Piedmont, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piedmont
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Buildings on Center Avenue
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Location of Piedmont in Calhoun County and Cherokee County, Alabama
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| 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)
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| • Total | 4,787 |
| • Density | 487.23/sq mi (188.12/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Piedmonsters |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36272
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| Area code(s) | 256 Exchange: 447 |
| FIPS code | 01-59640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0160373 |
Piedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 4,400 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The city is approximately one and a half hours west of Atlanta, Georgia via US Hwy 278, one and a half hours northeast of Birmingham, 20 minutes north of Anniston, Alabama via AL-21, and 25 minutes east of Gadsden, Alabama via US Hwy 278. The campus of Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama is approximately ten miles south of Piedmont via AL-21.
The city is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains chain and is surrounded by mountains on the city's southern and eastern sides. The area is home to Duggar Mountain, which is Alabama's second highest point, only trailing Mt. Cheaha by a small margin. Piedmont is a tourist destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to its close proximity to many nearby hiking trails, streams and rivers, mountains, the Duggar Mountain Wilderness, the Talladega National Forest and Coleman Lake. Weiss Lake is fourteen miles north of Piedmont via AL-9 and is known as "the Crappie Capital of the World." Piedmont is home to Terrapin Creek, which is a destination for kayaking, canoeing, camping, swimming and fishing. Each year, particularly in the summer, thousands of people visit Piedmont and the surrounding areas due to the recreational opportunities and natural environment of the area. Piedmont is also home to the Chief Ladiga Trail, which is a paved trail for walking, jogging and bicycling. The trail runs through downtown Piedmont and runs all the way to Atlanta to the east, and to Anniston, Alabama to the south and west.
Two state highways, AL-9 and AL-21, run through the city limits of Piedmont, as well as US Highway 278. The city and surrounding area is served by the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport, which was constructed in 2010. Many surrounding communities are served by the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run, Vigo, Knighten's Crossroads, Ballplay, Pleasant Valley and Nance's Creek. An abundance of people from the surrounding designated census areas and communities make the short commute to the city of Piedmont regularly for employment, commerce, dining, recreation and general shopping. Portions of the nearby communities of Nances Creek, Spring Garden, Piedmont Springs and Vigo rely on police and fire coverage from the city of Piedmont.
The current mayor is Bill Baker, who was chosen by the city council to lead after elected mayor Rick Freeman resigned due to medical issues.
Contents
History
Founding and early growth
The area now known as Piedmont is a community that began in the early 1840s, located at the crossroads of two early post roads. Major Jacob Forney Dailey of North Carolina came to Alabama in 1848 and bought land in present-day Piedmont. Major Dailey named the area Cross Plains, and an official post office with that name was established on September 22, 1851.
Wall Street financier Franklin Delano, uncle of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was president of the railroad at the time. The railroad sponsored a school for African-American children of freedmen, and Luke was the teacher. Word spread in the area that Luke was teaching racial equality, and resentment developed against him in the northern Calhoun County area. The railroad was planning to use the graduates as a source of students for Talladega College who might then go on to work for the railroad. A racial fight at the Cross Plains station gave rise to arrests of certain freedmen, and then of Luke as well. Klansmen then seized the prisoners and murdered them. Congressional hearings followed, with strengthened civil rights laws, but the murderers were never properly punished.
On July 30, 1888, the Postal Department renamed the office Piedmont, which means "Foot of the Mountains".
Recent history
An F4 tornado struck the community on Palm Sunday 1994, killing twenty people at Goshen United Methodist Church including Reverend Kelly Clem's four-year-old daughter, Hannah. It destroyed two other area churches mid-service as well as many homes in the town and neighboring communities.
Geography
Piedmont is located at 33°55′34″N 85°36′47″W / 33.92611°N 85.61306°W According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2), of which 9.8 square miles (25.4 km2) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.67%, is water.
Culture
School sports
The Piedmont City Schools athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs. Piedmont High School is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and participates in Class 3A Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling (1A-4A), Golf (Boys 3A, Girls 1A-5A), Volleyball, and Track. They also have a band: the Piedmont Blue Knights Marching Band, class 2A.
Wrestling
On February 6, 2009, under Head Coach Harley Lamey, the Piedmont High School wrestling team won the first state championship in school history in any sport. At the AHSAA 1A-4A State Wrestling Championship, the bulldogs had two individual champions, two runners-up, and nine wrestlers who placed. The Bulldogs were 14-0 in dual meets.
Football
On December 3, 2009, at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Head Coach Steve Smith led Piedmont to a 35-28 overtime win over the Cordova Blue Devils in the AHSAA 3A State Championship Game. Luke Smith tied state record for most tackles in 3A state championship game (according to the AHSAA 15) and recovered Ryan Smith's fumble to secure the Bulldogs' win. Christian Cantrell was responsible for four of the Bulldogs' touchdowns and one two-point conversion totalling 26 points, but Chase Childers' performance as QB named him the MVP of the Championship Game. The team finished with a 13-2 record.
