Chilton County, Alabama
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.
Chilton County | |
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![]() Chilton County Courthouse in Clanton | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Alabama | |
![]() Alabama's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 32°50′43″N 86°42′52″W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | December 30, 1868 |
Named for | William Parish Chilton, Sr. |
Seat | Clanton |
Largest city | Clanton |
Area | |
• Total | 701 sq mi (1,820 km2) |
• Land | 693 sq mi (1,790 km2) |
• Water | 7.9 sq mi (20 km2) 1.1% |
Population | |
• Total | 45,014 |
• Density | 64/sq mi (25/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Website | chiltoncounty |
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
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
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 701 square miles (1,820 km2), of which 693 square miles (1,790 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (1.1%) is water.[2]
Major highways
Interstate 65
U.S. Highway 31
U.S. Highway 82
State Route 22
State Route 139
State Route 145
State Route 155
Adjacent counties
- Shelby County (north)
- Coosa County (east)
- Elmore County (southeast)
- Autauga County (south)
- Perry County (southwest)
- Dallas County (southwest)
- Bibb County (northwest)
National protected area
- Talladega National Forest (part)
Settlements
Unincorporated communities
- Isabella
- Mountain Creek
- Stanton
References
- "QuickFacts: Chilton County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.