West Blocton began in 1883-84 as a business and residential community adjoining the Cahaba Coal Mining Company's town of Blocton and incorporated in 1901. Eugene D. Reynolds served as the first mayor from 1901 to 1904, followed by Dr. L.E. Peacock from 1904 to 1906, and Frank T. Ferrire, the son of Italian immigrants, was the longest-serving mayor from 1965 to 1984. West Blocton became the commercial center of the southern Cahaba coal field, serving the nearby company towns and mining camps of Belle Ellen, Piper, Lucille, Gurnee, Coleanor, Garnsey, Galloway, Marvel, Moffatt, Masena, Braehead, Red Eagle, and Hargrove. Economic opportunity drew a diverse population, reflected by an Italian Catholic Cemetery just east of town and the League of Brothers Synagogue on Main Street, built in 1905. Bibb County's first bank, the Blocton Savings Bank, was established in 1892, and by 1910 West Blocton had 55 businesses, including a newspaper, bottling works, hotels, general stores, lawyers, doctors, photographers, and shoemaker, tailor, and dentist offices. West Blocton is now home to the Cahaba Lily Festival.