History.— Montgomery was founded in 1817 by Andrew Dexter, of Rhode Island, on the site of the legendary Indian village of Ecun chatty; it was part of the Creek Lands. Dex ter named the place New Philadelphia; the situation was tempting, and in 1818 two more settlements were made — East Alabama Town closely adjoining, divided by the present lower Court street (whence the streets on its two sides run from it at different angles), and Ala bama Town, a mile or so down the river. On 3 Dec. 1819, the former was consolidated with it as Montgomery, named after the Indian fighter Lemuel Montgomery or the Revolution ary hero Richard Montgomery. The early so ciety was like many pioneer communities, and vigilance committees had to be invoked to re store the reign of the law. The first steamer arrived 22 Oct. 1821; the Montgomery Railroad opened its first 12 miles in 1840. The place re ceived a city charter about 1837; on 22 Jan. 1846 it was made the State capital; the capitol was occupied 1847, burned 1849, replaced by the present, in 1851. Montgomery's interests and central location made it the focus of the seces sion movement; its position as capital drew in some of the ablest leaders and orators of the South, the famous William L. Yancey (q.v.)
being one; and it was made the first capital of the Southern Confederacy, whose government was organized there 4 Feb. 1861. The next year the capital was removed to Richmond; the Union army reoccupied Montgomery 12 April 1865. Alabama was among the first of the States to create a Department of History and Archives, which is located here. This de partment has a complete record of all State documents since territorial days. It maintains a museum and art gallery.
Population.— The population in 1840 was 2,179 ; 1850, 6,728; 1860, 8,843; 1870, 10,588; 1880, 16,713; 1890, 21,883; 1900, 30,346; 1910, 38,136; 42 per cent of which are colored. Esti mated population 1919 (city directory), 59,710. Its suburbs, however, have far overspread the official limits, and the population within a few miles is toward 60,000. The city directory com pilation for 1916 fixes the population in the city limits at 55,410. BRUCE KENNEDY, General Secretary, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.