Tuscaloosa county and city derives its name from the choctaw indian words Tuska meaning warrior an Lusa meaning black.It was named after the famous indian chief Tuskalusa*-who Desoto defeated in 1540. By 1809 the Creek had established a black warrior town,but following indian revolts the town was burned to the ground,Davy Crockett,a scout for American Troops was"certain the town was wiped from the face of the earth forever". The town of Tuscaloosa was incorporated on December 13, 1819 - One day before Alabama became the twenty second state. Tuscaloosa became the capital of Alabama in 1826 after floods and out breaks of yellow fever in Cahaba.It held this postion til 1846 when the capital was moved to montgomery Alabama. William Nichols was chosen as the architect to design the capital buildings of Tuscaloosa and became the state architect in 1827.
Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians in 1813.
The first white settlers began to show - one of the person credited with being the first white settler was Thomas York who arrived 1816 other sources have created the famous explorer,statesman Davy Crocket.
Tuscaloosa is known as the druid city it derived this nickname from the druids who worshipped trees an mistletoe especially if it was grown in oak trees. In the 1830's individuals began planting oak trees in streets an yards. one story tells of Thomas Maxwell who fell in love with the large water oaks an with help dug up enough to plant a row on one street others soon followed thus giving Tuscaloosa the nick name druid city or city of oaks.Tuscaloosa has also held the name the Athens of the south along with other southern citys at times.