Crane Hill, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crane Hill, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Crane Hill, Alabama Location in Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Cullman
Area
• Total	44.1 sq mi (114.219 km2)
Elevation	828 ft (252.4 m)
Population
• Total	2,341
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35055
Area code(s)	256
GNIS feature ID	151747

Crane Hill is a small, unincorporated community in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the county. The community's history goes back to 1806. That's when the first settlers officially claimed their land. Crane Hill got its name from the Sandhill Crane. These birds used to fish in the local streams and rest on a hill north of Mt. Zion Road.

About Crane Hill

This area is found at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. It has a beautiful landscape with rocks and open fields. You can find many native plants, wildflowers, and different wild animals here. Smith Lake and several freshwater streams flow through the hills. This provides fun outdoor activities for both people living there and visitors.

The Crane Hill community has a few businesses and important public buildings.

• Four volunteer fire departments help keep everyone safe.
• One senior center offers activities for older adults.
• One Post Office (ZIP code 35053) handles mail.
• One public park, called Dowling Memorial Park, is a place for recreation.

Crane Hill School History

The history of schools in Crane Hill is quite interesting.

• In 1904, the first Crane Hill Jr. High School was built. This building was later moved in 1934 and became the Masonic Lodge.
• In 1934, a new brick school building replaced the old one. It was known as Crane Hill School.
• In 1938, this school was destroyed by a fire. Reports said the fire started because of an electrical problem.
• In 1939, the people of Crane Hill worked together to build a new brick school. They used trees from the area and a saw mill owned by Ivan Williams. Once finished, the school was named after H.G. Dowling. He was the superintendent of Education in Cullman County at that time.
• Sadly, on Labor Day in 1996, Dowling Junior High School was vandalized and burned down. It was never rebuilt after that fire.

Dowling Memorial Park

After the school fire in 1996, the people of Crane Hill tried to raise money again. They wanted to rebuild the school. However, the Cullman County Board of Education decided there was no need for a school at that spot then. In 1997, an effort to raise money led to the start of the Sweet Tater Festival. This festival has become very popular. In recent years, it has moved to Smith Lake Park.

Local Churches

Churches are an important part of the Crane Hill community.

• Mt. Hope Baptist Church is the oldest church in Crane Hill. The first church building was constructed in 1877. This was the same year Cullman County was created. In 1923, a fire destroyed the church. However, it was rebuilt in 1962.
• Sulphur Springs Baptist Church
• Flat Rock United Methodist Church
• Livingston Chapel Church
• Beulah Church of the Nazarine
• Holy Ground Baptist Church (This church used to be called the New Mt.Zion Baptist Church.)

Historic Buildings

• The Crane Hill Masonic Lodge is a very special building. It is listed on both the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.

Quick Facts About Crane Hill

• County Road 222 is the main road that runs through Crane Hill.
• The community has a very low crime rate, making it a safe place.
• There are no traffic lights in Crane Hill.

Population Details

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Crane Hill:

• European American population: 2,467 people
• African American population: 0 people
• Native American population: 10 people
• Asian ancestry population: 3 people
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 4 people
• Some other race population: 1 person
• Two or more races population: 12 people

See also

In Spanish: Crane Hill para niños