Walnut Grove, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walnut Grove, Alabama
|
|
|---|---|
Gadsden-Blountsville Rd.
|
|
Location of Walnut Grove in Etowah County, Alabama.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Etowah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.04 sq mi (13.05 km2) |
| • Land | 5.03 sq mi (13.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 840 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 773 |
| • Density | 153.77/sq mi (59.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35990
|
| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| FIPS code | 01-79728 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406827 |
Walnut Grove is a small town in Etowah County, Alabama, USA. It is part of the larger Gadsden area. In 2020, about 773 people lived there. For many years, Walnut Grove was the smallest town in Etowah County.
Contents
History of Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove was once part of Blount County. It became part of Etowah County in 1866. The first families, like the Battles, Morton, and Carnes families, settled here in the early 1800s.
Early Names of the Town
Around 1825, the town was called "Thomas Crossroads." This name came from a landowner named Jordan D. Thomas. Later, in 1848, it was renamed "Cornelius" after the local postmaster, Harvey Cornelius. The town finally got its current name, "Walnut Grove," in 1849.
Walnut Grove During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Walnut Grove was burned. This was a difficult time for the town.
Walnut Grove College and Growth
In 1884, a special school called Walnut Grove College was started. It was the first college preparatory school for both boys and girls in northeast Alabama. The college ran for 15 years. During this time, Walnut Grove grew a lot. It had 13 stores, including a drug store with a soda fountain. The college closed in 1899 as new high schools were being built in the county.
The town officially became a town (was incorporated) in 1886. Colonel W.T Murphree was the first mayor.
Magnesium Discovery
In 1917, a very good type of magnesium was found near Silver Gap. This area is on the western edge of Walnut Grove. Magnesium was mined and processed here in the 1930s and 1940s. It was used by companies in Birmingham and Kingsport, Tennessee.
Geography and Location
Walnut Grove is located in the western part of Etowah County. It is next to the town of Altoona to the south. To the west, it borders Blount County.
Roads and Nearby Cities
U.S. Route 278 goes through Walnut Grove. If you travel east on this road, you will reach Gadsden in about 19 miles. Gadsden is the main city in Etowah County. If you go west, you will reach Cullman in about 33 miles.
Town Size
Walnut Grove covers a total area of about 13.0 square kilometers (5.0 square miles). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.03 square kilometers (0.01 square miles), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 126 | — | |
| 1900 | 251 | — | |
| 1910 | 204 | −18.7% | |
| 1920 | 167 | −18.1% | |
| 1930 | 216 | 29.3% | |
| 1940 | 206 | −4.6% | |
| 1950 | 222 | 7.8% | |
| 1960 | 237 | 6.8% | |
| 1970 | 224 | −5.5% | |
| 1980 | 510 | 127.7% | |
| 1990 | 717 | 40.6% | |
| 2000 | 710 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 698 | −1.7% | |
| 2020 | 773 | 10.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 710 people living in Walnut Grove. These people lived in 273 households. Most of the people in the town were White. A small number were Native American or Asian, or from two or more races.
Age and Households
The population of Walnut Grove includes people of all ages. About 30% of the people were under 18 years old. About 8.7% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 34 years old.
Many households were families, with married couples living together. Some households had a single parent.
Income Information
In 2000, the average income for a household in Walnut Grove was about $26,688 per year. For families, the average income was about $29,519. Some families and individuals in the town lived below the poverty line.
Climate and Weather
Walnut Grove has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
Snowfall Record
On March 13, 1993, Walnut Grove had a record-breaking snowfall. It received 20 inches (51 cm) of snow in just one day. This was the most snow ever recorded in Alabama in 24 hours.
| Climate data for Walnut Grove, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.76 (146) |
5.63 (143) |
5.79 (147) |
5.35 (136) |
4.75 (121) |
5.50 (140) |
4.00 (102) |
4.38 (111) |
4.27 (108) |
3.45 (88) |
4.05 (103) |
5.90 (150) |
58.83 (1,495) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.7 (4.36) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.3 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 9.0 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 107.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Walnut Grove (Alabama) para niños
