Wedowee, Alabama

Wedowee is a town in Randolph County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 823, up from 818 in 2000. The town is the county seat of Randolph County. It was initially incorporated in 1836, but its charter lapsed by the late 19th century. It was reincorporated in 1901.Randolph County High School is located in Wedowee.HistoryWedowee, which means "old water" in the Creek language, was named after a Muscogee Creek Indian chief. This area was historically occupied by the Muscogee Creek people.Following Indian Removal of the Creek in the 1830s to Indian Territory in a relocation forced by the US government, this area was settled by European Americans. It became the county seat of Randolph County in 1835. The county was developed for the cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop, with labor primarily done by enslaved African Americans, many of whom were sold to the Deep South from the Upper South.Since the late 20th century, Lake Wedowee was created by the impoundment of the Tallapoosa River. This has enhanced the tourist drawing power of the town. Also known as the R. L. Harris Reservoir, the lake draws thousands of visitors to Wedowee every year.GeographyWedowee is located on the Piedmont Plateau and considered part of the Appalachians foothills.