Only two miles west of I-65 is Fort Deposit, one of the largest municipalities in Lowndes County. Home to Priester’s Pecans, this small town was established in 1813 + has hosted an annual arts and crafts fair since 1972.
Keep reading to learn more about this small Alabama town!
History
Originally known as Fort Deposite, the town was named for the fort built by federal troops in the Creek War of 1813-1814. Presently, it has a population of roughly 1,153 people.
Here’s a brief overview of the town’s history:
- 1813: Fort Deposit, a supply base, was named Fort Deposite
- 1855: The town’s first post office was created
- 1861: The Alabama-Florida Railroad, linking Montgomery and the state of Florida, was completed + a depot was constructed in the town by the end of the decade
- 1891: Fort Deposit was incorporated on Feb. 13
- 1935: Priester’s Pecans was established in a gas station
- 1972: The Calico Fort Arts + Crafts Fair first began in Fort Deposit
Priester’s Pecans
Priester’s Pecans first found its start in a Texaco gas station in 1935, when Lee C. Priester began selling paper-shell pecans there. Over the following eight decades, Priester’s pecan delicacy legacy flourished with the help of local oil distributor Hense C. Ellis + his descendants. Presently, the business now cracks + shells the pecans, processes them into candies, markets dozens of packaged nut products + ships worldwide…