[8] The historically African American community of Kowaliga was established by John Jackson Benson (September 1850–November 9, 1925), a formerly enslaved person, who was likely biracial.

[6] At the end of the American Civil War in 1865, John Jackson Benson was freed, given a mule, and went to Florida to find his sister and bring her back to Alabama.

[6] The purpose of the formation of the community was the creation of economic self-sufficiency for local African Americans,[11] which was notable particularly in the late-19th-century and early 20th-century.

[6] They grew cotton, sugar cane, and different types of wood for lumber (pine, oak, and hickory).

[5][6][15] The first school building was named Patron's Hall, and it was funded by 70 Black farm workers.

[14] Oswald Garrison Villard and Booker T. Washington served later on the board of trustees and advised Benson on developing the community.

The Kowaliga Academic and Industrial Institute campus consisted of wooden structures and one of the buildings burned down in 1909,[2] but William E. Benson fundraised and rebuilt it.

[9] Andrew Carnegie donated US $20,000 (roughly worth half a million dollars in 2021) for the rebuild,[9] administered through regular payments by the Title Guarantee and Trust Company of New York City.

[14] After William E. Benson's death in 1915, the Kowaliga Academic and Industrial Institute continued to function for another 10 years.

[9] A Rosenwald School was created to replace the Kowaliga Academic and Industrial Institute, the building is abandon but still standing and located across from Russell Crossroads in Tallapoosa County.

The company initially included a modern sawmill, a large turpentine distillery, and a cotton ginnery.

[9] After the creation of the railroad line, the company was able to send lumber to the Atlantic port and export to Europe with a focus on Germany.

The Dixie Industrial Company lost financial control as a result of the port closure due to war.

[9] Not much still exists of the structures, only some quartz rock and a former concrete foundation, located near the rebuilt bell tower.

The Hank Williams song, "Kaw-Liga" (1953) about a wooden Indian statue that fell in love, shares the name of the former community on Lake Martin.

[23][24][26] In 1953, "Kowaliga Day" was proclaimed by Alexander City Mayor Joe Robinson, because of the successful song.