According to countryvv, Ariton is a small town located in the southeastern region of Alabama. It is situated about 15 miles north of Dothan, the county seat of Houston County. The town has a total area of 1.3 square miles, with 0.1 square miles being water and the remaining 1.2 square miles being land. The terrain is mostly flat, with occasional rolling hills and wooded areas in the western part of town, where several creeks flow through. The creeks feed into the Choctawhatchee River, which forms the northern border of Ariton. There are no major highways or interstates that run through Ariton; however, U.S Route 331 runs just south of it and provides access to nearby towns like Ozark and Enterprise. The climate in Ariton is typical for this region, with hot summers and mild winters that generally don’t require much heating or cooling. Rainfall is abundant throughout the year, providing plenty of moisture for farming activities in surrounding areas as well as recreational activities like fishing and boating on local lakes and rivers.
History of Ariton, Alabama
Ariton, Alabama has a proud history that dates back to the early 19th century. It was first settled in 1818 by settlers from South Carolina who were attracted by its abundant land and resources. The town was named after a nearby creek, which in turn had been named after a local Native American tribe called the Aritawi. In its early days, Ariton was primarily an agricultural community with cotton being the main crop grown in the area. During the Civil War, Ariton was occupied by Confederate forces and eventually surrendered to Union troops in 1865.
After the war, Ariton experienced significant growth as more people moved into the area. By 1910, it had become a thriving community with two churches, four stores, two schools and even a post office. In addition to farming, other industries such as lumbering and turpentining also began to take hold in Ariton during this time period.
By the mid-20th century, Ariton had grown into an important regional center for commerce and industry. It became known as “The Crossroads of Houston County” due to its strategic location at the intersection of U.S Route 231 and State Route 134. Over time, several businesses moved into town including a tractor factory and poultry processing plant that provided employment for many locals until their eventual closure in recent years.
Today, Ariton is still an important part of Houston County with many of its original buildings still standing as reminders of its rich history and culture. Despite some economic struggles over recent years due to job losses from factory closures, most residents remain optimistic about their town’s future prospects as they look forward to new opportunities on the horizon.
Economy of Ariton, Alabama
Ariton, Alabama is a small town located in Houston County with a population of approximately 800 people. Despite its size, Ariton has a vibrant and diverse economy that has been shaped by its rich history and strategic location at the intersection of U.S Route 231 and State Route 134.
In the early 19th century, Ariton was an agricultural community with cotton being the main crop grown in the area. Over time, other industries such as lumbering and turpentining began to take hold in Ariton as well. However, by the mid-20th century, agriculture had become less important to the local economy and other industries such as manufacturing began to take over. This included a tractor factory and poultry processing plant that provided employment for many locals until their eventual closure in recent years.
Today, Ariton’s economy is still largely driven by agriculture with cotton remaining an important crop in the area. Other crops grown include peanuts, soybeans, corn, wheat and hay. In addition to farming activities, there are also several small businesses located in town that provide goods and services for local residents including restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores.
Ariton also benefits from its strategic location at the intersection of two major highways which allows for easy access to nearby cities like Dothan and Montgomery as well as other areas of Houston County. This proximity makes it attractive for people looking to start or relocate businesses as well as tourists who are looking to explore the area’s scenic beauty or enjoy recreational activities such as fishing or boating on nearby lakes and rivers.
Overall, Ariton’s economy has been able to weather some economic struggles over recent years due to job losses from factory closures thanks largely to its diverse range of industries that have allowed it to remain resilient despite these challenges. With new opportunities on the horizon such as increased tourism activity due to its proximity to major highways, many locals remain optimistic about Ariton’s future prospects moving forward into 2021 and beyond.
Politics in Ariton, Alabama
The politics of Ariton, Alabama are shaped by its long history and the unique combination of rural and urban influences that have come together to form the city. Ariton is located in Houston County, which is part of the Second Congressional District of Alabama. The current representative in Congress is Republican Martha Roby, who was first elected in 2010. At the state level, Ariton is represented by Republican State Senator Jimmy Holley as well as Republican State Representatives Lynn Greer and Will Dismukes.
At the local level, Ariton has a Mayor-Council form of government with a five-member City Council. The current mayor is Larry Dykes and the members of City Council include Robert “Bob” Johnson, Bill Smith, William “Bill” Watkins Jr., Kenneth Mathis and Robert “Rob” Johnson Jr. The Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm in City Hall for their regular meetings where they discuss issues affecting Ariton such as city ordinances, budgeting decisions and infrastructure improvements.
Ariton’s politics have generally been conservative in nature with Republicans dominating local elections over recent years. This reflects a larger trend seen throughout Houston County which has voted heavily for Republicans since 2000 with Donald Trump winning over 70% of the vote during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Overall, Ariton’s politics are reflective of its rural roots combined with more urban influences that have come to define it over recent decades. With Republicans firmly in control at all levels of government both locally and across the state, it seems unlikely that this trend will change anytime soon. However, this could change if more progressive candidates decide to run for office or if there is an influx of new voters into the area who may be more likely to support different candidates than those currently in power.
