Take It From Me: Why I Love Living in Prattville

Ann Newman

There are many things to love about living in Prattville and Autauga County, from its diverse food and drink options and land and water activities to its growing arts scene, great job opportunities and friendly, inviting community. These assets have encouraged people from all over to plant roots in the region – and for others, they have brought them home. 

Take Wade Newman, for example. Newman was born and raised in Prattville, living here until he enlisted in the Army in 1984. In the following decades, his career (both in the Army and later in the civilian world) took him to Hawaii, New York, Georgia, Germany, Washington, Bosnia, Massachusetts and Texas. Today, he works remotely for a Boston-based technology firm, meaning he can choose where he wants to live – and he chose Prattville.

“After living abroad all over the world, I’ve discovered that it’s true what they say, that there’s no place like home,” Newman says. “Prattville has a small-town feel but with big-city access, great parks and rec, outdoor activities and a great climate. It’s a great place for retirement, but also for those raising families.”

Making Connections in Prattville

When Newman moved home in 2022, getting reacclimated was easy. His siblings, mother and extended family lived in the Prattville area, plus he got reacquainted with high school friends.

“When my family and I relocated back to Prattville, we rented a home on one side of town while building a new home on the other side of town, so we made friends with our new neighbors,” Newman says. “It was a mix of getting reconnected to friends from high school – we just had our 40-year reunion a few months ago – and when we moved into our new house, we met even more people in our new neighborhood.”

Newman also made a point to get involved in the community by volunteering. “I wanted to get involved in my community because after traveling around to so many different places, I wanted to come back and apply some of that perspective to the town,” he says. “I tried to volunteer with as many organizations as I could get involved with.”

Newman sits on the advisory board for the Autauga County Campus Alabama Department of Youth Services, a minimum-security boys juvenile detention facility, and is a board member of the Autauga County 911 Board, which oversees the Emergency Communications Center.

Additionally, he is on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization, which handles roads and other public government-funded projects, and the Prattville Industrial Development Board, which works with the chamber of commerce to bring industry to the area.

“I have tried to get immersed in as many organizations as I can,” he says. “I am trying to bring a different perspective from when I left high school, went out and learned, and now, I can bring that back and share it.”

Family-Friendly Options Around the Region

Out of all the places he’s lived, Newman says Prattville has been his favorite because of its family-friendly vibe – he has six children. One of his daughters is attending Troy University, about 90 minutes south of Prattville, and his 16-year-old stepson attends Prattville High School.

“Comparatively, Prattville is the easiest place I’ve raised kids,” he says. “I’ve got a support group that I didn’t always have all the time, which helps.”

Newman also appreciates Prattville’s slower pace of life, diversity (nearby Maxwell Air Force Base brings people from all over), great schools and youth activities.

His stepson, for example, is active in Boy Scouts and Camp Tukabatchee, a camp with a 50-acre lake that scouts visit to work on their merit badges. The camp is just 20 minutes away.

“I personally feel like my kids are getting a little better opportunity going through the system here than in some of the bigger school districts,” he says. “And that applies to the Boy Scouts, too. The troop is a little bit smaller, and the troop leaders are able to focus a little bit more on the boys to help them through their leadership process.”

Robust Restaurants in Prattville

One of Newman’s favorite things about Prattville is its size – its small enough that it is comfortable but big enough that residents don’t know everyone. Plus, it has a thriving downtown area full of cafes, restaurants and bars, while another part of the region offers chain restaurants.

“You’ve got choices, which is really nice because you’ve got a downtown feel and the mom-and-pop restaurants, and then you’ve got the uptown chains that you can go to, as well,” he says. “It’s a nice mix of places to go.”

Newman’s go-to coffee shop is the bustling West Main Coffeehouse and Creamery, which has coffee and ice cream. Newman has befriended the owner and staff and considers it one of his regular hangouts. Across the street, Fox’s Pizza Den is Newman’s favorite place to grab a slice, while Teddy’s Bourbon Bar, located a few doors down, has an extensive menu of whiskies and bourbons. Newman likes KimberLia’s, a women-owned steakhouse for an upscale dinner, and Uncle Mick’s Cajun Market & Cafe for Southern cuisine.

Plenty of Recreation in Central Alabama

The Prattville area has ample opportunities for indoor and outdoor recreation. The local YMCA runs the area’s youth sports programming, which also encourages parent involvement. Little League teams are active as well as city recreational programming and high school sports. Plus, residents can find plenty of places to camp, hunt and fish.

“There’s a lot of opportunity here for outdoor activities. We have Lake Jordan, Lake Martin and the Alabama River within a half hour drive,” he says. “You can fish, boat or take part in any of the water activities. You can even put in a kayak in downtown Prattville and kayak all the way up to the Alabama River. Really nice, well taken care of lakes and rivers are right here at your disposal.”