Nelson, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nelson, Alabama
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Norfolk Southern Railway crossing Alabama Highway 25 in Nelson
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 Nelson, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Nelson, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Shelby |
| Elevation | 463 ft (141 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 156773 |
Nelson, also known as Nelson Switch or Cates Crossing, is a small place in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. It is called an unincorporated community, which means it's not an official city or town with its own local government. Nelson is located where Alabama State Route 25 crosses the Norfolk Southern Railway. It sits between the towns of Columbiana and Wilsonville.
Contents
A Look Back: Nelson's History
Nelson has an interesting past, especially because of a person named Frank Nelson, Jr.
Frank Nelson, Jr. and His Work
Frank Nelson, Jr. was born in Nelson. He grew up helping out in his father's store in nearby Columbiana. After studying at the University of Alabama, he started making charcoal. This charcoal was then sent to places like Brierfield Furnace and Shelby Iron Company, which were important for making iron.
Later, Frank Nelson, Jr. moved to Birmingham. There, he started a company called the North Birmingham Land Company. Because of his hard work, more than thirty factories moved to the North Birmingham area. These included big companies like the American Cast Iron Pipe Company. Frank Nelson, Jr. also became the president of the Empire Coal Company. Today, a building in Birmingham, called the Frank Nelson Building, is named after him.
Mining and Mail in Nelson
In 1918, a company called the Columbiana Ore Company ran iron ore mines in Nelson. Iron ore is a rock from which iron can be extracted.
Nelson also had its own post office for many years. It operated from 1857 until 1904, helping people send and receive mail.
Weather Events
On April 18, 1953, Nelson experienced a strong F3 tornado. This type of tornado can cause significant damage to buildings and the area around it.
