 AL 17 runs north to south, leading north 19 mi (31 km) to Millport and south 10 mi (16 km) to Carrollton, the Pickens County seat.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.37%) is water.According to local tradition, the community was so named after a preacher refused to return until the townspeople reformed their ways.