Cullman’s story begins with one bold idea and a belief in community. From a German immigrant’s vision to a growing Southern town, this history reveals how faith, hard work, and shared purpose shaped the place we know today.

Cullman, Alabama, was founded by Col. John Gottfried Cullmann, a German refugee who came to America in 1866. While working at a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, he began formulating ideas of a special colony of working people—specifically a place for immigrants from countries such as his native Germany.

After reading about vast unsettled lands in the South, he purchased passage on a boat to Florence, Alabama. There, he met with Governor Patton and presented his idea. The Governor furnished men and horses for Col. Cullmann to explore available lands in North Alabama.

Col. Cullmann eventually met Lewis Fink, land agent for the great North–South Railroad (later the L&N), which had just completed a rail line through the wilderness from Decatur to Montgomery.

After a careful survey, Col. Cullmann contracted with the railroad for 349,000 acres, with the stipulation that he would pay for all advertising of the land and other expenses involved in bringing immigrants to the area. He found the land to be perfect for his dream colony.

Col. Cullmann returned north and began advertising for settlers. In April of 1873, the first five families arrived by train at the spot where Cullman now stands. Each family was allotted a plot of ground, and the colony quickly began to grow. Both American citizens and German immigrants moved into the area, drawn by opportunity and shared purpose.

In the middle of 1874, an election was held to incorporate the town. Of the 30 votes cast, 23 were in favor of incorporation and 7 opposed. It was also decided that the town would be named “Cullman” in honor of its founder—though spelled with only one “n.”

At that time, the Cullman area was part of Blount, Winston, Morgan, and Walker counties. In 1876, a movement began to create a new county, though the effort faced opposition from surrounding areas.

State law required a population of more than 9,500 residents before a new county could be formed. Once that requirement was met, Cullman County was officially created in 1877 by the Alabama state legislature.

For the next 20 years, Col. Cullmann played a central role in the growth of both Cullman and Cullman County. He brought groups of settlers to the area, sold them land, and used those funds to recruit additional immigrants—often returning to Germany to do so. Between 1871 and 1895, Col. Cullmann helped bring more than 100,000 immigrants to the South from Europe and other parts of the United States.

Frankweiler, Germany, was the hometown of Col. John G. Cullmann. In 1987, a permanent sister-city partnership was established between Cullman and Frankweiler. Since then, many visits have taken place between the two communities through the Cullman Friends of Frankweiler and Frankweiler Friends of Cullman organizations, strengthening cultural ties across generations. Frankweiler is located on the eastern slopes of the Haardt Mountains, about 6 kilometers north of Landau—known as “The Garden Town.” It is a municipality in the Südliche Weinstraße district of Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.