Clanton | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Clanton | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: "A good place to visit...a better place to live!" | |
 Location of Clanton in Chilton County, Alabama. | |
| Coordinates:32°50′23″N86°37′41″W / 32.83972°N 86.62806°W /32.83972; -86.62806 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Chilton |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Incorporated | April 23, 1873 |
| Named after | General James H. Clanton[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council/Mayor |
| • Mayor | Jeff Mims |
| Area | |
• Total | 23.24 sq mi (60.18 km2) |
| • Land | 23.10 sq mi (59.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2) |
| Elevation | 600 ft (183 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,768 |
• Estimate () | 14,545 |
| • Density | 380/sq mi (150/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 35045-35046 |
| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| FIPS code | 01-15136 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0157918 |
| Website | www |
Clanton is a city inChilton County, Alabama, United States. It is part of theBirmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the2020 census, the population was 8,768.[4] The city is thecounty seat of Chilton County. Clanton is near the site of the geographic center of the U.S. state of Alabama.
The area that would become Clanton was known as "Goose Pond" and nearby "Ranch" when Baker County (later renamedChilton County) was founded on December 30, 1868. Soon thereafter (May 1871) the town of Clanton took its name from the South and North Alabama Railroad station of that name. A couple of actions solidified the name of the town. First, during the Alabama Legislative actions to allow the vote to set the permanent location of the courthouse (January - March 1871), their amendments changed the nominated name from "Baker's" to "Clanton." Finalizing the name change was an official application in May 1871 by the Postmaster to the Federal Postal System to re-designate the local Post Office as "Clanton" and terminate the former designation (Goose Pond). The railroad had named "Clanton Station" in honor ofJames H. Clanton, an attorney, Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Executive committee, and a formerBrigadier General in theConfederate States Army. It was incorporated on April 23, 1873. Alfred Baker was also elected first mayor of the town.[1]
Nearby Mitchell Dam became Alabama Power's first two dams in the state, bringing economic improvements to the area. Immigrants played a part in starting the county's peach industry more than a century ago. Today, the peach industry is the number one industry in Chilton County, not only bringing fame to the county, but also millions of dollars to the local economy. The city of Clanton constructed a water tower in the form of a peach in 1993, becoming a landmark for travelers along Interstate 65.[5]
Earlycivil rights activistIda B. Wells reproduced a photographic postcard depicting an 1891lynching in Clanton to educate the white public of the atrocities committed against blacks.[6]
DuringWorld War II, a smallGermanprisoner of war camp was located in Clanton[7] in the formerCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp west of town.
Clanton is located southeast of the center of Chilton County.[8]
The city is located in the central part of the state alongInterstate 65, which runs north to south to the east of the city, with access from exits 205, 208, and 212. Via I-65,Birmingham is 53 mi (85 km) north, andMontgomery is 40 mi (64 km) southeast. Other highways that run through the city includeU.S. Route 31, which runs north to south through the center of the city, leading north 22 mi (35 km) toCalera and south 31 mi (50 km) toPrattville, andAlabama State Route 22, which leads east 29 mi (47 km) toRockford and west 15 mi (24 km) toMaplesville.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.1 square miles (57.2 km2), of which 21.9 square miles (56.8 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.62%, is water.[9]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Clanton has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviatedCfa on climate maps.[10]
| Climate data for Clanton, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) | 84 (29) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 106 (41) | 108 (42) | 105 (41) | 110 (43) | 103 (39) | 88 (31) | 80 (27) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 72.0 (22.2) | 75.7 (24.3) | 82.5 (28.1) | 85.7 (29.8) | 90.3 (32.4) | 94.5 (34.7) | 96.6 (35.9) | 96.2 (35.7) | 93.3 (34.1) | 86.5 (30.3) | 78.8 (26.0) | 72.9 (22.7) | 98.0 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.6 (13.1) | 60.3 (15.7) | 68.6 (20.3) | 75.8 (24.3) | 82.9 (28.3) | 88.4 (31.3) | 90.7 (32.6) | 90.4 (32.4) | 86.3 (30.2) | 76.2 (24.6) | 65.4 (18.6) | 57.5 (14.2) | 74.8 (23.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.5 (6.9) | 48.4 (9.1) | 55.7 (13.2) | 62.6 (17.0) | 70.8 (21.6) | 77.4 (25.2) | 80.3 (26.8) | 79.6 (26.4) | 74.8 (23.8) | 63.9 (17.7) | 53.1 (11.7) | 46.7 (8.2) | 63.2 (17.