Chilton County, Alabama: History
Baker County was established on December 30, 1868, named for Alfred Baker, with its county seat at Grantville. The county was created from Autauga, Bibb, Perry and Shelby County.
Residents of the county petitioned the Alabama legislature for the renaming of their county. On December 17, 1874, the petitioners accepted the suggestion of Chilton County, even though the Chief Justice had not lived within its boundaries. In 1871, the county seat was moved to what is now Clanton after the Grantville courthouse burned. Clanton, which was a site along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad when chosen the county seat, was named for James H. Clanton, Confederate Brigadier General.
In 1942, the U.S. Navy commissioned a new vessel, the USS Chilton, in honor of Chilton County.