West Bend was settled from 1809 to 1820 in what was then Mississippi Territory. Alabama became a state on Dec. 14, 1819. Early settlers included the Turner, Thornton, Stringer, White, Scruggs, Pace, and May families. Turner's fort was built in 1812 and was located 1½ miles N. W. West Bend Academy was established in 1859 and was located app. 100 yds. behind this site. Its first president was Rev. T. H. Ball. West Bend Baptist Church was constituted in Nov. 1871 and built in Aug. 1888.