Piedmont, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Piedmont
City
Buildings on Center Avenue
Location of Piedmont in Calhoun County and Cherokee County, Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Calhoun, Cherokee
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council (7 members)
Area
• Total	9.93 sq mi (25.72 km2)
• Land	9.82 sq mi (25.45 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
Elevation	702 ft (214 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,787
• Density	487.23/sq mi (188.12/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	36272
Area code(s)	256
FIPS code	01-59640
GNIS feature ID	0160373

Piedmont is a city located in Alabama, a state in the United States. It's special because it's in two counties at once: Calhoun and Cherokee. In 2020, about 4,787 people lived there. Piedmont is part of the larger Anniston-Oxford, Alabama area.

The city is about an hour and a half drive from Atlanta, Georgia. It's also about 20 minutes north of Anniston, Alabama. Jacksonville State University is only about ten miles south of Piedmont.

Piedmont is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is surrounded by mountains on its southern and eastern sides. The area is home to Duggar Mountain, which is Alabama's second-highest point. Piedmont is a great place for people who love the outdoors. There are many hiking trails, streams, rivers, and mountains nearby. You can also visit the Duggar Mountain Wilderness and the Talladega National Forest.

Weiss Lake is a short drive north of Piedmont. It's known as "the Crappie Capital of the World" for fishing. Piedmont also has Terrapin Creek, which is popular for kayaking, canoeing, camping, swimming, and fishing. Many people visit Piedmont each year to enjoy these outdoor activities.

The city is also home to the Chief Ladiga Trail. This is a paved path for walking, jogging, and biking. The trail goes through downtown Piedmont. It connects to Atlanta in the east and Anniston in the south and west.

Three main highways run through Piedmont: AL-9, AL-21, and US Highway 278. The Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport serves the city. Many nearby communities use Piedmont's 36272 ZIP code. People from these areas often come to Piedmont for work, shopping, and fun.

History of Piedmont

How Piedmont Started

The area where Piedmont is today began as a small community in the 1840s. It was located where two old mail roads crossed. In 1848, Major Jacob Forney Dailey bought land here. He named the area Cross Plains. A post office with this name opened on September 22, 1851.

Later, a large factory called the Standard Coosa-Thatcher Cotton Mill was built in Piedmont. This factory opened in the late 1800s. It was the main place for people to work for almost 100 years. The city was first called "Hollow Stump" and then "Cross Plains." But in 1888, local people chose the name Piedmont. The word "Piedmont" means "Foot of the mountains." This name made sense because the city is surrounded by mountains.

Recent Times

The Standard Coosa-Thatcher Company was a textile company. It started in Piedmont in 1891. It was very important because it lasted for almost a century. The company grew and opened factories in other parts of the United States. In Piedmont, people called it the "Cotton Mill." It started working in 1892 and closed in 1995. The building was torn down starting in 2016. Workers saved old wood and other materials from the mill to sell.

Geography and Location

Piedmont is located at 33°55′34″N 85°36′47″W / 33.92611°N 85.61306°W / 33.92611; -85.61306. The city covers about 25.6 square kilometers (9.9 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Piedmont is less than two hours away from big cities like Atlanta, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama. It is on the eastern side of Alabama, close to the Georgia border. You can find Piedmont between Gadsden, Alabama, and Cedartown, Georgia, if you take US Highway 278. It's also between Centre, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Alabama, using Alabama Highway 21 and 9. The closest major highways are I-59 and I-20.

Fun Things to Do

Chief Ladiga Trail

Piedmont is home to the Chief Ladiga Trail. This trail used to be a railroad track. Now, it's a paved path for biking and walking. It's a great way to exercise and enjoy nature. The Chief Ladiga Trail connects with the Silver Comet Trail. Together, they stretch almost 100 miles from Anniston to Atlanta. This makes it one of the longest paved trails in the United States.

Duggar Mountain Wilderness

Duggar Mountain is the second-highest peak in Alabama. It is 2,140 feet (650 meters) tall. This mountain is just outside Piedmont, which is the closest city to it.

The wilderness area has some of the roughest and most mountainous land in Alabama. It is also home to rare plants. This area is one of the last places in Alabama's National Forests without roads. Most of the mountain's 16,000 acres were too steep to cut down trees for wood. The Pinhoti National Recreation Trail goes through this wilderness area.

