• Newspaper
  • Community
  • History

    Since 1906, The Brewton Standard has served as the primary news source for the communities of Brewton and East Brewton. Prior to the newspaper’s inception, the areas were served by a number of papers that merged to become The Brewton Standard.

    Located at 407 St. Nicholas Avenue in Brewton, Ala., Brewton Newspapers Inc. publishes a variety of mediums, including The Brewton Standard, brewton: the magazine and The Escambia Advertiser, a free weekly shopper.

    Goal

    Above all, The Brewton Standard strives to achieve excellence in all aspects of our business from news reporting to advertising for our business community. And as such, we promise:

    • to assume a leadership role and serve as a positive influence in our community;
    • to cover and report the news without exclusion in our community with honesty, fairness and integrity;
    •  to provide our readers with information in every edition that is pertinent, useful, interesting and entertaining.
    • to build and promote commerce through marketing and advertising; and,
    • to provide for the welfare of our employees.

    Circulation

    3,100 published every Wednesdays.

    Technology

    The Brewton Standard utilizes the latest Macintosh computer technology and the Adobe suite of products for news and composing work.

    Internet presence

    The Standard’s online home, brewtonstandard.com, serves a 24-7 breaking news engine, as well as a way to interact with our web readers.

    Awards

    The Standard consistently wins awards for its news, sports and opinion writing, photography, advertising design, layout and web presence as part of the Alabama Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.

    Community involvement

    Our newspaper and its employees are active in a number of area organizations and civic groups including the United Fund of Greater Brewton, the Brewton Rotary Club, the Brewton Kiwanis Club, the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce and local quarterback and athletic clubs.

  • Market

    Brewton and East Brewton are located in extreme south central Alabama, just north of the Florida Panhandle. The community is about an hour north of the beautiful sandy white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, about an hour and a half from Mobile, Ala., one of the most historic cities in the South, and about two hours south of Montgomery, the state capital. Brewton and East Brewton are unique, offering residents the best of small-town living as well as one of the most advanced telecommunications infrastructures anywhere in the world.

    Population

    Brewton and East Brewton, 7,994

    Escambia County, 38,440

    Culture

    From Norman Crampton’s ‘The 100 Best Small Towns in America’

    “Once upon a time, Brewton was known as the richest little town in the South. Brewton’s high per capita income was created by a small number of “Lumber Barons,” as they are remembered, who arrived at the end of the last century to cut pine and stayed to build extraordinary homes along Belleville and Evergreen avenues.

    “They were generous people, and their descendants have carried on the tradition, funding many public improvements over the years — like the YMCA building, schools and parks. Sharing the wealth has been good for business, too. Like many communities, Brewton tries to attract new manufacturers to town by putting up buildings on speculation — simple, all-purpose structures, ready for occupancy by a new Brewton employer, who buys the building on favorable terms.”

    Events

    Brewton is home to Alabama’s Blueberry Festival, held each June on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community College.

    Of course, football is one of the hottest attractions in the fall, and when the T.R. Miller Tigers of Brewton take on the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles from East Brewton, the clash is called the Battle of Murder Creek.

    As the holiday season begins, Brewton celebrates with special downtown events, a Christmas parade, and, on New Year’s Eve, a giant Blueberry Drop.

    Climate

    Average temperature-64 degrees F; Average rainfall 69 inches; 105 feet above sea level

    Major employers

    TR Miller Mill; Jefferson Smurfit; Citation Corporation; Natural Decorations, Inc.; Frit Car & Equipment; Brewton Iron Works; Smackco LTD; McPherson Archery; International Plastics; Nutex Manufacturing; New South Apparel

    Education

    City school system serves Brewton and County BOE serves East Brewton.

    Jefferson Davis Community College is a focal point of the community, providing academic and technical programs. The college’s 1,000-seat Patterson Auditorium is home to many community events.

    History

    The first name given to the land between Burnt Corn and Murder Creeks was probably “Crossroads”, because of a trail that passed through the area and connected the Old Wolf Trail with several roads at Fort Crawford.

    When the Alabama and Florida Railroad came through the area in the spring of 1861, a new station was built and named “Newport” by the railroad officials.

    This name was possibly chosen because the settlement was a new port along the two creeks. Shortly thereafter, “Brewton” became the commonly used title in honor of the first depot agent, Edmund Troupe Brewton.

    Interesting tidbit: For the first three decades of the 20th century, Brewton had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States

    Recreation

    One amateur theater, 12 ball fields, 30 golf holes, one museum, three parks, three swimming pools, 10 tennis courts and a YMCA

    Area information

    Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce

    (251) 867-3224

    www.brewtonchamber.com

    Brewton City School System

    www.brewtoncityschools.org