Newton

History

Newton was founded in 1843 after the formation of Coffee County from Dale County's western half, which rendered the original county seat of Daleville off-center. The town was a scene for Confederate recruiting during the Civil War, and was the site of a battle in March 1865 between local Home Guard troops and elements of the 1st Florida Cavalry (US) operating out of Florida. The Federals were led by Joseph Sanders, a Dale County resident who had previously been a captain in the 31st Georgia Infantry, but had later switched sides and joined the Federals. Seeking to burn the county courthouse, the attackers were repulsed when local troops ambushed their column as they entered the town. This event is commemorated by a monument located in downtown Newton, and by annual re-enactments. On December 3, 1864, a local Methodist minister named Bill Sketoe was lynched just north of Newton by local Home Guardsmen led by Captain Joseph Brear. Since Sketoe was tall, a hole had to be dug beneath his feet to accommodate his large frame. Local legend insists that "the hole that won't stay filled" never vanished—even after being filled in numerous times during the years that followed. Though covered in 1979 by a new bridge and tons of rip-rap, "Sketoe's hole" remains a local attraction, and was documented by Alabama writer Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey. A monument to Sketoe was dedicated near the hanging site in 2006, and the local museum displays items of Sketoe memorabilia. Following a fire which destroyed the courthouse in March 1869, and the formation of Geneva County in 1870 from the southern third of Dale and Coffee Counties, voters relocated the county seat to Ozark, which was more centralized. The Southern Star, one of the oldest newspapers…

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.21%) is water. The Choctawhatchee River flows just to the north and west of Newton. At one time this waterway was navigable by steamboat from its mouth in Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida all the way to Newton. Alabama State Route 123 and Alabama State Route 134 both pass through Newton.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,114
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  841
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  811
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  753
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  709
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  707
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  672
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  672

Largest nearby schools

• Carroll High School
  High · Ozark · 638 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Joseph W Lisenby Primary School
  Elementary · Ozark · 518 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• A M Windham Elementary School
  Elementary · Daleville · 499 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• D A Smith Middle School
  Middle · Ozark · 485 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• Midland City Elementary School
  Elementary · Midland City · 453 students · 18.9:1 ratio
• South Dale Middle School
  Middle · Pinckard · 426 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• Dale County High School
  High · Midland City · 417 students · 16:1 ratio
• Harry N Mixon Intermediate School
  Elementary · Ozark · 413 students · 19.7:1 ratio