Cardiff, Alabama, along Five Mile Creek, was originally settled in the 1830s by the Crocker family. In the 1880s, as the Crockers sold their interests, Isaac Price of Wales and James Williamson of Scotland began developing the area for coal mining. As Birmingham's iron and steel industry grew, Cardiff's mines became important suppliers for the city's blast furnaces. Price and Williamson recruited friends and family from Wales, and the town was renamed for Cardiff, Wales. Within a few years, Cardiff included several hundred families from across Europe, including Stewarts from Scotland, Woodfords from Wales, Negrons from France, and Tombrellos from Sicily. These immigrants brought a love of soccer, formed the Cardiff Primrose Club, and won the Alabama Foot Ball Association Cup in 1898. Among the town's notable athletes was Frenchie Negron, Alabama bicycling champion just after the turn of the 20th century. Cardiff was also served by mayors including Adam Stewart, Charlie Country, and Joseph "JOBO" Country, who later served in World War II with the Thunderbolt Division, which freed Buchenwald and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.