McCalla, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McCalla
Census-designated place
The U.S. Post Office in McCalla
McCalla Location in Alabama Show map of Alabama McCalla Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jefferson
Area
• Total	34.21 sq mi (88.60 km2)
• Land	33.77 sq mi (87.47 km2)
• Water	0.44 sq mi (1.14 km2)
Elevation	509 ft (155 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,965
• Density	383.91/sq mi (148.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	35111
Area code(s)	205, 659
GNIS feature ID	122460

McCalla is a community located in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties in Alabama, United States. It's southwest of a city called Bessemer. This area is also known as the end of the Appalachian Mountains. It's a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area identified by the government for gathering population information, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.

History of McCalla

The community of McCalla is named after a very important person: Richard Calvin McCalla. He was a famous civil engineer. An engineer is someone who designs and builds things like roads, bridges, and buildings.

Richard Calvin McCalla worked as the chief engineer for many railroads in the southern United States. He helped build train tracks for companies like the Alabama and Chattanooga, the Tuscaloosa and Northern, and the Knoxville and Ohio railroads. He also surveyed many rivers in the South. Surveying means carefully measuring land and water to create maps or plan construction.

Population in McCalla

McCalla was first counted as a census-designated place in the year 2020. A census is like a big count of all the people living in an area.

In the 2020 United States census, there were 12,965 people living in McCalla. This number helps us understand how many people call McCalla home.

Fun Things to Do in McCalla

Tannehill Ironworks, McCalla, Alabama

Covered bridge in McCalla

One of the most interesting places to visit in McCalla is Tannehill State Park. This park is like a step back in time!

• Historic Ironworks: The park has a 19th-century blast furnace. This was a huge oven used to melt iron ore to make iron.
• Museum: You can also visit the Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama. It teaches you all about how iron and steel were made and used in the past.
• Old Buildings: The park features many historical buildings and rustic cabins. You can see what life was like long ago.
• Camping: If you love the outdoors, there's a campground where you can stay overnight.
• Festivals: Tannehill State Park hosts many fun festivals throughout the year. These include music festivals like the Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Festival and the Down Home Psaltery Festival. There are also archery tournaments and even a Civil War reenactment.

Schools in McCalla

The students in the McCalla area attend schools that are part of the local school system. These schools include:

• McAdory Elementary School
• McCalla Elementary School
• McAdory Middle School
• McAdory High School

These schools help students from elementary grades all the way through high school get a great education.

Famous People from McCalla

McCalla has been home to some well-known individuals, especially in the world of sports!

• Chad Smith: He is a professional baseball player. He has played as a pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, a Major League Baseball team.
• Morris Higginbotham: He was a successful football coach. He led several high school football teams in the Birmingham area.
• Bo Jackson: One of the most famous athletes ever, Bo Jackson grew up in Martin Town and went to the McAdory school system. He set amazing state records in many different sports. Bo Jackson is special because he is the only athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports: professional baseball and professional football!
• Sherri Martel: Known as Sensational Sherri in professional wrestling, she was a famous wrestling valet. She lived in McCalla.