On December 3, 2015, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Head Coach Steve Smith led Piedmont to a 44-7 win over Bayside Academy in the AHSAA 3A State Championship Game. Taylor Hayes and Darnell Jackson combined for 124 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns. The victory gave Piedmont (14-1) its second football state title in school history – exactly six years after Bulldogs won their first, concluding the 2009 season. Also, Piedmont’s run to the title included a school record for wins in a season (14) and points scored (572). On May 4, 2013, Head Coach Mark Mitchell led the Piedmont High School Boys Track and Field Team to the 2013 AHSAA 3A Track & Field State Championship in Selma. The Bulldogs scored 81 points to outpace runner-up Trinity Presbyterian, which scored 74. This was Coach Mitchell's seventh consecutive state championship (six previous at 1A Cedar Bluff).
Chief Ladiga Trail
Piedmont is home to the Chief Ladiga Trail. The Seaboard/CSX Railroad was converted into a recreational bike and walking trail as a non-motorized way to travel, exercise, and relax while enjoying the outdoors. The Chief Ladiga Trail and the Silver Comet Trail stretch nearly 100 miles (161 km) from Anniston to Atlanta, making it the second longest paved trail in the United States(longest being the Paul Bunyan in Minnesota).
Cheaha Challenge
Hundreds of cyclists from more than 20 states participate in the Cheaha Challenge every year. The "Toughest Ride in the South" is a recreational bicycle ride that has been moved to Anniston, AL from Piedmont's Civic Center. The ride follows the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway then ends at the top of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama's highest point. The Cheaha Challenge was selected as a Top 10 Event in the State of Alabama by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 381 | — | |
| 1890 | 711 | 86.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,745 | 145.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,226 | 27.6% | |
| 1920 | 2,645 | 18.8% | |
| 1930 | 3,668 | 38.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,019 | 9.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,498 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 4,794 | 6.6% | |
| 1970 | 5,063 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 5,544 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,288 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 5,120 | −3.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,878 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,787 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,970 | 82.93% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 445 | 9.3% |
| Native American | 25 | 0.52% |
| Asian | 17 | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.1% |
| Other/Mixed | 197 | 4.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 128 | 2.67% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,787 people, 2,040 households, and 1,308 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,878 people, 2,053 households, and 1,351 families residing in the city. The population density was 497 people per square mile (191.9/km2). There were 2,404 housing units at an average density of 242.8 per square mile (93.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.0% White, 10.0% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.3% of the population.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,589, and the median income for a family was $39,417. Males had a median income of $36,332 versus $28,355 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,573. About 21.1% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Schools
The Piedmont City School District consists of three schools: Piedmont Elementary School, Piedmont Middle School, and Piedmont High School. The Piedmont City School system has been recognized on a state and national level for its outstanding graduation rates, overall grades, quality of education, and emphasis on the use of modern technology. The school system is led by Superintendent Mike Hayes, PHS Principal Dr. Adam Clemons, PMS Principal Chris Hanson, and PES Principal Brigett Stewart.
School Sports
The athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs and the marching band is known as the Piedmont Blue Knights. Piedmont High School competes in the Alabama High School Athletic Association in Class 3A. It has won a total of four state championships in football (2009, 2015, 2016, 2019), one state championship in wrestling (2009), and one state championship in track and field/cross country. Piedmont High School sports teams also hold multiple area/division championships, as well as several trophies for state runner-up.
School sports
The Piedmont City Schools athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs. Piedmont High School is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and participates in Class 3A Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling (1A-4A), Golf (Boys 3A, Girls 1A-5A), Volleyball, and Track. They also have a band: the Piedmont Blue Knights Marching Band, class 1A.
Wrestling
On February 6, 2009, under Head Coach Harley Lamey, the Piedmont High School wrestling team won the first state championship in school history in any sport. At the AHSAA 1A-4A State Wrestling Championship, the Bulldogs had two individual champions, two runners-up, and nine wrestlers who placed. The Bulldogs were 14-0 in dual meets.
Football
On December 3, 2009, at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Head Coach Steve Smith led Piedmont to a 35-28 overtime win over the Cordova Blue Devils in the AHSAA 3A State Championship Game. Luke Smith tied the state record for most tackles in 3A state championship game (according to the AHSAA 15) and recovered Ryan Smith's fumble to secure the Bulldogs' win. Christian Cantrell was responsible for four of the Bulldogs' touchdowns and one two-point conversion totaling 26 points, but Chase Childers' performance as QB named him the MVP of the Championship Game. The team finished with a 13-2 record. The state championship in 2009 was followed by state championship victories over Bayside Academy in 2015, Mobile Christian in 2016, Mobile Christian again in 2019 and Montgomery Academy in 2021 bringing the number of state football championships for Piedmont High School to five in the sport of football.
Arts
Piedmont High-school has a wonderful theatre department called Piedmont Centerstage society that is run by Jason Wright, every year twice a year they have some sort of production
Transportation
- AL Hwy 21
- US Hwy 278
- AL Hwy 9
- Vigo Rd (Vital East/West route from the end of East Ladiga St in downtown Piedmont, leading to Borden Springs Alabama and Polk County/Cedartown Georgia to the East)
- Centre/Piedmont/Cherokee County Regional Airport
Elderly residents of the city have access to public transportation via the City of Piedmont's public transportation buses.
Notable people
- Willie Dee Bowles, educator and historian
- Rick Bragg, writer, 1996 Pulitzer Prize winner
- Desmond Doss, first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor
- William E. Harbour, civil rights activist
- Kenneth A. Roberts, U.S. Representative, 1951–1965
See also
In Spanish: Piedmont (Alabama) para niños
