City of Clanton City Hall 505 Second Ave. N P.O. Box 580 Clanton, AL 35046-0580 (205) 755-1105 www.clanton. al.us Population: 8,846 (2016 estimate) Land area: 20.3 square miles and of that 15 percent is water Zip code: 35046-0580 Elevation: 600 (183 m) City Council: Mayor Billy Joe Driver Jeffrey Price Bobby Cook Sammy Wilson Awlahjaday Agee Mary Mell Smith
PEACH TOWER It is perhaps the most recognizable landmark in Clanton. For more than 20 years, travelers on Interstate 65 have been greeted by the giant Peach Water Tower, reminding them of what Chilton County is famous for. The design was chosen because Clanton and Chilton County grow more peaches than anywhere else in the state. The water tower, located near Interstate Exit 212, was built in 1993 after city officials, including Mayor Billy Joe Driver, were returning from a business trip to Washington, D.C., and saw Gaffney, South Carolina’s giant peach. Gaffney waived their ownership of the design so Clanton could build its version, which stands about 120 feet tall and holds about 500,000 gallons of water — about half the size of the original. Clanton spent $1.2 million on the tank, which was built by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company with Montgomerybased AME Engineering overseeing the project. $200,000 in donations were collected, some from as far away as Naples, Florida. Artist Peter Freudenberg of New Jersey painted the tank. PEACH FEST Chilton County is transformed every June into a fun-filled harvest, as the county’s famed peach crop is ready for picking. Dozens of events make up the Peach Festival, an annual tradition since 1947. Some of those activities are listed below. PEACH RUN The Peach Run is usually held the third Saturday in June. The annual footrace features a 5k and 10k run through downtown Clanton. For more information about the race, contact sponsors at Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness at (205) 280-6450.
PEACH COOK-OFF The Peach Cook-Off is also traditionally held the third Saturday in June. The contest features dishes in two age divisions: adult (ages 20 and above) and youth (ages 9-19). The only catch is the recipes must include Chilton County peaches, of course! The event is popular not only among local cooks but the general public as well. Cooking demonstrations take place while the entries are being judged. After the cash prizes and ribbons are awarded, those in attendance get to sample each of the dishes, including the top winners. PEACH PAGEANTS The four Peach Queens travel around Alabama yearlong promoting Chilton County’s top industry and its peach farmers. Carrying the title is a great responsibility and honor. The four girls are chosen during Peach Fest during four pageants, which usually are held the last week of June. The pageants are held on a Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in four categories: Little Miss (ages 5-7), Young Miss (8-11), Junior Miss (12-14) and Miss (15-18). The event is held in Chilton County High School’s auditorium. Abbey Porter is the reigning Miss Peach, a position that also comes with a scholarship.
PEACH JAM JUBILEE The Peach Jam Jubilee is held the last Friday evening in June at Clanton City Park. The park becomes a street fair as arts and crafts, food and other vendors set up shop. Games, inflatables, and other events for kids also line the field. The Jubilee jams out with musical acts of various genres. The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Peach Jam. PEACH PARADE The Peach Parade is held the morning after the Peach Jam. In the past, the event has begun at 9 a.m. The parade follows a winding course through downtown Clanton. PEACH AUCTION The Peach Auction follows the Peach Parade, usually around 10:30 a.m. the last Saturday in June. The auction is held at Jack Hayes Field at Clanton City Park. The fundraiser benefits Clanton Lions Club and its charitable work, which includes providing glasses and eye care to children. Thousands of dollars are raised each year. Independent judges rank baskets of peaches submitted by local farmers. The baskets are then auctioned off to the public, with proceeds supporting the Lions Club’s various charities. The record for a first place basket of peaches is $8,000 in 1996! CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL PARK Located on County Road 63, the park is the site of Alabama’s only Old Soldiers Home for Confederate Army veterans. The park was
in operation from 1902 to 1939 as a caring facility for elderly veterans as well as their wives and widows. The site held 22 buildings including cottages, a hospital, dairy barn, mess hall, water and sewage system, memorial hall, library and administrative building. It housed 650-800 residents. Most veterans served in Alabama outfits, but other Confederate soldiers also stayed there. The last Civil War veteran staying there died in the facility in 1934, five years before it closed. The park and other aspects of the Confederate Memorial Park are free, but there is a $5 admission to enter the museum. For more information, call (205) 755-1990.