Terrapin Creek Adventures

Terrapin Creek is a popular spot for water fun. You can rent canoes and kayaks nearby. There are also places to camp and fish. Thousands of people visit this area every year. They come to "float the creek" and enjoy the beautiful natural environment.

Cheaha Challenge Bike Ride

The Cheaha Challenge is a big bicycle ride. Hundreds of cyclists from many states take part each year. It's called the "Toughest Ride in the South." The ride starts in Anniston, AL, and follows the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway. It ends at the top of Cheaha Mountain, which is Alabama's highest point. The Cheaha Challenge is a top event in Alabama.

Night in the Museum Hotel

This old house was moved from its first spot in Piedmont. It is now downtown, near the Old Railroad Depot and Museum. It was built in the late 1800s and is thought to be one of the first homes in Piedmont. This house is now a two-bedroom hotel and a museum. You can rent a room and get a tour of the museum.

The new location is great because it's close to downtown Piedmont. There are restaurants, coffee shops, and stores nearby. The Night in the Museum Hotel is also just two blocks from the Chief Ladiga Trail. The city recently fixed up the Roberts House. The Piedmont Historical Society helped move and renovate the house. They wanted it to be a safe museum to show Piedmont's history. It also serves as a special hotel for visitors using the Chief Ladiga Trail.

Piedmont Aquatic Center

The Piedmont Aquatic Center is run by the City of Piedmont. It has water slides, a big outdoor swimming pool, and splash pads. It is open in the late spring and summer. You can buy season passes or day passes. The Aquatic Center is next to the Piedmont Sports Complex. Each January, they hold an annual "polar plunge" here. People jump into the cold water to raise money for charity.

Chief Ladiga Marching Festival

This is an annual event held every October. Marching bands from all over Alabama come to compete for a trophy. Bands from Georgia also join in now. The Chief Ladiga Marching Festival takes place at Piedmont High School.

Southern Railroad Depot Museum

The Piedmont Historical Society runs the Southern Railroad Depot Museum. This building was built in 1867. It is listed on the National and Alabama preservation registries. The museum tells the story of Piedmont, Alabama. It has art, cultural displays, and historical items. There is also an old Southern Railroad caboose next to the original loading dock.

Foothills Motocross and Park

Foothills Motocross and Park opened in September 2020. It has a dirt track with man-made hills for stunts. Events are usually held on weekends.

Local Media

• Radio: You can listen to WJCK 88.3 FM for Christian music. WCKA Alabama 810 AM, 94.3 FM, and 97.1 FM broadcast Piedmont High School football games.

People of Piedmont

In 2020, there were 4,787 people living in Piedmont. There were 2,040 households and 1,308 families.

Population Facts

• Most people in Piedmont are White (about 82.9%).
• About 9.3% of the people are Black or African American.
• A small number of people are Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander.
• About 4.1% of people are from other races or mixed races.
• About 2.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Piedmont was about 40.5 years old.

Education in Piedmont

Schools in the City

The Piedmont City School District has three schools:

• Piedmont Elementary School
• Piedmont Middle School
• Piedmont High School

Piedmont schools are known for being very good academically. In 2022, Piedmont tied for fourth place in the Alabama State Department of Education report card.

School Sports and Activities

The sports teams at Piedmont City Schools are called the Bulldogs. Piedmont High School competes in many sports, including:

• Football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Wrestling
• Golf
• Volleyball
• Track (indoor, cross country, and outdoor)

The school also has the Piedmont Blue Knights Marching Band.

The Piedmont High School football team has won many championships. They have won 10 region championships in the last 13 years. They have also made it to the state semifinals for eight years in a row. During this time, they have won five state titles and were runners-up twice.

The Piedmont High School baseball team has also done very well. They have been in the state finals four times (2012, 2017, 2019, and 2022). They finished as runners-up each time. The baseball team has won 11 straight area championships.

Famous People from Piedmont

• Willie Dee Bowles: An educator and historian.
• Rick Bragg: A writer who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1996.
• Desmond Doss: The first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.
• William E. Harbour: A civil rights activist.
• Kenneth A. Roberts: A U.S. Representative from 1951 to 1965.

See also

In Spanish: Piedmont (Alabama) para niños