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By Gena Doggett Robbins, Editor
Sumter County is the first stop on the
Alabama Black Belt Nature and
Heritage Trail with York, Livingston
and Gainesville being number 1,2,
and 3 on the guide list.
Governor Bob Riley released a 42-
page visitors’ guide focused on the
many historic, cultural and scenic
destinations in Alabama’s Black Belt
region. Governor Riley congratulated
members of the Black Belt Action
Commission and Lee Sentell, Director
of the Alabama Tourism Department,
for making the project a reality. The
guide will be available at Alabama
welcome centers as well as chambers
of commerce and tourism
organizations. State tourism’s Tommy
Cauthen served as the chief designer
for the guide.
Governor Riley noted his
administration has placed an
emphasis on promoting both the Black
Belt and tourism and that combining
the two made perfect sense. “We want
to take the Black Belt and turn it into a
tourist destination. Historically there
are very few places in the United
States that have as much history as
the Black Belt,” Governor Riley said.
Alabama Black Belt Nature and
Heritage Trail.