Clanton, Alabama

Clanton
City
Clanton City Hall
Clanton City Hall
Motto: 
"A good place to visit...a better place to live!"
Location of Clanton in Chilton County, Alabama.
Location of Clanton in Chilton County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 32°50′23″N 86°37′41″W / 32.83972°N 86.62806°W / 32.83972; -86.62806
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyChilton
Founded1866
IncorporatedApril 23, 1873
Named forGeneral James H. Clanton[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total23.24 sq mi (60.18 km2)
 • Land23.10 sq mi (59.83 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation
600 ft (183 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total8,768
 • Density380/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35045-35046
Area code(s)205, 659
FIPS code01-15136
GNIS feature ID0157918
Websitewww.clantonal.gov

Clanton is a city in Chilton County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 8,768.[3] The city is the county seat of Chilton County.

History

The town was founded by Alfred Baker in 1868, when Chilton County was formed. Clanton was named in honor of General James H. Clanton, a brigadier in the Confederate States Army. It was incorporated on April 23, 1873. Baker was also elected first mayor of the town.[1]

Early Civil Rights activist Ida B. Wells made a photographic postcard showing an 1891 lynching in Clanton. This was to educate the white public of the atrocities committed against blacks.[4]

During World War II, a small German Prisoner of War camp was located in Clanton.[5]

Geography

Clanton is located at 32°50'23.316" North, 86°37'41.477" West (32.839810, -86.628188)[6].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.4 square miles (53 km2). 20.3 square miles (53 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.15%) is water.[7]

Government

Clanton is governed by the mayor-council system. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council has five members elected from one of five wards.

Economy

Over 80% of Alabama's peach crop comes from Chilton County.[8]

Education

The Chilton County School System provides public education for Clanton. Students in Clanton may attend any public school in Chilton County.[9]

High Schools

  • Chilton County High School (Grades 9 through 12)
  • LeCroy Technical Center (Grades 10 through 12)

Middle School

Clanton Middle School (Grades 6 through 8)

Elementary Schools

  • Clanton Intermediate School (Grades 3 through 5)
  • Clanton Elementary School (Grades K through 2)

Media

Newspaper

  • The Clanton Advertiser (daily)

Culture and recreation

Clanton has hosted the annual Chilton County Peach Festival since 1952.[8]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Owen, Thomas McAdory; Owen, Marie Bankhead (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Harvard University: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 716.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Clanton city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Wood, Amy Louise (2009). Lynching and spectacle: witnessing racial violence in America, 1890-1940. University of North Carolina Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-8078-3254-7. LCCN 2008045194. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  5. ↑ Hutchinson, Daniel (October 6, 2009). "World War II POW Camps in Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "Geographic Comparison Table- Alabama". American Fact Finder. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hoskins Morton, Patricia (December 10, 2009). "Chilton County". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  9. ↑ "Education Opportunities". City of Clanton. Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  10. ↑ Staff Reports, Atcheson plays 10th Carnegie Hall concert, November 17, 2010, "The Clanton Advertiser", Retrieved November 18, 2010
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-02-578970-8.
  12. ↑ Jarrod Patterson, retrieved 23 May 2011[permanent dead link]
  13. ↑ Scott Mims, Local stars in Spielberg series, returns to ‘Hannah Montana’, August 20, 2010, "The Clanton Advertiser", October 27, 2010
  14. ↑ Carlton, Bob (March 21, 2010). "Clanton's Grayson Russell fits in feature films amid regular kid activities". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama: Alabama Live LLC. Retrieved 25 March 2010.