Aldrich, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aldrich, Alabama
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 Aldrich, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Aldrich, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Shelby |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area codes | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 112976 |
Aldrich is a small place in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city. Today, Aldrich is actually part of the nearby town of Montevallo.
Contents
History of Aldrich
Early Mining Days
People started mining for coal in the Aldrich area way back in 1839. This was a big deal because coal was a very important fuel source at the time. It powered trains, factories, and homes.
In 1875, a man named Truman H. Aldrich bought the land and the mines. He decided to name the community after himself. Truman then leased the mining business to his younger brother, William F. Aldrich. William was married to Josephine Cables Aldrich, who was known for her interest in spiritualism and as a publisher.
Life in the Coal Town
For a time, a special labor system was used in Aldrich's coal mines. Workers from a prison helped with the mining operations. A prison was even built in Aldrich to house these workers. You can still find the cemetery where these workers were buried near where the prison once stood.
Aldrich was a busy community back then. It had churches for people to worship, a school for children to learn, and houses for the miners and their families. All these buildings were put up by the companies that ran the mines.
Community Life and Changes
A post office opened in Aldrich in 1883. William Aldrich, the mine operator, was the very first postmaster. This post office served the community for a long time, finally closing in 1965.
From 1895 to 1902, Aldrich even had its own local newspaper called The Alabama Time-Piece. This shows how active and self-sufficient the community was.
However, the coal mines eventually closed down on July 5, 1942. This changed Aldrich a lot. Today, Aldrich is home to the Aldrich Coal Mine Museum. This museum helps people learn about the area's rich mining history.
Population Information
Aldrich has never been counted separately as its own town in the U.S. Census. This means it doesn't have its own official population numbers from 1850 to 2010. Since then, Aldrich has become part of the city of Montevallo.
Gallery
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Farrington Hall
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Aldrich Commissary
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Artifact collection located in commissary
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Superintendent's House (colorized from original photograph)
