Tumbleton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tumbleton, Alabama
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 Tumbleton, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Tumbleton, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Henry |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| GNIS feature ID | 128120 |
Tumbleton is a small community in Henry County, Alabama, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.
The Story Behind the Name
Tumbleton got its unique name from all the "tumbling" that used to happen there! Imagine a big sandy spot under a huge oak tree. People like traveling salespeople and even school kids would tumble around. Even "tumble bugs" (a type of beetle) were seen rolling things there.
Before it was called Tumbleton, it had a few other names:
- First, it was Shelley's Sluice. This was because rainwater would gather a lot of sand at the crossroads.
- Next, it became Shelley's Crossroads. This name came from the Shelley families who owned the land nearby.
- Then, people started calling it Shelley Town.
A local merchant named Will Taylor, who was related to the Shelley family, started calling the place Tumble Town because of all the tumbling fun. Later, the name was changed slightly to the more formal Tumbleton.
Tumbleton Through the Years
Tumbleton was founded in the 1890s. It started at a place where two dirt roads crossed. In the past, it was a busy spot! It had several stores, a cotton gin (a machine that separates cotton fibers), a grist mill (for grinding grain), a saw mill (for cutting wood), and even a school. In the late 1920s, about 1,000 people lived in the area around the Tumbleton Jr. High School.
Today, Tumbleton is mostly a place where people live. It still has a few important spots:
- A polling place, where people go to vote.
- Shelley's Garage, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2020!
- A business that buys and shells peanuts.
- A demolition business.
The land around Tumbleton is great for farming. Farmers in the area grow crops like peanuts, cotton, and other grains.
A Challenging Day
On April 19, 2020, a strong tornado hit Tumbleton. The community was heavily damaged by the storm. Sadly, one person died during this event.
