Thomasville

Thomasville's location in the northeast corner of the county has always been the key to its success. With Marengo County just four miles away to the northwest and Wilcox County just four miles north, the city attracts shoppers from both of those counties as well as from the surrounding communities in Clarke County.

Founded in 1888, Thomasville had its beginnings in the nearby town of Choctaw. When the merchants there learned that a railroad line running from Mobile to Birmingham was coming through to the east, they realized the potential and quickly rebuilt their establishments in the new town. The first business district was destroyed by fire in 1899, but many of the stores were quickly rebuilt. Many of the existing buildings in the historic downtown business district were those erected after the fire.

Thomasville's city government is composed of a full-time mayor and five elected Council members. City Hall is located on Adams Avenue in a renovated wing of old Thomasville High School. The police department is also headquartered there. The Water Department, Chamber of Commerce, Parks and Recreation Department, and Street Department are all located in the old City Hall, now known as the V.C. Wilkinson Building, which is located on Wilson Avenue.

Medical facilities include a hospital-Southwest Alabama Medical Center-several doctor's offices, four dentists' offices, two optometrists, an ophthalmologist, a nursing home, a dialysis clinic, a chiropractor, and two assisted living facilities. There are two ambulance/paramedics services. Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department's competition team was the state title holder for seven consecutive years.

Thomasville has locations of First United Security, Merchants Bank, Regions Bank, and Sweet Water State Bank.

The City of Thomasville has seven parks. Gates Drive Park - named for the street it's on, is adjacent to Thomasville High School. It is the city's most complete recreation facility, with several baseball fields, three softball fields, bleachers, a pavilion, picnic areas, a concession stand, press box, walking track, water fountains, tennis courts, and playground equipment. McFadden Park, located behind the Hilton Simplex factory, has basketball courts, a baseball field, pavilions and picnic areas, restrooms, bleachers, playground equipment, and more.Strickland Field, located near City Hall, was named for a former mayor. The monument at Earl Tucker Field tells about the writer, speaker, and renowned columnist for whom the field was named. This ball park is located on Gates Drive across from Thomasville High School; it was built in Earl Tucker's honor by the Lion's Club. Thomasville also has a Recreation Center with indoor games and supervised activities.

For more information about living in or visiting Thomasville, contact the Southwest Alabama Chamber of Commerce at 138 Wilson Avenue; 334-636-6623.