Elberta, Alabama Facts for Kids

Elberta is a small town located in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It is part of a larger area called the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area. In 2010, about 1,498 people lived here. By 2020, the population grew to 1,974.

Where is Elberta Located?
Who Lives in Elberta?
Schools in Elberta
A Look at Elberta's History
Elberta German Sausage Festival
Baldwin County Heritage Museum
Images for kids
See also

Where is Elberta Located?

Elberta is in the southern part of Baldwin County. A main road, U.S. Route 98, goes right through the town. This road connects Elberta to nearby towns like Foley and Lillian. Lillian is close to the Florida border.

The town covers about 18.33 square kilometers (7.08 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Elberta?

The number of people living in Elberta has grown over the years. In 1960, there were 384 residents. By 2020, the population reached 1,974 people.

Most people living in Elberta are White. There are also smaller groups of Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. Some people are from mixed backgrounds. About 4% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino heritage.

In 2020, there were 752 households in Elberta. About 413 of these were families.

Schools in Elberta

Elberta is part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system. This means the schools are managed by the county.

The town has two public schools:

Elberta Elementary School, which teaches students from kindergarten to 6th grade.
Elberta High School, which teaches students from 7th to 12th grade. Elberta High School had its first graduating class in 2021.

There is also a private school called Saint Benedict's Catholic School. It was started in 1921. This school serves students from Elberta and five other nearby church areas.

A Look at Elberta's History

Elberta was founded in the early 1900s. A company from Chicago helped start the community. The first settlers arrived in 1904. Many of these early settlers were farmers who had moved from Germany to the Midwest of America.

The land company told people the area had rich soil. They also said the climate was good for farming all year. Because many settlers came from the Midwest, the town looked more like a Midwestern farming community at first. The first churches were Lutheran (1908) and Catholic (1905).

In the 1930s and 1940s, Elberta had many places for people to gather. There was a farmer's hall for dancing and singing. The town also had a hotel, a movie theater, a butcher shop, a grocery store, and a drug store. Many residents spoke German. St. Mark's Lutheran Church even offered services in German until 1976.

The State Bank of Elberta opened in 1922. It was special because it stayed open during the Great Depression. Many other banks closed during that tough time.

Elberta officially became a town on December 9, 1952.

Elberta German Sausage Festival

To help support the town's volunteer fire department, the Elberta German Sausage Festival began in the mid-1970s. This fun event happens twice a year. It is held on the last weekend of March and the last weekend of October.

The festival celebrates German culture. You can hear Polka music and try the famous Elberta German Sausage. There are also about 250 vendors selling arts and crafts. In 2014, about 40,000 people visited the October festival!

Baldwin County Heritage Museum

Elberta is home to the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. This museum is located on U.S. Highway 98, just east of town. It has exhibits that show how Baldwin County grew and changed over time.

The museum displays a lot of old farm equipment. It also shows what life was like in farm homes long ago. The old St. Mark's Lutheran Church building was moved to the museum grounds and fixed up.