Wilsonville, in Shelby County near Lay Lake, was named for Adam Wilson and was incorporated in 1897. In the late 1800s, it was of great importance because of the Southern Railway and as a major stop on the old stage route from Montgomery to Huntsville. Around the turn of the century, Wilsonville served as the trading point for two farming sections known as Four Mile and The Kingdom. The county’s largest mercantile establishment operated there under Mr. J.F. Pope, probably the county’s largest individual taxpayer at the time. In the 2000 census, Wilsonville had 1551 residents, with others drawn to the area by jobs at E.C. Gaston Steam Plant and by the raising of the Coosa River to provide waterfront homes. In February 2007, the Wilsonville Town Hall was renovated through the efforts of Mayor Rosemary Liveoak, the Town Council, and the community.