Brewton was founded by settlers in the early 1800s and was built by the lumber barons who found a wealth of trees in the area. The city is a direct travel route to and from the beaches of Alabama and west Florida and is located midway between Montgomery and Mobile. Its largest employers are Georgia-Pacific and T.R. Miller Mill Company. Culturally, the town has several wonderful parks for relaxing and catching entertainment, and the Greater Brewton Council of the Arts hosts several performances every year. Brewton has recently been named "One of the Best Small Towns of America." The East Brewton area has been settled as long as Brewton but was only incorporated in 1918. East Brewton and Brewton share many facilities, such as the YMCA and the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce.