Alabama is divided into 67 counties and contains 460 incorporated municipalities consisting of 169 cities and 291 towns. These cities and towns cover only 9.6% of the state’s land mass but are home to 60.4% of its population.
The Code of Alabama 1975 defines the legal use of the terms “town” and “city” based on population. A municipality with a population of 2,000 or more is a city, while less than 2,000 is a town.
For legislative purposes, municipalities are divided into eight classes based on population.
Class 1 is defined as all cities with a population of 300,000. Although no cities in the state currently meet this population requirement, Birmingham was allowed to remain a class 1 city since it incorporated with a 1970 population of 300,910 before the cutoff date of June 28, 1979.
Class 2 are cities between 175,000 and 299,999 inhabitants which include present day Montgomery, Mobile, and Huntsville.
There are no present Class 3 cities which require populations between 100,000 and 174,999 inhabitants.
Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Dothan, Decatur and Auburn are Class 4 cities with between 50,000 and 99,999 inhabitants.
Ten cities fall under Class 5: a population greater than 25,000 and less than 49,999.
There are 34 cities that are Class 6, with between 12,000 and 24,999 inhabitants,
and 40 cities that are Class 7 with a population from 6,000 to 11,999 inhabitants.
Class 8 includes all towns, plus all remaining cities with populations of less than 6,000.
The largest municipality by population is Birmingham with 212,237 residents while the smallest by population is McMullen with 10 people. The largest municipality by land area is Huntsville, which spans 209.05 sq mi, while the smallest is McMullen at 0.11 sq mi.
Kellyton Alabama
Kellyton is an incorporated town in Coosa County, Alabama, United States. It had a population of 217 as of the 2010 census.The town is part of the Talladega-Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area. Kellyton was previously listed in the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses as an incorporated community. It did not appear again on the census until 2010. Kellyton Alabama History
The area known today known as Kellyton was originally an outpost called Webbsville, named for the area’s first postmaster, William Webb.
Whether a first time home buyer or seasoned retiree, Oxford is a special place to live. Oxford’s mild climate allows participation in outdoor activities all year round, a big plus if golf or tennis is your game.
Residents will tell you that Oxford is a great place for families. Children attend award-winning schools and have opportunities to participate in a variety of after-school activities. With several athletic programs to choose from, it’s clear that children can experience a variety of activities while growing up in Oxford.
The tale of John Henry was believed to have originated in Leeds. In this folk story, John Henry, the “steel-drivin’ man”, raced and won against a steam engine in the laying of railroad that penetrated the Oak Mountain.
Union Springs, a small historic town, is the county seat of Bullock County. Located in southeast Alabama, it is less than an hour’s drive from several destination cities, including Montgomery, Auburn, Troy, and Eufaula.
When it comes to unusual town names this on may have you scratching your head. Deep in Monroe County, about 80 miles southwest of Montgomery, sits the town of Scartch Ankle.
This old Alabama town was on the banks of the Black Warrior River at Erie Bend near Greensboro.
Erie was once a vibrant town of 1,500 and county seat of Greene County, Alabama – now nothing remains and it is in Hale County
Downtown Opelika features Historic Railroad Avenue, where you can hear the whistles blow and enjoy the rumblings of trains as they travel through the city. The beautiful courtyard and fountain in Lee County Courthouse Square is the site of a variety of special events. History abounds at The Museum of East Alabama.
Arab Alabama
The city of Arab, Alabama was incorporated in 1892 and is located in Cullman and Marshall counties in North Alabama. Arab is located 20 minutes south of Redstone Arsenal. The area is rich in heritage and history with unique locally owned shops, theaters, live music and several quaint diners. The city is a progressive community with a supportive family atmosphere through a wholesome , safe and secure environment. www.arabcity.org
The name of the town was an unintentional misspelling by the U.S. Postal Service in 1882 of the city’s intended name, taken from Arad Thompson, the son of the town founder and first postmaster Stephen Tuttle Thompson. Two other names for the town were sent to the Postal Service for consideration: “Ink” and “Bird”. Arab has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. The Arab Alabama Historic Village
located in Arab City Park is a tribute to the pioneer people who settled and built the area. The City of Arab and the Arab Historical Society continue to develop the village which has 10 buildings furnished with items through the 1940’s and portrays a rural community of that time. The buildings are open March-October on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Arab Alabama City Park
has several special events throughout the year; Back When Day in April, Arab Community Fair in September and Santa in the Park the Friday after Thanksgiving. On November 11th, 2000 a community veterans memorial was dedicated at the park entrance. The memorial is a tribute to the men and women of this community who served their country. The memorial was erected by the city government to honor all veterans and especially in memory of those who gave their all. The black marble monument includes bronze plaques commemorating each branch of service.
