Founded by Captain James Madison Elliott, Jr. (1854-1914),[1] it was incorporated by a special act of the state legislature in 1891.

William Gardner was appointed the first mayor and the city was divided into 4 wards, represented by aldermen C.A.

In 1895, the city landed its first major factory, a cotton mill built by the Dwight Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Although the city was still growing and began to rebuild, it never would recover fully from the loss, especially as neighboring Gadsden flourished.

In 1960,[9] the precinct was merged, as part of a larger reorganization of counties, into the census division of Gadsden.