Gurley stands on land owned by pioneer settler John Gurley and was named for him. His son, Capt. Frank B. Gurley, became a Confederate hero as a member of the 4th Ala. Cavalry. The settlement that grew around the water tank on the Memphis and Charleston R.R. was known as Gurley's Tank. A post office was established in 1866 as Gurleysville, and the town was incorporated as Gurley in 1891. Madison County High School was located here in 1907. It was the last hometown of Senator and Mrs. C.C. Clay, Jr.