St. Florian: Small town charm within the Shoals

The small town of St. Florian is nestled into the Northwest corner of the state. This unassuming little town outside of Florence may not seem like much, but it is rich with history. Founded in 1872 with a population of only 704, St. Florian is located just outside of Florence.

Keep reading for more information on the town of St. Florian.

The history of St. Florian

When the area that is now St. Florian was founded, it was called “Wilson Stand” after the Wilson brothers who first owned the town site. In the 1870’s the location was founded by a group of German settlers and renamed to St. Florian. The name was given to the town after the religious figure Saint Florian.

The location of the town was originally the homestead of the Wilson brothers. Even though the town was founded in the 1870’s St. Florian was not incorporated until almost 100 years later.

St. Florian is known for its presence during the Civil War. John Wilson, one of the original founders of the town, was killed by outlaws during the civil war in 1865. The town also had a wool factory located there to supply material for the soldiers’ uniforms.

Things to do in St. Florian

St. Florian is home to the Shoal Creek Nature Preserve. This gorgeous nature area is a popular place to hike, horseback ride, and take in the beauty of North Alabama. With over 200 acres of land, there’s a numerous amount of gorgeous views along this preserve.

The nature preserve has two different options for trails. The Jones Creek trail, which is considered the easier of the two, is a 2.5 mile loop that is popular for hiking, birdwatching, and horseback riding. Lawson Branch trail, is a 2.9 mile loop that is also popular for nature viewing, birdwatching and hiking.

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Where to eat in St. Florian

Even though the town of St. Florian might be small, there are a couple of popular places to grab a bite to eat here.

The St. Florian Pharmacy is much more than just a pharmacy, they also serve delicious deli sandwiches and ice-cream. This is a very popular place to stop for a bite to eat, it is one of the first buildings you see as you make your way into St. Florian.

Another popular restaurant here is the Shoals Shack. This little shack brings in people from all over the area to get one of their delicious meals, serving items like burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more! The Shoal’s Shack has been named as one of the 15 best roadside restaurants in the south.

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