Crenshaw County was created by an act of the Alabama General Assembly on 1866 Nov. 30. It was formed from parts of Butler, Coffee, Covington, Pike and Lowndes counties. It is located in the south-central section of the state, in the coastal plain area. Crenshaw County encompasses 611 square miles.

The county is named for Anderson Crenshaw, an early settler of Butler County. The first county seat was established in Rutledge in 1867. The county seat was moved to Luverne in 1893. Other significant towns include Highland Home and Brantley.