Girard was the site of Fort Ingersoll, built during the Creek War of 1836 to protect white interests in the area.

After Alabama prohibited alcohol sales in 1915, Girard became a center of bootlegging.

Even after prohibition had ended, Girard and Phenix City remained known for gambling and vice establishments, fueled by the growth of Fort Benning (now renamed Fort Moore) across the river.

The commercial section, closer to the river, contains several early 1900s buildings, including the Renaissance Revival Citizens' Bank, built in 1909 to control the illegal liquor trade.

This Russell County, Alabama state location article is a stub.