Gadsden, city, seat (1866) of Etowah county, northeastern Alabama, U.S. It is situated on the Coosa River in the Appalachian foothills, 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Birmingham. The original farming settlement was known as Double Springs, and the town was founded there in 1846 as a steamboat station. It was renamed for James Gadsden, who later negotiated the Gadsden Purchase (1853) of territory from Mexico. Adjacent Alabama City was annexed by Gadsden in 1932.
Gadsden’s economy is primarily based on poultry processing and the manufacture of steel, appliances, automotive parts, and wood products. Health care is an important service industry. The city is the site of Gadsden State Community College (1985). The waterfall at the city’s Noccalula Falls Park drops more than 90 feet (27 metres) over a ridge of Lookout Mountain into a ravine. The park also contains historical sites and a botanical garden. The Gadsden Museum of Arts is in the city. H. Neely Henry Lake (south) and Weiss Lake (northeast), both created by dams on the Coosa, provide recreational opportunities. Riverfest, a music festival, is held annually in May. Inc. 1871. Pop. (2000) 38,978; Gadsden Metro Area,103,459; (2010) 36,856; Gadsden Metro Area, 104,430.