Gadsden, city, seat of Etowah County, northeastern Alabama, on the Coosa River; settled 1840, incorporated 1871. It is one of Alabama's major industrial centers. Chief manufactures include steel, motor-vehicle tires, and machine tools. The Gadsden Museum of Fine Arts, a cultural arts center, and a junior college are here. Noccalula Falls (about 27 m/90 ft high), bordered by botanical gardens and a pioneer homestead, is nearby. Industrialization was spurred by the building here of one of the world's first hydroelectric projects in 1906. The city is named for the American diplomat James Gadsden. Population 47,565 (1980); 42,523 (1990); 38,978 (2000).
