Morgan County's first permanent court house was built circa 1837 with special taxes levied for that purpose by the Alabama Legislature in 1836. It replaced an earlier first court house built circa 1825. Somerville was incorporated in 1819 and served as the county seat from 1819 to 1891. Cotaco County was created on February 8, 1818, and was renamed Morgan County on June 14, 1821.