the early ‘60s. The last Lutheran pastor, however, served in 1911 and the church was sold to the Congregational Church. The Congregational Church was a major supporter of Thorsby Institute, a private school open from 1906 through 1957. Many students and faculty members attended the church, so when the school disbanded the church followed soon thereafter. Now, the chapel is the center of many city-sanctioned and family events in town. The church closed in late 2011 for renovations. The 2018 Swedish Festival is planned for October. HIGGINS FERRY PARK The site not only offers an entrance for prime fishing spots but also a scenic locale for camping, swimming and relaxing for local and traveling families. The park offers full-service electrical hook-ups for RVs along with spots for primitive tent-camping. The park also hosts fishing tournaments regularly. The tournaments often see well over 100 boats on the water and several occupied by people from both Chilton County and outside of the area. The park also features a pavilion perfect for celebrating birthdays, wedding receptions and other events, including awards ceremonies for shing tournaments. Higgins Ferry Park is located at 11161 County Road 28 in Clanton. For reservations and information, contact the park ranger at (205) 755-5952 or email address pkranger@earthlink.net.
Town of Thorsby P.O. Box 608 Thorsby, AL 35171 (205) 646-3575 www. townofthorsby. com
City of Jemison 14 Padgett Lane Jemison, AL 35085 Mailing address: P.O. Box 609 Jemison, AL 35085 (205) 688-4492 www. jemisonalabama.org Population: 2,616 (2016 estimate) Land area: 8.1 square miles Zip code: 35085 Elevation: 719 feet (219 meters) City Council: Mayor Eddie Reed George Brasher Donnie Lane Robert Morris Rex Bittle Sam Reed
various terrain. Minooka’s trails are part of the National Trails System and the Passport to Fitness, a project of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to promote fitness opportunities in Alabama. The park is included in a 150-page booklet of walking and hiking trails across the state. Participants can check off each location as they visit them. There are several piers for fishing in Minooka Lake, and rods and reels may be rented from the park office. The lake is also visible from a large deck behind the main office building, the main pavilion and an overlook below the pavilion. Minooka opened 18 new RV campsites in June 2010. Each site offers 30- and 50-amp electrical service and water supply, and 10 sites offer sewage hookup. A dump station is located just outside the campground. For more information, including maps and complete list of fees and regulations, visit the park’s website at newchiltoncounty.org/minookapark/ minookaparkhome.htm.
Town of Maplesville City Hall P.O. Box 9 Maplesville, AL 36750 (334) 366-4212 Email: maplesville towno@ bellsouth.net Population 703 (2016 estimate) Land area 3.3 square miles Zip code: 36750 Elevation: 351 (107 m) Town Council: Mayor W.C. Hayes Jr. John Caudle Sheila Hall Hal Harrison Richard Davis Patty Crocker
C hilton
County, Alabama
Population: 1,980 (2016 estimate) Land area: 5.2 square miles Zip code: 35171 Elevation: 696 feet (212 meters)) Town Council: Mayor Robert Hight Neil Benson Marilyn Collins Glenn Littleton Chasity Chapman HELEN JENKINS CHAPEL Helen Jenkins Chapel is located on Concordia Avenue across from Thorsby School. For the past decade, the chapel has served as a meeting place and a museum showcasing historical artifacts from the town — a fitting role, considering that you can learn a lot about Thorsby from the little church. Built in 1903 by Norwegian Lutherans who had been meeting in homes
MINOOKA PARK Minooka Park may be one of Chilton County’s hidden jewels, but it is becoming less of a secret every year. The ATV and wilderness park, located about 2 miles off U.S. Highway 31 between Jemison and Calera in North Chilton County, continues to expand to offer more activities to outdoor enthusiasts. One of the most popular aspects of the park is its 25-mile trail system, used for ATV and dirt bike riding, walking, hiking and horseback riding. The trails offer views of some of Central Alabama’s most breathtaking scenery and cover
MAPLESVILLE TRAIN DEPOT In spring 2010, Maplesville opened a pictorial museum in the Southern Railroad Depot to highlight the town’s history dating back to the early 19th century. It has about 50 photographs of early families, physicians, churches, schools, the railroad, street scenes, maps and other aspects of the developing community. It even features town surveys from as early as 1827 and 1853. The depot also currently serves as the meeting place for Maplesville’s senior citizens group. The depot was added to the Alabama Historic Register in 1976. In 2003, the surrounding area was added to the Alabama Historic Commission’s Register of Landmarks and Heritage and designated as the Maplesville Railroad Historic District. Tours of the historic depot will be held during Maplesville Heritage Day on April 7, 2018.
2018 Road Map Including Major Highways and Secondary Roads