DOTHAN

city, Houston and Dale counties, seat (1903) of Houston county, southeastern Alabama, U.S. Originally settled as Poplar Head in 1858, the name was changed to Dothen and officially renamed Dothan (for a biblical location) in 1911. It is primarily a farmtrade centre of the wire grass region, with small diversified industries, and is the site of the National Peanut Festival (October). A campus (1955) of Troy State University is located there. Inc. 1885. Pop. (1990) city, 53,589; Dothan MSA, 130,964.