In Alabama’s Southeast corner a plant grows, thrives and resembles a fern made of wire, hence the name, Wiregrass Region. Two counties exemplify the Wiregrass. Like the namesake plant, Houston and Henry counties also thrive with growth.
The growth is in population
The July 2024 U.S. Census data show Henry County with 18,141 residents, an estimated 1,000 increase since 2010. Henry County experienced a population increase seven out of the 12 years between 2010 and year 2022.
In addition, Houston County’s estimated population as of July 2024 is 109,366, a population increase of approximately 8,000 since 2010.
The growth is in business and expansion
In March 2024, the city of Dothan’s Industrial Development Board worked with Dothan, the state of Alabama and Houston County to obtain a 446-acre industrial site for potential manufacturers and industry — the Westgate Super Site.
“Dothan has one of the premier business climates in the Southeast,” Mayor Mark Saliba said about the site in a February 2024 announcement. “I am confident that our investments from the city and county in the Westgate Super Site will serve as the missing ingredient needed to attract the world’s most innovative companies, fostering the creation of future-oriented, high-paying job opportunities for our residents.”
In May 2024, the city of Dothan broke ground on the Wiregrass Innovation Center. The $30 million facility will be a space for hands-on training, learning and engagement of agtech innovation in the world of science, genomics and research. It is also part of Dothan’s downtown revitalization project.
The growth in health care
Houston County is a focal point for the region’s medical needs, and health care is the largest employer in the county. Two major medical facilities, Flowers Hospital and Southeast Health, employ thousands of medical professionals covering a vast array of services, including trauma, surgeries, robotics and cardiovascular care.
Other industry giants of Houston County include steel production, distribution and logistics, aviation and aerospace, and food processing.
In addition, Henry County’s agriculture and forestry sectors include Abbeville’s Great Southern Wood Preserving, maker of the well-known YellaWood. Wood products are milled and shipped to locations throughout the South and beyond.
The growth is in ag business
The Wiregrass is peanut country. Out of all Alabama counties in 2023, Houston County ranked first in peanut production with more than 89 million pounds. The 34,000 acres harvested by the county’s producers averaged 2,636 pounds per acre.
The growth is in education
Wallace Community College-Dothan celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. The college’s offerings include career technical programs and health related fields. The school also is adding new sports to its athletics’ program, including men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s cross country and women’s flag football, joining baseball and softball in the fall of 2025.
The growth is in parks and recreation
Dothan is home to Westgate Park, one of the largest parks of its kind in the Southeast. At Westgate Park, the public can swim at two indoor pools, play tennis at the 20-court Westgate Tennis Center, utilize the walking and bike trails, play softball, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, use an indoor weight room and an outdoor fitness court, participate in BMX, and play on two playgrounds and many other features.
In Henry County’s Headland, the outdoor Under the Oaks event features live music, food trucks and entertainment in a friendly community setting. “Over the years, Under the Oaks has really evolved into something special for Headland,” says Adrienne Wilkins, executive director of the Headland Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s more than just a concert series — it’s a reflection of who we are as a community. People look forward to it each year, and we’re proud to see how it continues to grow and bring people together.”
Emmett Burnett is a Satsuma-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
For more on Henry and Houston counties, see the links below:
This story appears in the July 2025 issue of Business Alabama.
