Chilton County, Alabama

county in Alabama, United States

Chilton County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. In 1942, the U.S. Navy commissioned a new vessel, the USS Chilton, in honor of Chilton County. In 2020, the population was 45,014.[1] The county seat is Clanton. It is a dry county which means alcoholic drinks cannot be sold.

Chilton County
Chilton County Courthouse in Clanton
Chilton County Courthouse in Clanton
Map of Alabama highlighting Chilton County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°50′43″N 86°42′52″W / 32.8453°N 86.7144°W / 32.8453; -86.7144
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 30, 1868
Named forWilliam Parish Chilton, Sr.
SeatClanton
Largest cityClanton
Area
 • Total701 sq mi (1,820 km2)
 • Land693 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Water7.9 sq mi (20 km2)  1.1%
Population
 • Total45,014
 • Density64/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Websitechiltoncounty.org

The county is known for its peaches and its unique landscape. It is home to swamps, prairies and mountains due to the foothills of the Appalachians. It also has the Coosa River basin and is close to the Black Belt Prairie.

History change

Baker County was formed on December 30, 1868. It was named for Alfred Baker, with its county seat at Grantville. Residents of the county asked the Alabama legislature for the renaming of their county. In 1874, they chose the name Chilton County. William Parish Chilton, Sr. (1810–1871), was a lawyer who became Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Later he represented Montgomery County in the Congress of the Confederate States of America. It is not known when the county seat was moved.

Geography change

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 700.76 square miles (1,815.0 km2). 693.98 square miles (1,797.4 km2) (or 99.03%) is land and 6.78 square miles (17.6 km2) (or 0.97%) is water.[2]

Major highways change

Adjacent counties change

National protected area change

Settlements change

Cities change

Towns change

Unincorporated communities change

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Chilton County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.