Native American roots & Chief Ladiga

Before it was Piedmont, this part of northeast Alabama was home to the Muscogee (Creek) people and other Native groups who traveled through the foothills of the Appalachians along established trading paths and river corridors.

The Chief Ladiga name honors a local Muscogee leader associated with land cession treaties in the 1830s, a period marked by forced removal and profound disruption for Native communities. Today, the trail name serves as a reminder that modern recreation corridors pass through traditional homelands.

Like many Southern towns, Piedmont’s downtown grew up around the railroad. Main Street developed as a commercial spine parallel to the tracks, with brick storefronts, depots, hotels, and warehouses serving passengers and freight.

Over time, changes in transportation shifted freight and passenger traffic away from the line. Eventually, the tracks were removed and the corridor sat dormant, separating neighborhoods and leaving behind a linear strip of underused land.

The arrival of the Chief Ladiga Trail transformed that corridor into an asset again. Instead of trains, it now carries cyclists, walkers, runners, and visitors from across the region and beyond.

Today’s downtown Piedmont is leaning into its “outdoor trifecta”: bike the Chief Ladiga Trail, hike the Pinhoti Trail in the nearby mountains, and paddle Terrapin Creek just outside town. Local entrepreneurs have created businesses that serve both residents and visitors – from pizza and coffee to vendor malls, art studios, photographers, trike shops, and lodging options.

Nonprofits like Venecia’s Foundation, events like the Crap Run 5K and Polar Plunge, and local festivals help connect downtown businesses with a broader sense of community and purpose.