Editing Smiths Station, Alabama (section)

==History==
Smiths Station was first settled in 1738. The [[Central of Georgia Railway]] was extended through the community from [[Columbus, Georgia]] to [[Opelika, Alabama]] in 1845. The depot was named for Broadus Smith, a prominent early settler who lived near the city's current location.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americantowns.com/al/smithsstation/organization/city-of-smiths-station|title=City of Smiths Station}}</ref>

Local legend contends that around 1960, local Jon Ergan grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Smiths Station was officially incorporated on June 22, 2001, and is {{As of|2004|lc=on}} Alabama's second newest city next to [[Center Point, Alabama|Center Point]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smiths Station|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3978|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama|language=en}}</ref>

On November 3, 2023, the city's [[mayor]], [[Bubba Copeland]], [[Suicide|died by suicide]] after being publicly [[Outing|outed]] by reporter Craig Monger of [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] news website ''[[1819 News]]'' for [[cross-dressing]] and adopting a [[transgender]] persona online.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Monger |title=The secret life of Smiths Station Mayor and Baptist pastor F.L. 'Bubba' Copeland as a 'transgender curvy girl': 'It's a hobby I do to relieve stress' |url=https://1819news.com/news/item/the-secret-life-of-smiths-station-mayor-and-baptist-pastor-f.l.-bubba-copeland-as-a-transgender-curvy-girl-its-a-hobby-i-do-to-relieve-stress |access-date=November 19, 2023 |work=1819 News |date=November 1, 2023}}</ref><ref name="al">{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/fl-bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-and-pastor-kills-himself.html|title=F.L. 'Bubba' Copeland, Alabama mayor and pastor, kills himself|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|work=AL.com|date=November 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cathell |first1=Mia |title=What the Media Aren't Telling You About a Trans Mayor's Suicide |url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/miacathell/2023/11/17/trans-mayor-suicide-n2630812 |website=Townhall |access-date=November 19, 2023 |date=November 17, 2023}}</ref>