Coalburg, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coalburg, Alabama
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 Coalburg, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Coalburg, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Elevation | 469 ft (143 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 116311 |
Coalburg is a small, unincorporated community located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. An unincorporated community is a place with a shared identity but without its own local government, unlike a city or town.
Contents
A Look Back: Coalburg's History
Coalburg's story is closely tied to the coal mining industry. The first coal mines here were started by John T. Milner. In May 1883, he sold these mines to the Georgia Pacific Railway.
Mining Operations
Edward Magruder Tutwiler became the superintendent, or manager, of these mines. The Sloss-Sheffield Iron and Steel Company also ran special ovens in Coalburg. These ovens made coke, which is a type of fuel made from coal.
At its busiest time, the Coalburg mines were very productive. They could produce as much as four thousand tons of coal every single day! Overall, these mines produced more than 186,000 tons of coal.
Labor and Production
The Sloss company used a system called convict labor to work in the Coalburg mines. This was a historical labor practice where people who were incarcerated were made to work. In 1889, about 320 men were working in the mines this way. As the mines grew, more people were used for this type of labor.
The coal dug up in Coalburg and the coke made there were sent to a place called Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham. There, these materials were used to make pig iron, which is an early form of iron.
Mine Accident and Post Office
Sadly, in 1890, a mine explosion in Coalburg caused the deaths of eleven miners.
Coalburg also had its own post office for many years. It opened in 1883 and stayed in operation until the 1980s.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 842 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the U.S. Census taken in 1890, Coalburg had a population of 842 people.
Famous People from Coalburg
- Ed Sherling: He was a professional baseball player. He played as a pinch hitter and pinch runner for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1924.
- Guy Tutwiler: He was also a professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman for the Detroit Tigers for two seasons, in 1911 and 1913.
