Thorsby, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thorsby, Alabama
Town
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Little Swede Town, The Peach Basket, Thor’s carbuncle
Location of Thorsby in Chilton County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Chilton
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	5.84 sq mi (15.12 km2)
• Land	5.83 sq mi (15.10 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	696 ft (212 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,064
• Density	354.09/sq mi (136.72/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35171
Area code(s)	205, 659
FIPS code	01-76080
GNIS feature ID	0153689

Thorsby is a town in Chilton County, Alabama, United States. It is located in the state of Alabama, USA. As of the 2020 census, about 2,064 people lived in Thorsby.

Where is Thorsby?

Thorsby is in the northern part of Chilton County. It is located at 32°55'1.171" North and 86°42'57.442" West.

The U.S. Census Bureau says the town covers about 5.84 square miles (15.12 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

Who Lives in Thorsby?

Thorsby's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 2,064 people living in Thorsby. These people lived in 706 households, and 486 of these were families.

Thorsby's Population in 2010

In 2010, Thorsby had 1,980 people. There were 733 households and 573 families. The town had about 386 people per square mile (149 per square kilometer).

Most people in Thorsby were White (89.7%). About 5.7% were Black or African American. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander. About 5.7% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, 34% of households had children under 18. About 62.1% were married couples. The average household had 2.70 people, and the average family had 3.06 people.

The median age in Thorsby was 37 years old. About 25.8% of the population was under 18. About 11.9% were 65 or older.

The median income for a household was $45,179. For families, it was $52,813. About 11.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.

What is Thorsby's Weather Like?

Thorsby has a Humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cold winters. It also gets a lot of rain, usually over 50 inches (127 cm) each year.

Seasons in Thorsby

• Spring and Summer: These seasons are quite rainy. They often have strong thunderstorms.
• Fall and Winter: These months are colder and often cloudy. From November to March, the sky is often covered with clouds.

Temperatures and Rainfall

In January, the average high temperature is 53.0°F (11.7°C), and the low is 31.8°F (-0.1°C). In July, the average high is 90.6°F (32.6°C), and the low is 69.7°F (20.9°C). The average yearly temperature in Thorsby is 62°F (16.7°C).

Thorsby usually gets a small amount of snow in late winter, from January to February. The average snowfall is about 1.9 inches (4.8 cm). However, during the Great Blizzard of 1993, the town received over 1 foot (30 cm) of snow. In 2009, it got almost 6 inches (15 cm) of snow.

The average yearly rainfall is about 59 inches (150 cm). March is usually the wettest month, and October is the driest.

Storms and Tornadoes

Spring and fall are pleasant but can have changing weather. Cold fronts often bring strong thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes. Thorsby is in an area known as Dixie Alley, where tornadoes happen often.

In late summer and fall, Thorsby can experience tropical storms and hurricanes. This is because it is close to the Central Gulf Coast.

The History of Thorsby

Thorsby's town sign showing the local high school's mascot, the Rebel Man

Thorsby is a small town in Central Alabama. It is located in Chilton County. The town was first settled in 1895. It officially became a town in 1901.

How Thorsby Started

The first settlers were people from Scandinavia. They had first moved to the Midwest United States. But they were looking for a warmer climate and good soil for farming. One of these early settlers was Theodore T. Thorson. The town was named after him. The word "by" in "Thorsby" means "settlement" in Scandinavian languages.

The town grew quickly. In just a few years, it had two hotels, a sawmill, a lumber company, and two wineries. Thorsby was seen as a great place for people from the North to move to. They wanted a warmer place to farm and live healthier lives.

The rich soil in the South was great for growing grapes and other fruits. This included strawberries and the famous peaches of Chilton County. The founders created the Concordia Land and Improvement Association. They advertised in newspapers about this "utopia" they found in the Southeastern United States. Many people traveled by train to buy land and start a new life. Locals lovingly called Thorsby the "little Swede town."

Thorsby's Location and Festivals

Thorsby is located almost exactly between Birmingham and Montgomery. Both cities are about 45 miles (72 km) away from the center of Thorsby.

Every autumn, Thorsby holds its Annual Swedish Festival. This festival celebrates the town's heritage. It includes an arts and crafts fair, a pageant, music, and car and motorcycle shows. You can also find food native to the American South.

The town still has the old Norwegian Lutheran Church. It is now called "Helen Jenkins Chapel." This chapel can be used by the public. There is also a Scandinavian Cemetery that visitors can see.

Thorsby has its own police and fire departments. It also has departments for building inspection, law, and parks and recreation. The Thorsby Water Works manages the town's water. The Chilton County School System runs the K-12 Thorsby School in the town.

Thorsby High School

Thorsby High School's official mascot, the Thorsby Rebel

Thorsby High School is a school for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. It has been a public school since 1957. The school started as Thorsby Institute soon after the town was founded in the early 1900s. Thorsby Institute was a private school at first. Later, it became part of the public school system under the Chilton County Board of Education. Thorsby Institute gave a good education to students from the local area and other states for many years.

There is an old school house in central Thorsby. It was used until the mid-1970s.

Thorsby High School, January 2008

Thorsby High School has a Great Schools Rating of 3 out of 10 based on its state test results. In the 2006–2007 school year, 834 students attended the school. There were 51 teachers, meaning there was about 1 teacher for every 16.5 students.

In that year, there were:

• 54 kindergartners
• 66 first graders
• 61 second graders
• 59 third graders
• 65 fourth graders
• 69 fifth graders
• 74 sixth graders
• 74 seventh graders
• 69 eighth graders
• 70 freshmen
• 53 sophomores
• 63 juniors
• 57 seniors

As of June 2014, 388 students (45%) were eligible for discounted or free lunch. The school mascot is the Thorsby Rebel. The school colors are maroon and white.

Famous People from Thorsby

• Jackie Burkett: He was a former NFL center.
• William Sprague: He was a U.S. Senator and the 27th governor of Rhode Island. He was born in Cranston, RI, but lived in Thorsby from ages 4 to 7.

See also

In Spanish: Thorsby (Alabama) para niños