Winston

Formed February 12, 1850 (52^nd county)

Winston County (23,544), Double Springs (1,113), Haleyville (4,359)

This classic old stone courthouse sits on Court Street and Blake Street.  Alabama State Highway 195 passes in front of the courthouse.  It was built in 1893 and remodeled in 1929.  Andrew J. Ingle, William C. Miles and Coley are this Classical Revival building’s architects.  Additions have been added in 1950, 1962, and 1982.  The building tower has a working clock.  The facility sits on a hill with veteran memorials.  A Judicial Annex was built in 2012.  The county was organized on February 12, 1850 from Walker County as Hancock County as the 52^nd county.  It was renamed in 1858 in honor of Governor John A. Winston.  Old Houston and Houston have had earlier courthouses.  In 1883 the county seat was moved to Double Springs.  The county seat was named for local twin springs. 

Winston County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 4 commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Judges serve Winston and Marion counties and a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Winston County (judicial.)  The county is in the northwest of the state.  Birmingham, Alabama is southeast and Huntsville, Alabama is northeast of the county.  The center of the county is 1 mile Northwest of Double Springs.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Lawrence, Cullman, Walker, Marion, and Franklin counties.  Double Springs is the county seat while Haleyville is the largest city.  Double Springs is 4.7% of the county population and Haleyville is 18.5% of the county population.

The county has an area of 613.0 square miles.  It ranks 47 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 42 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 38.8 persons per square mile making it 39 out of 67 in the state.  Winston County has 30.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 278 east to west in the county from Cullman County to Marion County.  The county is a rectangle with Double Springs situated slightly west of the county center.  Haleyville is on the border in the northwest quarter of the county and extends into Marion County.  The largest city is pronounced HAE-LEE-VIL. 

Nauvoo