Dale County Extension Office

Central Region Forestry Tour (Coosa County) – Wet but Worthwhile

About Dale County

The legislature created Dale County in 1824. The county was named for General Sam Dale, pioneer and Indian fighter. The county seat was located at Dale Courthouse- later renamed Daleville. It moved in 1870 to Ozark.

Today, the rural county has a population of about 48,392. The county is home to eight elementary schools, four middle schools, five high schools, Enterprise-Ozark Community College and Wallace Community College.

Ft. Rucker, an army post and the home of the army's Aviation Museum, is located in Dale County. Other tourist attractions include historic buildings such as Claybank Church and Cemetry, Mizell Masion and the Oates-Reynolds Memorial Building, originally part of a Baptist College, it houses the Newton Public Library and Agriculture Museum.

Principal agricultural products in Dale County include peanuts, cotton, and corn. Poultry is the leading commodity in the countyl, and cattle and other livestock are also raised.

The army is a major employer. Other large employers include Army Fleet Support, Pempco, Michelin, C&S Doors, Dothan Regional Airport, Brown Manufacturing, Dale Medical Center, E&H Steel, Frit Industries and U.S. Helicopter.

There are two industrial parks located in Ozark- Black Forest Industrial Park and Ozark Industrial Park.

The Extension office currently houses four employees. We are involved in a variety of programs such as: Master Gardener, Groundwater Festival, and 4-H. Dale County 4-H program involves approximately 550 youth. 4-H helps our youth develop skills in leadership, communication, decision making, problem solving, goal setting, record keeping, character building, and personal responsiblity, as well as build knowledge and skills in their areas of interest.