_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank_info = 116746{{cite gnis|116746|Covin}}

}}

Covin, also known as Brockton or Tallula, is an unincorporated community in Fayette County, Alabama, United States.

History

The community was originally named Brockton after the first postmaster, Reuben J. Brock. The name was then changed to Tallula, possibly after Tallulah, Louisiana. Finally, the name was changed to Covin in honor of L. E. Covin, who donated the land for the railroad depot.{{cite book |last=Foscue |first=Virginia |date=1989 |title=Place Names in Alabama |location=Tuscaloosa |publisher=The University of Alabama Press |page=41 |isbn=0-8173-0410-X }} Covin was located on the Southern Railway. Two logging companies, Coosa Lumber Company and Covin Lumber Company, operated railways in the immediate area.{{cite book|author=Thomas Lawson (Jr.)|title=Logging Railroads of Alabama|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PNMeAQAAIAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Cabbage Stack Publ.|page=xi}} A saw mill, planing mill, and dry kiln also operated in Covin.{{cite book|title=Southern Lumberman ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyZHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA55|year=1917|publisher=J.H. Baird Publishing Company|page=55}} At one point, there were three grist mills in operation in Covin.{{cite book|title=Bulletin - Geological Survey of Alabama|url=https://archive.org/details/bulletingeologi08alabgoog|year=1903|publisher=Geological Survey of Alabama|page=[https://archive.org/details/bulletingeologi08alabgoog/page/n191 174]}} A post office operated under the name Brockton from 1884 to 1890, under the name Tallula from 1890 to 1892, and under the name Covin from 1892 to 1958.{{cite web | url=https://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=AL&county=Fayette | title=Fayette County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=27 February 2020}}

The Shackelford family was an African-American family who lived in Covin. The family was known for their service as photographers, and a considerable amount of their photographs have survived. They also operated a general store, saw mill, and syrup mill in Covin, and assisted in opening a school and Baptist church.{{cite web | url=https://www.bplonline.org/about/press/Default.aspx?id=407 | title=Both Sides of the Lens: Photographs by the Shackelford Family, Fayette County, Alabama (1900-1935) | publisher=Birmingham Public Library | access-date=27 February 2020 | archive-date=March 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305232147/http://www.bplonline.org/about/press/Default.aspx?id=407 | url-status=dead }} A collection of their photographs have been displayed at the Birmingham Public Library, the History Museum of Mobile, and the Rosa Parks Museum.{{cite web | url=https://www.bplonline.org/about/press/Default.aspx?id=407 | title=Photo exhibit at History Museum of Mobile sheds light on a fascinating Fayette County family | publisher=Alabama Media Group | access-date=27 February 2020 | archive-date=March 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305232147/http://www.bplonline.org/about/press/Default.aspx?id=407 | url-status=dead }}

References

Category:Unincorporated communities in Fayette County, Alabama

Category:Unincorporated communities in Alabama