Bailey Springs, also known as Chalybeate Springs, is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Lauderdale County,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

, United States.

History

A post office was established at Bailey Springs in 1854, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1901. The community was named for Jonathan Bailey, who started a resort on several

mineral spring Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produces hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underg ...

s. The spring waters here have been classified as

chalybeate Chalybeate () waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron. Name The word ''chalybeate'' is derived from the Latin word for steel, , which follows from the Greek word . is the singular form of ...

, iron water, and alkaline-saline springs. A large number of people came from Memphis and surrounding areas for the purported healing qualities of the springs. At one point, the water at Bailey Springs was bottled and shipped around the United States. The springs were opened as a resort and hotel until 1910. A school for women, Bailey Springs University, was founded in 1893 on the resort grounds. It remained open until 1900. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, troops from the

7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 7th Illinois Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service 3 month enlistments The regiment was created in response to Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln's c ...

under the command of Colonel

Richard Rowett Richard Rowett (November 17, 1830 – July 13, 1887) was a leading political figure of nineteenth-century Illinois, a famous animal breeder and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was born in East Looe, Cornwall in 1830 ...

camped at Bailey Springs.

Notable person

Henry W. Collier, the 14th Governor of Alabama, died at Bailey Springs on August 28, 1855.

References

Unincorporated communities in Lauderdale County, Alabama Unincorporated communities in Alabama {{Short description, Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States