Information
Landmark: Catfish Row Historic DistrictCity: Selma
Country: USA Alabama
Continent: North America
Catfish Row Historic District, Selma, USA Alabama, North America
Overview
In Decatur, Alabama, the Catfish Row Historic District tells the story of the city’s growth-its bustling shops, modest homes, and lively gathering spots-from the late 1800s into the early 1900s.
The district’s mix of brick storefronts, tidy street grids, and lively porches tells the story of Decatur’s growth as both a riverfront and railroad hub.
Catfish Row took shape along the Tennessee River, right beside the rail lines, thriving thanks to Decatur’s prime spot for trade and travel.
The neighborhood blossomed into a lively hub, where corner shops buzzed with customers and apartments filled with the smell of fresh coffee in the mornings.
This district holds historical weight for its ties to Decatur’s economic boom, especially in the years after the Civil War and through the clang and smoke of the industrial growth era.
It became the heart of the town-where merchants bargained over crates of apples, neighbors swapped news, and boats unloaded their cargo along the river’s edge.
The name “Catfish Row” comes from the district’s close ties to the river, where nets once dripped on wooden docks, and from the fishing, trade, and working-class life that gave the area its character.
The district showcases Victorian charm, sturdy Craftsman designs, and early 20th‑century commercial buildings, from weathered brick storefronts to modest houses and bustling mixed‑use spaces.
Homes with flowerpots on the stoop sit beside corner shops and low brick warehouses, showing how the neighborhood works as both a busy commercial strip and a place where people live.
Many of the original buildings still stand, their carved wood trim, weathered brick façades, and distinctive window designs keeping the spirit of the era alive.
Catfish Row was once a bustling working-class neighborhood, just steps from the rail yard, the river docks, and steady jobs in the city’s heart.
It brought neighbors together and kept local shops busy, sparking a warm sense of community that lingered in the air like the smell of fresh bread from the corner bakery.
The district stands as a living record of Decatur’s riverfront past, showing how commerce, industry, and everyday life once met along the busy docks of a thriving river town.
On walking tours, visitors wander the district’s brick-lined streets, taking in ornate cornices, weathered brick facades, and the historic charm of 19th- and early 20th-century Decatur.
Photography and study come alive here, where storefronts meet brick townhouses, offering a wealth of material for research, photographs, and uncovering the stories behind the walls.
These days, the neighborhood is mostly homes, but it still carries a quiet, historic charm-you can almost hear the creak of old porch steps-and it offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Decatur’s early working- and middle-class families.
The Catfish Row Historic District matters for keeping Decatur’s historic architecture and street layout intact, from its brick storefronts to the narrow sidewalks that trace the old town’s shape.
It captures the economic, social, and cultural patterns shaped by riverfront trade and the rise of the railroad, from the bustle of loading docks to the clang of steel wheels on the tracks.
It stands as a living link to the city’s working-class and commercial roots, giving residents and visitors alike a clear sense of continuity and the grit of its history.
Catfish Row keeps its historic charm and sturdy old brickwork, offering a clear view into Decatur’s growth, everyday life, and ties to the Tennessee River, making it a key spot for heritage tourism and local history.
The district’s mix of brick storefronts, tidy street grids, and lively porches tells the story of Decatur’s growth as both a riverfront and railroad hub.
Catfish Row took shape along the Tennessee River, right beside the rail lines, thriving thanks to Decatur’s prime spot for trade and travel.
The neighborhood blossomed into a lively hub, where corner shops buzzed with customers and apartments filled with the smell of fresh coffee in the mornings.
This district holds historical weight for its ties to Decatur’s economic boom, especially in the years after the Civil War and through the clang and smoke of the industrial growth era.
It became the heart of the town-where merchants bargained over crates of apples, neighbors swapped news, and boats unloaded their cargo along the river’s edge.
The name “Catfish Row” comes from the district’s close ties to the river, where nets once dripped on wooden docks, and from the fishing, trade, and working-class life that gave the area its character.
The district showcases Victorian charm, sturdy Craftsman designs, and early 20th‑century commercial buildings, from weathered brick storefronts to modest houses and bustling mixed‑use spaces.
Homes with flowerpots on the stoop sit beside corner shops and low brick warehouses, showing how the neighborhood works as both a busy commercial strip and a place where people live.
Many of the original buildings still stand, their carved wood trim, weathered brick façades, and distinctive window designs keeping the spirit of the era alive.
Catfish Row was once a bustling working-class neighborhood, just steps from the rail yard, the river docks, and steady jobs in the city’s heart.
It brought neighbors together and kept local shops busy, sparking a warm sense of community that lingered in the air like the smell of fresh bread from the corner bakery.
The district stands as a living record of Decatur’s riverfront past, showing how commerce, industry, and everyday life once met along the busy docks of a thriving river town.
On walking tours, visitors wander the district’s brick-lined streets, taking in ornate cornices, weathered brick facades, and the historic charm of 19th- and early 20th-century Decatur.
Photography and study come alive here, where storefronts meet brick townhouses, offering a wealth of material for research, photographs, and uncovering the stories behind the walls.
These days, the neighborhood is mostly homes, but it still carries a quiet, historic charm-you can almost hear the creak of old porch steps-and it offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Decatur’s early working- and middle-class families.
The Catfish Row Historic District matters for keeping Decatur’s historic architecture and street layout intact, from its brick storefronts to the narrow sidewalks that trace the old town’s shape.
It captures the economic, social, and cultural patterns shaped by riverfront trade and the rise of the railroad, from the bustle of loading docks to the clang of steel wheels on the tracks.
It stands as a living link to the city’s working-class and commercial roots, giving residents and visitors alike a clear sense of continuity and the grit of its history.
Catfish Row keeps its historic charm and sturdy old brickwork, offering a clear view into Decatur’s growth, everyday life, and ties to the Tennessee River, making it a key spot for heritage tourism and local history.
