Publisher Desc.  Cahaba was the first permanent state capital of Alabama from 1820 to 1825. Located in Dallas County, southwest of Selma, Cahaba was once a thriving and industrious town. On the eve of the American Civil War, more than 3000 people called Cahaba home. Its low elevation at the confluence of two large rivers gave it a reputation for flooding. A major flood struck the town in 1825, causing a portion of the statehouse to collapse. Cahaba is now a ghost town and state historic site.