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.4 (0.8) | 36.5 (2.5) | 42.8 (6.0) | 49.5 (9.7) | 58.6 (14.8) | 66.4 (19.1) | 69.9 (21.1) | 68.8 (20.4) | 63.3 (17.4) | 51.6 (10.9) | 40.9 (4.9) | 35.9 (2.2) | 51.5 (10.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 16.5 (−8.6) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 33.7 (0.9) | 43.7 (6.5) | 56.0 (13.3) | 63.0 (17.2) | 61.1 (16.2) | 50.3 (10.2) | 35.8 (2.1) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 14.1 (−9.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) | −9 (−23) | 10 (−12) | 26 (−3) | 33 (1) | 42 (6) | 53 (12) | 51 (11) | 36 (2) | 24 (−4) | 8 (−13) | 2 (−17) | −9 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.85 (149) | 5.79 (147) | 6.04 (153) | 5.53 (140) | 4.37 (111) | 5.21 (132) | 5.38 (137) | 4.17 (106) | 3.70 (94) | 3.44 (87) | 4.67 (119) | 5.76 (146) | 59.91 (1,521) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.1 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 10.5 | 11.9 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 9.7 | 108.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source 1: NOAA[11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[12] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 623 | — | |
| 1900 | 611 | −1.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,123 | 83.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,411 | 25.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,847 | 30.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,982 | 115.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,640 | 16.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,683 | 22.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,868 | 3.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,832 | −0.6% | |
| 1990 | 7,669 | 31.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,800 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,619 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 14,545 | 68.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 2013 Estimate[14] 2020[3] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,132 | 69.94% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,620 | 18.48% |
| Native American | 25 | 0.29% |
| Asian | 84 | 0.96% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 332 | 3.79% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 573 | 6.54% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 8,768 people and 3,882 households in the city.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 7,800 people, 3,168 households, and 2,128 families residing in the city.[17] Thepopulation density was 383.8 inhabitants per square mile (148.2/km2). There were 3,510 housing units at an average density of 172.7 per square mile (66.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 46.31%White, 46.01%Black orAfrican American, 1.29%Native American, 0.33%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.29% fromother races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[17]
There were 3,168 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% weremarried couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.[17]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.[17]
The median income for a household in the city was $30,394, and the median income for a family was $37,568. Males had a median income of $32,484 versus $20,344 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,299. About 15.1% of families and 19.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Over 80% of Alabama'speach crop comes from Chilton County.[18] Perhaps Clanton's most recognizable landmark is its peach-shaped water tower, which celebrates the community's agricultural significance.[19]
The City of Clanton has a jurisdiction of approximately 30 square miles and over 30,000 people travel through Clanton every day.[20]
One of the biggest events each year in Chilton County is the annual Peach Festival held in June. The festival, held in Clanton, crowns a new Peach Queen each year and also includes a Peach Parade and the Peach Jam Jubilee, a music concert and street fair.[5]
Clanton has hosted the annual Chilton County Peach Festival since 1952.[18]
The Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center is a multi-purpose facility adjacent to the Jefferson State Community College–Clanton campus.[21]
Clanton Parks and recreations facilities include:[22]
Clanton is governed via the mayor-council system. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council consists of five members elected from one of five wards.
Billy Joe Driver served as mayor for more than 35 years, from 1984 until July 9, 2020, when he died fromCOVID-19. He was 84 years old. He had planned to retire in January 2021.[23]
The Chilton County School System provides public education for Clanton. Students in Clanton may attend any public school in Chilton County.[24] Schools include:
Jefferson State Community College - Chilton-Clanton Campus is located here.
Chilton County Airport, also known as Gragg-Wade Field, is a public use airport located east of Clanton.[25]
Chilton County Transit providesdial-a-ride bus transit service to the city.[26]
Clanton has a 30-bed hospital with 24-hour emergency care.[5]
Municipalities and communities ofChilton County, Alabama,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
