Vincent stands on land granted to the Kidd family by the Governor of Alabama in the 1800's, and in 1859 that land was willed to three Kidd daughters, including Anna Bella Vincent, for whom the town was named. The oldest home in Vincent is that of Tom Bell, built in the 1840's as a two-story Colonial house by expert carpenters and designers using slave labor, and Anne E. McGraw Vincent moved into it when she was three years old. Early settlers included the Vincent, Clements, Kidd, McGraw, Elliott, and Bell families. Three developments led to the town's incorporation: the establishment of a school in 1854, the post office, and the building of the railroad in 1887. Vincent's charter was enacted into law by the State Legislature on February 16, 1897, with educator Carroll H. Florey among the leaders in securing that law. In 2010, the town designated Monday, November 29 as Vincent's Homecoming Weekend in conjunction with the annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, paying homage to Alabama's largest living decorated Christmas tree, planted in the 1930s and cherished as a symbol of pride throughout the year.