Greene County: Rivers and Historic Places

Explore Greene County through its waterside nature and historic places. The Sipsey River runs through Greene County; Warrior Reservoir lies near Eutaw on the Black Warrior River. The two bodies of water differ both in their landscapes and in the ways to access the water.

Water, River, and Landscape

Warrior Reservoir covers 8,580 acres. Basic camping, hunting, and boating are possible there. The reservoir is also known for largemouth bass and crappie fishing. The difference between the bodies of water is useful when planning your time on the water: eight public access points at the reservoir provide access to the shore and to the water by boat.

The Sipsey River is a 92-mile-long, wild, free-flowing swamp river. Its floodplain contains an estimated 50,000 acres of wetlands and swamps. Activities on the river include canoeing through secluded backwaters and bank fishing along the main river channel. However, because of its rural character and the lack of developed access points, the Sipsey River is accessible by boat only to a limited extent. Thus, the public access points at the reservoir contrast with the limited boating access on the Sipsey.

History in Eutaw and Mantua

Eutaw is home to several historic landmarks. Old Sheriff’s Office and Grand Jury Room, a two-story brick building completed in 1842, is located on Old Courthouse Square. The Eutaw Post Office houses Robert Gwathmey’s New Deal mural “The Countryside.” The Eutaw Pilgrimage also takes visitors to historic sites: it includes tours of antebellum homes and churches, as well as the historic Courthouse Square. Eutaw is directly accessible via two highway exits.

In Mantua, Greene County, the Civil Rights Freedom Farm Museum preserves and interprets the daily lives of African Americans in the early 20th century. The museum complex includes shotgun houses named after Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ralph Abernathy. The names give the houses a clear connection to civil rights history; the houses themselves are part of the complex.

The extent of the historic heritage is also a useful guide: Greene County has 39 historic structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For historic homes in the broader Rural Southwest Alabama survey area, note that most are private residences and can only be viewed while passing by, unless otherwise indicated. Keep this in mind when planning to visit historic homes in the region.

When planning your hotel stay, you can first decide which travel interests matter most: time on the water, river landscapes, or historic insights in Eutaw and Mantua point to different priorities.

Discover more destinations: Eutaw, Houston, Escambia County, Colbert County, Jefferson, Walker, Chilton County, Marengo County.

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.