The William B. Bankhead National Forest is one of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

's four

National Forests A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory. Background The precise application of the terms vary by jurisdiction. For example: * In Australia, a ...

, covering . It is home to Alabama's only

National Wild and Scenic River The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...

, the Sipsey Fork. It is located in northwestern Alabama, around the town of

Double Springs Double Springs is a town in Winston County, Alabama, United States. The city is the county seat of Winston County. The county seat was initially located at Houston, but by referendum in 1883, Double Springs prevailed and it was removed to there. ...

. It is named in honor of

William B. Bankhead William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician who served as the 42nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940, representing Alabama's 10th and later 7th congressiona ...

, a longtime

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from Alabama. Known as the "land of a thousand waterfalls", this National Forest is popular for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing and more. Within the forest lies the

Sipsey Wilderness The Sipsey Wilderness lies within Bankhead National Forest around the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in northwestern Alabama, United States. Designated in 1975 and expanded in 1988, Sipsey is the largest and most frequently visited Wil ...

, with a host of wildlife and an abundance of swift streams, limestone bluffs, and waterfalls.

Native American Native Americans or Native American may refer to: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North and South America and their descendants * Native Americans in the United States * Indigenous peoples in Cana ...

relics abound in Bankhead, one of the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

's premier sites for

petroglyph A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...

s, prehistoric drawings, and rock carvings, at sites such as the

Kinlock Shelter The Kinlock Shelter is a rock shelter and Native American cultural site located just outside Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest, near Double Springs, Alabama. The shelter is located not far from Hubbard Creek, near a former Civilian C ...

. The forest is headquartered in

Montgomery Montgomery refers to: People For people with the name Montgomery, see Montgomery (name) Places Belgium * Montgomery Square, Brussels * Montgomery metro station, Brussels Pakistan * Montgomery (town), British India, former name of Sahiwal, Punja ...

, as are all four of Alabama's National Forests. The other National Forests in the state are Conecuh, Talladega, and Tuskegee. There are local ranger district offices located in

. The forest was established as ''Alabama National Forest'' on January 15, 1918, with .Proclamation 1423 of January 15, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson. On June 19, 1936, it was renamed ''Black Warrior National Forest'',Proclamation 2178 by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 19, 1936. . . which in turn was renamed ''William B. Bankhead National Forest'' on June 6, 1942.AN ACT To change the name of the Black Warrior National Forest to the William B. Bankhead National Forest. . In 1959, removed land from the forest's boundaries.

References

External links

William B. Bankhead National Forest
* Archaeological sites in Alabama Protected areas of Franklin County, Alabama Protected areas of Lawrence County, Alabama National Forests of Alabama Protected areas of Winston County, Alabama {{WinstonCountyAL-geo-stub