Carbon Hill, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carbon Hill, Alabama
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| City of Carbon Hill | |
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Location of Carbon Hill in Walker County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Walker |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.59 sq mi (14.47 km2) |
| • Land | 5.51 sq mi (14.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 479 ft (146 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,769 |
| • Density | 320.99/sq mi (123.95/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35549
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| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| FIPS code | 01-12016 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0155010 |
Carbon Hill is a city located in Walker County, Alabama, in the United States. It officially became a city in February 1891. According to the 2020 census, about 1,769 people live there.
Contents
Discovering Carbon Hill's Past
Carbon Hill has a long and interesting history. About 310 million years ago, this area was a swampy place south of the equator. Scientists have found important fossils and animal tracks near Carbon Hill from that time.
How Carbon Hill Began
The town of Carbon Hill was settled in 1886. It grew because of coal mining and the railroad. A post office opened in 1887, and the Carbon Hill United Methodist Church was built by 1888.
The Galloway Coal Company played a big part in the early growth of Carbon Hill. Colonel Robert Galloway started his coal business in 1863. In 1890, he bought mines and land on Carbon Hill. He made the mining operations very successful, which led other mining companies to start working there too.
Becoming a City
On February 1, 1891, there were some disagreements among workers in Carbon Hill. The mayor, John T. Anderson, asked for help to keep the peace. Just two weeks later, on February 14, 1891, Carbon Hill officially became an incorporated town. John T. Anderson became its first mayor. Because it was founded on Valentine's Day, the founders hoped the town would be known as "The Village of Love and Luck." The idea of coal bringing luck comes from Scottish traditions, where giving coal as a gift on New Year's Day is considered good luck.
Major Storms and Challenges
Carbon Hill has faced several powerful storms over the years:
- On May 27, 1917, a strong F3 tornado hit Carbon Hill. It sadly killed 6 people and destroyed 200 homes.
- During the Great Depression, Carbon Hill was hit hard. However, the town used special government programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to build a new high school and improve sewers, sidewalks, and streets.
- On November 17, 1957, an F4 tornado passed near the city. It killed 4 people and injured 15.
- Another F3 tornado caused a lot of damage in Carbon Hill on November 10, 2002.
- On April 12, 2020, an EF1 tornado briefly touched down in Carbon Hill. It traveled for about 2.9 miles, uprooting trees and damaging homes. Luckily, no deaths or serious injuries were reported.
Where is Carbon Hill?
Carbon Hill started as a small mining town in the western part of Walker County, Alabama. The city is located at coordinates 33.890690 degrees North latitude and -87.524307 degrees West longitude.
The U.S. Census Bureau states that Carbon Hill covers a total area of about 5.6 square miles (14.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.5 square miles (14.3 square kilometers), is land, and a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
Carbon Hill's Climate
The weather in Carbon Hill usually has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Who Lives in Carbon Hill?
The population of Carbon Hill has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 568 | — | |
| 1900 | 830 | 46.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,627 | 96.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,666 | 63.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,519 | −5.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,555 | 1.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,179 | −14.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,944 | −10.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,929 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,452 | 27.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,115 | −13.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,071 | −2.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,021 | −2.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,769 | −12.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 2,021 people living in Carbon Hill. The city had 860 households, with 550 of them being families. The average age of people in Carbon Hill was about 40.9 years old.
Population in 2020
As of the 2020 United States census, the population of Carbon Hill was 1,769 people. There were 622 households and 364 families living in the city.
Churches in Carbon Hill
Carbon Hill is known for having many Christian churches. In 2011, there were about thirty churches in the city. Two churches, the Carbon Hill Church of God of Prophecy and the Carbon Hill First Baptist, became well-known after the 2002 tornadoes. The Church of God of Prophecy served as a temporary shelter during the disaster, helping people who were affected by the storm.
Famous People from Carbon Hill
Several notable people have connections to Carbon Hill:
- Maurice Cook, a talented folk artist.
- Ken Guin, who served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1994 to 2010. He was also the House Majority Leader for many years.
- Willam Hansell Husley, a successful investment banker and real estate developer.
- Buddy Nix, who was the General Manager for the Buffalo Bills football team from 2010 to 2013.
- Joseph Sam Perry, a federal judge from 1951 to 1971.
- Wimp Sanderson, a famous college basketball coach who once coached at Carbon Hill High School.
- Elmer Tutwiler, a former baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Education in Carbon Hill
Carbon Hill is home to Carbon Hill High School. This school has about 430 students in grades 9-12. It is known as the first place where college basketball coach "Wimp" Sanderson worked. Many college football players have also come from this school. The school's mascot is the Bulldog, and its colors are blue and white. Carbon Hill High School is part of the Walker County Board of Education.
In 2002, the original high school building was destroyed by fire. A new building has since replaced it. Carbon Hill Elementary/Junior High School was also destroyed by an F3 tornado on November 10, 2002.
