A county seat, a river port, a Wiregrass town.
Newton began as a county seat. When Coffee County was carved from the western half of Dale County in 1841, the old seat at Daleville sat off-center, and a five-member commission chose this spot just south of the Choctawhatchee River. The legislature named it Newton in 1843, and a wooden courthouse and log jail went up in the new town.
Newton served as the seat of Dale County until 1870. After the courthouse burned in 1869 and Geneva County was formed, voters moved the seat to the more central Ozark. The town remained a busy port for river steamboats until the railroad arrived in 1890, and the Southern Star, one of the oldest newspapers in the Wiregrass, was first printed here in 1867.
That heritage still shapes the town. Newton residents remember the March 1865 Battle of Newton, when the local Home Guard turned back a Union raid on the courthouse, marked today by a downtown monument. The Baptist Collegiate Institute, one of the region's earliest schools, operated here from 1898 to 1929. Today Newton is a community of about 1,600 people, sitting quietly on the river just outside Fort Rucker.
Our elected officials and public servants.
Newton operates under a mayor and five-member town council. Meetings are open to the public, and residents are always welcome to attend.
- Jason StanfordDistrict 1
- Jesse LawrenceDistrict 2
- Carla EnfingerDistrict 3
- Kathy SnowDistrict 4
- Mike CherryDistrict 5
Council Meetings & Work Sessions
Agendas are posted in advance and minutes are made available after approval. To request a copy, contact the Municipal Clerk.
Town Ordinances
Download the Town's ordinances below. We will add more as they are provided.
Newton Municipal Court.
Court is held the second Tuesday of each month at Newton Town Hall. If you have a citation, summons, or court business, the schedule and information below will help you prepare.
Court Schedule
2026- Jan13TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Feb10TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Mar10TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Apr14TueDoors 2:00 PM
- May12TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Jun9TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Jul14TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Aug11TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Sep8TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Oct13TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Nov10TueDoors 2:00 PM
- Dec8TueDoors 2:00 PM
Everything you need in one place.
From paying your water bill to reaching the police or fire department, these are the services the Town provides or connects you to.
Water & Sewer Service
New service, transfers, and billing are handled by the Newton Water Board. Reach Gina Tillery at (334) 299-3765, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Pay Your Bill Online
Pay your water and sewer bill securely online, any time of day, through the Town's payment portal.
Pay Online NowPolice Department
Led by Chief Frankey Peterman with five full-time officers, the Newton Police Department provides 24-hour protection. Non-emergency: (334) 774-5111. For emergencies, dial 911.
Fire & Rescue
The Newton Volunteer Fire Department, led by Chief Edward Snow with ten volunteers, protects the Town around the clock. Non-emergency: (334) 774-5111.
Senior Center
The Newton Senior Center, directed by Carol Richburg, serves the community at 101 E. King Street. Call (334) 299-3861 for programs and services.
Library & Museum
Led by librarian Amy Galletly, the James Marcus Rosser Newton Public Library & Museum sits at 209 Oates Drive, tied to the town's Baptist Collegiate Institute heritage. Call (334) 299-3361, ext. 4.
Town permits, ready to download.
Download the form you need, fill it out, and bring or send it to Town Hall. Online submission and payment are on the way.
Yard Sale Permit
Required for residential yard and garage sales. Signs and posters must be removed after each sale.
Download Form (PDF)Event / Camping Permit
For events and camping at Hero Memorial Park or John Hutto Park. Includes the Town's release and indemnity agreement.
Download Form (PDF)General Forms Coming soon
Other Town forms and applications will be gathered here for easy download and submission.
Come for the river. Stay for the history.
With the Choctawhatchee River on its edge and generations of Wiregrass history downtown, Newton rewards a slow afternoon.
Choctawhatchee River
The river that gave Newton its start. Fishing, boating, kayaking, and wildlife along one of the Wiregrass region's defining waterways, once navigable by steamboat all the way from the Gulf.
John Hutto Park & Boat Ramp
River access on AL-123 with a boat ramp. Rentable for gatherings.
Hero Memorial Park
A community green at 44 N. College Street, available to rent.
Library & Museum
Rooted in the historic Baptist Collegiate Institute campus.
Historic Downtown
The old county-seat streets and the 1865 Battle of Newton monument.
What's happening around town.
Official notices, council updates, and the Town's annual events will be posted here. This space is ready and waiting for Newton's first announcements.
Town Notices Coming soon
Public notices, closures, and important announcements from Town Hall.
Community Events Coming soon
Festivals, gatherings, and seasonal traditions with dates and details.
Council Updates Coming soon
Highlights and decisions from recent council meetings.
Newton Town Hall is here to help.
Call us, write us, or stop by. We are a small staff serving a close-knit community, and we take the time to get things right.
Address
P.O. Box 10, Newton, AL 36352 (mailing)
9 N. College Street, Newton, AL 36352 (physical)
Directory
- Town Hall (main)(334) 299-3361
- Wendy Smith · Municipal Clerk
[email protected]ext. 1 - Sabrina English · Admin. Assistant
[email protected]ext. 2 - Maria Lee · Court Clerk
[email protected]ext. 3 - Amy Galletly · Library
[email protected]ext. 4 - Chief Frankey Peterman · Policeext. 5
- Jimmy Owens · Code Enforcement(334) 299-3361
- Gina Tillery · Water Board
[email protected](334) 299-3765 - Carol Richburg · Senior Center(334) 299-3861
Office Hours
- Monday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday – SundayClosed
For non-emergency police, fire, or after-hours matters, call (334) 774-5111.