Clanton is a city in
Chilton County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the
Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the
2020 census, the population was . The city is the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of Chilton County. Clanton is near the site of the geographic center of the U.S. state of Alabama.
History
The area that would become Clanton was known as "Goose Pond" and nearby "Ranch" when Baker County (later renamed
Chilton 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 of
James H. Clanton, an attorney, Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Executive committee, and a former
Brigadier General in the
Confederate States Army. It was incorporated on April 23, 1873. Alfred Baker was also elected first mayor of the town.
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.
Early
civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' political freedom, freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and ...
activist
Ida B. Wells reproduced a photographic postcard depicting an 1891
lynching in Clanton to educate the white public of the atrocities committed against blacks.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, a small
German prisoner of war camp was located in Clanton in the former
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp west of town.
Geography
Clanton is located southeast of the center of Chilton County.
The city is located in the central part of the state along
Interstate 65, which runs north to south to the east of the city, with access from exits 205, 208, and 212. Via I-65,
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
is north, and
Montgomery is southeast. Other highways that run through the city include
U.S. Route 31, which runs north to south through the center of the city, leading north to
Calera and south to
Prattville, and
Alabama State Route 22, which leads east to
Rockford and west to
Maplesville.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.62%, is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Clanton has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
, abbreviated ''Cfa'' on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 8,768 people and 3,882 households in the city.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 7,800 people, 3,168 households, and 2,128 families residing in the city.
The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 3,510 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 46.31%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 46.01%
Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.29%
Native American, 0.33%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.29% from
other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population were
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race.
[
There were 3,168 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were ]married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
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.[
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.][
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. The ]per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $15,299. About 15.1% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.[
]
Economy
Over 80% of Alabama's peach
The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and Agriculture, cultivated in China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties called necta ...
crop comes from Chilton County. Perhaps Clanton's most recognizable landmark is its peach-shaped water tower, which celebrates the community's agricultural significance.
The City of Clanton has a jurisdiction of approximately 30 square miles and over 30,000 people travel through Clanton every day.
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.
Arts and culture
Clanton has hosted the annual Chilton County Peach Festival since 1952.[
The Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center is a multi-purpose facility adjacent to the Jefferson State Community College–Clanton campus.
]
Parks and recreation
Clanton Parks and recreations facilities include:
* Clanton City Park & City Pool
* Corner Park
* E.M. Henry Skills Center & Pool
* Goosepond Park
* Ollie Park
* Clanton Recreation Center
Government
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 from COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. He was 84 years old. He had planned to retire in January 2021.
Education
The Chilton County School System provides public education for Clanton. Students in Clanton may attend any public school in Chilton County. Schools include:
* Chilton County High School
*LeCroy Technical Center
*Clanton Middle School
*Clanton Intermediate School
*Clanton Elementary School
Jefferson State Community College - Chilton-Clanton Campus is located here.
Media
Newspaper
*''The Clanton Advertiser'' (daily)
*''Chilton County News'' (weekly)
Radio
*WKLF - Southern Gospel 95.5FM & 1000AM 5am to 5pm, 95.5 FM "The Peach" 5 Decades Of Rock and Roll Oldies (5os, 60s, 70s, 80s, & 90s) 5pm to 5am, wklfradio.com and thepeach.live online.
*WPJN - Praise 89.3FM, Contemporary Gospel
Infrastructure
Chilton County Airport, also known as Gragg-Wade Field, is a public use airport located east of Clanton.
Chilton County Transit provides dial-a-ride bus transit service to the city.
Clanton has a 30-bed hospital with 24-hour emergency care.
Notable people
* Randall Atcheson, concert pianist
A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...
[''Staff Reports, Atcheson plays 10th Carnegie Hall concert'', November 17, 2010,]
The Clanton Advertiser
, Retrieved November 18, 2010
* James Bean, former member of the Mississippi State Senate
* Clay Carroll, Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
player
* Wesley Dennis, country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
artist
* Amariah Farrow, former professional football player
* Demarcus Riddick, 4-star linebacker for Auburn University
* Jackie Hayes, major league baseball player
* Jackson W. Moore, former CEO of Union Planters Bank and Regions Financial Corporation
* Clarence H. Mullins, judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from 1943 to 1957
* Melinda Mullins, actress
* Jarrod Patterson, major league baseball player
* Mac Powell, lead singer for the Christian rock band Third Day
* Drew Roy, actor
* Grayson Russell, child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage, television, or in film, movies. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associa ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
City of Clanton official website
{{authority control
Cities in Alabama
Cities in Chilton County, Alabama
County seats in Alabama
Populated places established in 1868
Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama
1868 establishments in Alabama