Hope Hull poised to become new Montgomery County town

Hope Hull is on the verge of becoming Montgomery County’s newest town.

Voters in Hope Hull overwhelmingly chose to incorporate during a special election held Tuesday, July 14.

According to unofficial election results provided by the office of Montgomery County Probate Judge J.C. Love, just over half of the 315 registered voters cast ballots. Records show 154 people voted for Hope Hull’s incorporation, while 9 voted against it.

From McGehee’s Switch to Montgomery County’s potential new town

To understand this historic milestone, you have to look back at how this tight-knit community first got its start:

• Founded in 1875 as a stop on the Mobile and Montgomery Railroad, the community was originally named McGehee’s Switch after local planter Abner W. McGehee.
• In 1877, McGehee renamed the community Hope Hull to honor Georgia Methodist circuit rider Rev. Hope Hull.
• Hope Hull is the birthplace of historic Alabamians like Governor Bibb Graves, civil rights pioneer Lucille Times, and country artist Ella Langley. It is also home to the historic 1922 Tankersley Rosenwald School.

What‘s next? Understanding the Alabama municipal incorporation process

A successful vote to incorporate does not automatically make Hope Hull a town; it is simply the first major step in the process.

Under Alabama Code Title 11, the sequence for becoming a legally recognized municipality breaks down into these phases:

• Official Census: If voters approve incorporation, the probate judge must first commission a census of the residents living within the proposed town’s limits.
• Order of Incorporation: Once the census is complete and officially recorded, the judge issues an order formally declaring the inhabitants incorporated as a town.
• Electing Officials: The final step to becoming a fully operational government is holding a subsequent municipal election to choose a mayor and town council.

The idea of Hope Hull becoming its own town has prompted lots of community discussion over the past several months. A website supporting the move points to possible annexation as a reason Hope Hull should become its own municipality to support its own best interests.

If finalized, the community will join the city of Montgomery and the town of Pike Road as the county’s third official municipality.

What are your thoughts on Hope Hull taking this big step toward self-governance? Let us know on Facebook.