Millbrook

Robinson Springs United Methodist Church Located in Elmore and Autauga counties, 10 miles north of Montgomery, Millbrook is one of the fastest growing cities in central Alabama with plantation-era homes and a legacy of prominent leaders. Mill Creek winds through Village Green, a park located in downtown Millbrook. Millbrook has a mayor-council form of government.

History

The area that now includes Millbrook was part of the Creek town Coosawda. In 1763, European traders arrived in the area and began economic exchange with the Creeks and other Indian groups in the area. The first non-Indian settlements appeared in 1775 and were established largely by pioneers from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Much of what is now Elmore County belonged to Col. John Archer Elmore, a Revolutionary War veteran. Throughout the early to mid-nineteenth century, Millbrook residents mostly traded with local Indians and farmed.

During the Civil War, Elmore County, including Millbrook, provided many soldiers; the Confederate Monument, located on the corner of Highway 143 and Monument Drive in the Robinson Springs area, lists the names of 186 men who served from Millbrook and the surrounding area. When yellow fever hit Montgomery in the late 1890s, people looked for refuge in Millbrook. After the epidemic, people then began renting summer houses to escape the busy atmosphere of Montgomery. In 1878, the Louisville & Nashville railroad completed a spur line through Millbrook, providing easier access to Montgomery, and many summer renters decided to buy houses and live in Millbrook year-round.

Between World War I and World War II, Millbrook’s population increased dramatically, and it evolved into a city complete with communities, schools, churches, and rail transportation. Most of the city’s progress was linked to transportation. Interstate 65 was completed in the mid-1970s, leading to more extensive growth and the city’s incorporation in 1977.

Millbrook also has a rich history of important Alabama leaders. William Wyatt Bibb, who was appointed the first territorial governor of Alabama, resided in Millbrook. Thomas Bibb, William’s brother and a resident of Millbrook, was the second governor of Alabama. Early pioneer in the area Benjamin Fitzpatrick served as governor from 1841-45.

Once only a vacation destination, Millbrook’s economic growth began with the introduction of the railroad spur line and continued as automobiles became more prevalent. When Interstate 65 was completed, it enabled residents to commute to Montgomery for work or school. Millbrook also began expanding the commercial areas in the city, given its extensive room for construction. As a result, many companies have located their businesses in the area. A high-growth corridor located at the intersection of I-65 and Highway 14 is a major retail area.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, Millbrook recorded a population of 16,037. Of that number, 69.5 percent identified themselves as white, 25.3 percent as African American, 5.6 percent as Hispanic, 1.9 percent as two or more races, and 1.4 percent as Asian. The city’s median household income was $56,722, and per capita income was $28,910.

Employment

According to 2020 Census estimates, the workforce in Millbrook was divided among the following industrial categories:

  • Educational services, and health care and social assistance (20.8 percent)
  • Public administration (16.3 percent)
  • Retail trade (11.7 percent)
  • Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (10.6 percent)
  • Manufacturing (9.6 percent)
  • Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (9.6 percent)
  • Construction (6.2 percent)
  • Other services, except public administration (4.7 percent)
  • Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (4.2 percent)
  • Transportation and warehousing and utilities (2.4 percent)
  • Information (2.0 percent)
  • Wholesale trade (1.6 percent)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extractive (1.0 percent)

Education

Millbrook is part of the Elmore County Public School system, with two elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school.

Transportation

Millbrook lies on County Road 143, which runs north-south through the city, and County Road 23, which runs east. Interstate 65 is located nearby and is accessed via several county roads. CSX and Norfolk Southern rail lines run through the town but do not provide commuter service.

Events and Places of Interest

Ellerslie Millbrook is home to both historical landmarks and natural attractions. Just off Main Street, Memorial Center Park honors Millbrook residents who gave their lives in World War II as well as Millbrook native Mary Sue Barry Cobb for her community service during that time. The 15-acre site offers visitors a walking trail, picnic sites, a playground, and softball fields. Three other parks offer sports facilities for baseball, softball, and football. The Confederate War Memorial recognizes those who fought in the Civil War. Robinson Springs Park features a fountain and retention area to capture fresh spring water. It houses a gazebo, picnic tables, and sitting areas.

Millbrook boasts several well-preserved early-nineteenth-century homes, although none are open to the public. Ellerslie, built by planter and politician Bolling Hall in 1818, was the first permanent home in the area. Hall headed the committee that welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette to Alabama in 1825, and his home was the first in Alabama to have glass windowpanes. The nearby community of Coosada is home to the Bibb Family Cemetery, which contains the grave of William Wyatt Bibb, Alabama’s first governor.

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