Gold Hill, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gold Hill, Alabama
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 Gold Hill, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Gold Hill, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Lee |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 119087 |
Gold Hill, also known as Goldhill, Gold Mine, or Gold Ridge, is a small community in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is an unincorporated community, meaning it does not have its own local government. Gold Hill is located just south of the Chambers County line. Today, much of Gold Hill is actually inside the city limits of Auburn. It is also part of the larger Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Area.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Gold Hill's History
Gold Hill was settled a long time ago, in the 1830s. You might think it was named for gold because of the Gold Rush in Alabama during the 1840s. But actually, it was named after an early settler whose last name was Goldsmith.
The Name Change: Gold Ridge
In the 1870s, Gold Hill got a second name: Gold Ridge. This happened because there was confusion between the railroad stops at Gold Hill and a nearby place called Camp Hill. To fix this, the United States Postal Service decided to rename the Gold Hill post office to Gold Ridge. Even though it was "officially" called Gold Ridge by the postal service and the railroad, the people living there always called their community Gold Hill.
Famous Residents
Gold Hill was also home to some interesting people. It was the location of "Roamer's Roost," the house of William P. Spratling. He was a scientist who studied epilepsy. His son, also named William Spratling, was a talented silversmith. A post office served the community under the name Gold Hill from 1837 until 1967.
The Old Barn: A Community Landmark
For 140 years, a very old barn stood in Gold Hill. It was right next to the railroad crossing on Alabama State Route 147. This building was built in 1870. It served as the community's general store, where people could buy many different things.
Life Around the Barn
For most of its history, the barn and the general store were connected to about 4,200 acres (about 17 square kilometers) of farmland. The store and the farms worked in a similar way all the way up until the 1940s.
Changes in the Community
After the 1940s, many farm workers moved away to northern cities like Detroit and Buffalo. This big move, known as The Great Migration, changed the community a lot. Gold Hill became much quieter than it used to be. Eventually, the general store closed down. The mail trains also stopped making stops in "Gold Ridge." Even today, mail for Gold Hill is delivered from the post office in Waverly, Alabama.
End of an Era
Even after the store closed, the old barn remained Gold Hill's most famous landmark. It stood as a reminder of the community's past until it was finally torn down in 2010.
Images for kids
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The old barn near the railroad crossing was, perhaps, Gold Hill, Alabama's most recognizable landmark until it was torn down in 2010.
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The old barn from another angle.
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The historic James Ellington House is located in Gold Hill.
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Gold Hill received a second name, "Gold Ridge", after confusion between the railroad stops at Gold Hill and nearby Camp Hill.
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Trees and sky in Gold Hill, Alabama.
