Locust Fork, Alabama Facts for Kids

Locust Fork is a small town located in Blount County, Alabama, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,192 people lived there. It is a friendly community known for its natural beauty and quiet lifestyle.

History of Locust Fork
Geography and Nature
People of Locust Fork
Getting Around and Growth
Schools in Town
Parks and Town Facilities
Churches
Town Services
Media
Famous Person from Locust Fork
See also

History of Locust Fork

The town of Locust Fork has an interesting past. In 1815, a famous general named Andrew Jackson camped here with his soldiers. He carved his name into a locust tree, which is how the area got its name, "Locust Fork."

Later, in the early 1800s, a man named Nick Hudson built a public inn. This inn was a place where travelers could stay. He also built barns for horses and hogs. Farmers from Tennessee would bring their animals through here to sell them in the southern states.

Locust Fork officially became a town on January 18, 1977.

Geography and Nature

Locust Fork is in the southwestern part of Blount County. It sits on a high piece of land, like a small cliff, overlooking the Blackburn Fork of the Little Warrior River. Just north of town, the Blackburn Fork joins the Little Warrior River. This river then flows into the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River.

The town is in a valley, which is a low area between mountains. These valleys are part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. To the southeast is Sand Mountain. To the northwest are McAnnally Mountain and Hog Mountain.

For many years, people mined coal in this area. However, there are no active coal mines near Locust Fork today. The area is now mostly rolling hills and farmland.

The town covers about 3.89 square miles (10.07 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water.

People of Locust Fork

The population of Locust Fork has grown over the years.

In 1980, about 488 people lived here.
By 2000, the population was 1,016.
In 2010, it grew to 1,186 people.
The most recent count in 2020 showed 1,192 residents.

Most people in Locust Fork are White. There are also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. About 2% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, there were 435 households in the town. Many families lived together, with about two-thirds being married couples. The average household had about 2.73 people.

The median age in Locust Fork in 2010 was about 40 years old. This means half the people were younger than 40, and half were older.

Getting Around and Growth

Locust Fork is located along Alabama State Route 79. This highway goes north to Scottsboro and south to Birmingham. Other county roads connect Locust Fork to nearby towns like Hayden and Oneonta.

The closest major highways are Interstate 65 (about 15 miles west) and Interstate 59 (about 25 miles east). If you need to fly, the nearest airport is Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport.

Locust Fork has been growing. Many people from Jefferson County are moving here. They like the more rural environment and lower taxes. This growth means more students in schools and more traffic on Highway 79. There are plans to make Highway 79 bigger in the future.

A new highway called the Northern Beltline is also planned. It will cross Highway 79 near Pinson. This new road will make it much faster for Locust Fork residents to travel to places like Trussville or Tuscaloosa. However, this project is still many years away from being finished.

Schools in Town

Locust Fork has its own schools: Locust Fork High School and Elementary School. They are located right in the center of town. The school mascot is the Hornets, and their colors are green and white.

Locust Fork High School is a 2A school in the AHSAA sports system. This means it's a smaller school based on student numbers. There is usually one teacher for every 20 students. These schools serve students from a large part of southern Blount County.

The high school football stadium is named Gary Pate Field, honoring a former football coach. The Lady Hornets Basketball Team won the 2016-2017 AHSAA 3A State Championship. This was the first state championship for Locust Fork High School!

Parks and Town Facilities

Locust Fork has a nice city park. It's located just south of the high school. The park has a walking trail where you can exercise. There's also a playground for younger kids, picnic areas, and a pavilion. You can also find a barbecue pit and fields for baseball, T-ball, and softball.

The Locust Fork Community Center is also nearby. You can contact the Locust Fork Town Hall for more information about using the Community Center. The Town Hall is open Monday through Thursday.

If you like golf, the Limestone Springs Golf Course is just a few miles east of town.

Churches

Locust Fork has several churches. They represent different Christian groups. The town is home to the largest Baptist church in Blount County.

Town Services

The community of Locust Fork has a volunteer fire department. These brave volunteers help put out fires and provide emergency medical services. The Blount County Sheriff's Office patrols the town to keep everyone safe.

Locust Fork also has important local services. These include a dental office, a pharmacy, a medical clinic, and a veterinary clinic for pets. There are also some general stores for shopping.

Media

Locust Fork is part of the Birmingham area for television and radio. Local newspapers that cover the town include The Birmingham News and The Blount Countian.

Famous Person from Locust Fork

Gerald Swindle: He is a professional bass angler, which means he is a competitive fisherman. He was named the Bassmaster Angler of the Year in both 2004 and 2016.

Locust Fork, Alabama facts for kids

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