Nestled together in the southeastern part of the state, Pike, Barbour and Bullock counties are among the nearly two dozen counties that make up Alabama’s Black Belt. Named for its dark, fertile soil, the region also is well known for supporting a variety of outdoor activities, especially hunting and fishing. According to a report released in May by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures, hunting and fishing in the 23-county region accounts for $1.7 billion in annual economic impact. When it comes to offering an abundance of hunting and fishing opportunities, Pike, Barbour and Bullock counties deliver.
All three counties are known for their agricultural commodities as well, particularly poultry processing, peanuts and timber. Other leading industries include aerospace and aviation, marine electronics, trucking, distribution and recycling. Higher education and health care also are top employers in the area.
Pike County prides itself on being home to large industries that have a global reach while still maintaining a small-town feel. Lockheed Martin’s Pike County Operations facility has made international headlines in recent months, due in part to a visit in February by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The plant serves as a manufacturing, final assembly and storage facility for many of Lockheed Martin’s missile programs, including Javelin missiles that have played a key role in supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasion. Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin company, also operates a helicopter manufacturing facility in Troy.
Pike County is home to Troy University. As the county’s largest employer, the institution plays a key role in bringing new residents and businesses to the area. Last fall, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved an instructional role change that will allow the university to offer additional doctoral degrees. That development also elevates the institution to Carnegie R2 status with formal recognition as a research institution. Currently, Troy’s doctoral degrees are available in nursing practice, sport management and global leadership.
Lake Eufaula makes up a large portion of Barbour County’s eastern border and is why the county is a popular destination for a variety of outdoor activities, including boating, birdwatching and fishing. Eufaula, the largest city in the county, calls itself the “Big Bass Capital of the World” and is a frequent tournament destination for competitive fishermen.
Fittingly, it is the home base for Humminbird, a fishing electronics manufacturer and one of the county’s top industrial employers, along with Tyson Foods poultry processing, Boyd Brothers Transportation and Benny Whitehead Trucking.
Eufaula’s Southern charm also attracts plenty of visitors. The Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District is home to more than 700 structures listed in the National Register of Historically and Architecturally Significant Places and is the second-largest historic district in the state. Each April, thousands of visitors attend the Eufaula Pilgrimage, the state’s oldest tour of homes.
Roughly 6% of the 4,010 students enrolled in Wallace Community College last fall attended classes at the college’s Sparks campus in Barbour County. The Sparks location offers programs and training opportunities in technology, criminal justice, entrepreneurship and child development. It is also well-known for its nursing and allied health degree programs.
Each February, hundreds of bird dog enthusiasts from around the country flock to Bullock County to participate in the National Amateur Free-for-All Championship, and Union Springs, the county seat, is known as the Bird Dog Field Trial Capital of the World. And like its neighbors, Bullock County is a renowned hunting and fishing destination.
Union Springs also has its share of historic charm with more than 47 buildings and sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including one of the oldest surviving jailhouses in the state. And the historic Red Door Theatre, operated by the Tourism Council of Bullock County and known for productions that depict the region’s history and culture, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.
Poultry processor Wayne Sanderson Farms and plant wholesaler Bonnie Plants are the county’s top employers. Others include To Your Health Sprouted Flour, which supplies sprouted organic grains and flours to major commercial companies; Fiblast, which manufactures architectural fiberglass products for the construction industry; and Ace Packaging, a metal fabricator.
Katherine MacGilvray is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
For more on Pike, Barbour & Bullock counties, see the links below:
This story appears in the September 2024 issue of Business Alabama.
