Oak Grove, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oak Grove, Alabama
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Oak Grove Town Hall
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Location of Oak Grove in Talladega County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Talladega |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.85 sq mi (4.78 km2) |
| • Land | 1.84 sq mi (4.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 558 ft (170 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 564 |
| • Density | 305.69/sq mi (118.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
35150-35151
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| Area code(s) | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-55752 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0124059 |
Oak Grove is a small town located in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It officially became a town in 1966. According to the 2020 census, 564 people live there.
Contents
About Oak Grove's Location
Oak Grove is found at 33°11′23″N 86°18′11″W / 33.18972°N 86.30306°W. The town covers an area of about 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles), and it's all land.
Where is Oak Grove?
Oak Grove is a close neighbor to the city of Sylacauga. The two towns are right next to each other. They both follow U.S. Highway 280, a major road that goes from Birmingham, Alabama all the way to Columbus, Georgia, and then towards Savannah. Oak Grove is about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Birmingham and 70 miles (113 km) north of Montgomery.
Hills and Roads
Oak Grove is a hilly town, built on both sides of Landers Hill and Merkle Mountain. It doesn't have a central town square or a main downtown area. Instead, you'll find many businesses along U.S. Highway 280, which locals call "the four-lane." There are also businesses on County Road 511, which used to be U.S. 280 before the new "four-lane" was built.
From Christmas Trees to Community Garden
In the middle of Oak Grove, between its two hills, there used to be a special Christmas tree farm. Hundreds of families would visit each year to cut down their own Christmas trees. This farm was started in 1978 by Bloise Zeigler, who later became the mayor of Oak Grove. He ran the farm until 2009. In 2004, he even grew the official Alabama state Christmas tree, which was displayed at the Alabama Governor's Mansion.
The Christmas tree farm closed in 2010. The former mayor then gave the land to the Town of Oak Grove. It became a community garden called "Comet Grove." This garden provides free fresh food to people who need it and sells produce cheaply to everyone else. It has regular gardens and also two acres where they try out new farming methods using plastic covers, called "plasticulture."
People in Oak Grove
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 482 | — | |
| 1980 | 638 | 32.4% | |
| 1990 | 436 | −31.7% | |
| 2000 | 457 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 528 | 15.5% | |
| 2020 | 564 | 6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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In 2000, there were 457 people living in Oak Grove. Most of the people were White (96.72%), with some Black or African American (2.84%) and Native American (0.44%). A small number (0.44%) were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Oak Grove was 39 years old. About 24.5% of the population was under 18, and 14.4% were 65 or older.
Interesting Events and People
The Meteorite Incident
Oak Grove became famous around the world in 1954 for a very unusual reason. It was the first place ever reported where a meteor actually hit a person! Mrs. Ann E. Hodges was resting on her sofa in her Oak Grove home when something crashed through her roof and hit her hip. It turned out to be a meteorite!
This event made national news. Mrs. Hodges even appeared on a TV show called I've Got a Secret with Garry Moore. A celebrity on the show, Henry Morgan, was able to guess her amazing secret.
The Mystery of Gravity Hill
Oak Grove also has a special place called "Gravity Hill." Here, if you put your car in neutral, it looks like it rolls uphill all by itself! But it's actually an optical illusion, meaning your eyes are playing a trick on you. This strange spot has been featured in the news and attracts many curious visitors. You can find it on Old Highway 280, which is now called "Gravity Hill Road," just off Highway 280.
A Young Leader from Oak Grove
One person from Oak Grove became a notable figure in Alabama politics. Jim Zeigler was born nearby in Sylacauga in 1948 but grew up in Oak Grove. In 1974, he was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission. This made him the youngest person ever to hold a state office in Alabama at that time. He won the position just two years after finishing college at the University of Alabama. While there, he was elected President of the Student Government Association, even defeating a powerful student political group known as "The Machine."
Notable Person
- Skinny Graham, a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
See also
In Spanish: Oak Grove (Alabama) para niños
