Guntersville, class of 2003, designated 2006, guntersvilleal.org
Founded in the mid-1800s, Guntersville is the seat of Marshall County and is nestled in Northeast Alabama at the southernmost point of the Tennessee River along Lake Guntersville – a 69,000-acre lake formed by Guntersville Dam, which was built in the late 1930s and is still maintained by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Guntersville was originally called Gunter’s Landing and was part of a large land cession agreed upon between the federal government and the Cherokees in the 1835 Treaty of New Echota. Three years later, Gunter’s Landing served as an embarkation point on the infamous Trail of Tears, in which Cherokees and Creeks in the region were removed from eastern states to what is now Oklahoma. The town’s name was changed to Guntersville in 1854, and it soon became a busy port town for ships traveling the Tennessee River. Guntersville suffered significant damage during the Civil War, being partially burned from Union shelling from the Tennessee River in July 1862. All but seven buildings were destroyed.
With a population of nearly 8,600 and the foothills of the Appalachians as its backdrop, Guntersville is now known for many outdoor recreational options as well as a community that is continuing to grow. Fishing, leisure boating, skiing, golfing and birding are popular year-round activities. The City of Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park also maintain miles of hiking, biking and walking trails. Additionally, Guntersville offers downtown shopping, art museums, a spa and tap rooms as well as dining ranging from quaint local bistros, farm-to-table, fine dining and relaxing casual waterfront options.
Community Website, ,341 Gunter Avenue • Guntersville, AL 35976 | (256) 571-7560