5 Old-Timey Mining Towns In Alabama
Long before Alabama became known for Civil Rights movements and college football, miners risked their lives in small towns scattered across its hills and valleys in search of iron, coal, and even gold. These small mining communities helped fuel America’s industrial rise in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They fed steel mills and railroads and worked to create a boom in frontier economies. Many of those towns still exist today, albeit as quieter versions of themselves. Some preserve their mining history through museums and historic sites, while others offer a chance to explore the places where nature has taken over old mining activities. Alabama’s old-timey mining towns invite you to come and discover their industrial past and a few surprises along the way.
West Blocton
Located in Bibb County, the small town of West Blocton was once a coal-mining town. West Blocton attracted workers from across the U.S. and Europe in the late 19th century, particularly Italian immigrants. The community that arose here tied its luck and fortunes to coal production in the Cahaba Coal Field. This was one of Alabama’s most significant mining regions, and by the early 20th century, the town boasted mines, houses, and businesses supporting extraction and transport.
If you visit West Blocton today, you can still see the remnants of the historic coke ovens used for coal mining at West Blocton Coke Ovens Park. The park offers the opportunity for an outdoor trip, while you learn more about the town’s mining past. Should you want a little more outdoor adventure, a twenty-minute drive will take you to the stunning Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. Here, you can go fishing, kayaking, or canoeing. You can also explore the hiking trails while keeping an eye out for the varied species of birds that live in the area. Back in West Blocton, you can stop by the Blocton Italian Catholic Cemetery established in 1896. The cemetery contains around 86 monuments and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Montevallo (Aldrich Coal Mine Area)
Montevallo is a small town in Shelby County that is home to a key preserved mining community, Aldrich. Aldrich was a company-owned coal town in the late 1800s, developed specifically to support coal extraction in the Cahaba Coal Field. This coal field was one of the earliest and most successful in the state. It helped position central Alabama as an important fuel supplier during the industrial expansion of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak, Aldrich was a self-contained community. Mining companies built houses, churches, schools, and a commissary. But, as coal demand declined, mining operations slowed. Aldrich gradually lost its separate identity and was absorbed into Montevallo. Aldrich still survives in its physical form today, and its history is preserved through restored buildings.
The Aldrich Coal Mine Museum is a mile and a half from Montevallo, at the site where the old mining town once thrived. Aside from visiting this site, you can also head to Orr Park, where you will find the famous Tinglewood Carvings. These carvings were created by Tim Tingle, a local artist, in the 1990s. They include depictions of dragons and gnomes carved into trees throughout the park. There are also walking and biking trails here if you want to explore all forty acres. Make some time to stop by the American Village Citizenship Trust, which allows you to walk down Colonial-era streets and take part in drills with Washington’s Army.
Sylacauga
One of Alabama’s most important mining towns is located in Talladega County. Sylacauga has a long history of marble quarrying and is often called ‘The Marble City.’ It sits on top of one of the world’s purest white marble deposits, with mining starting in earnest in the late 19th century. Industrial equipment made the process even more efficient, and as a result, marble from Sylacauga has been used in monuments, cemeteries, sculptures, and government buildings across the U.S. Unlike many mining towns that became ghost towns when resources eventually dried up, Sylacauga adapted and persevered. Marble mining continues to this day, albeit on a smaller scale, and the town’s mining legacy is evident in the local culture and landscape.
Today, you can explore Gantt’s Marble Quarry Observation Point, which offers you a first-hand look into the 500-million-year-old marble vein in Sylacauga. The vein stretches over thirty miles, and the point offers beautiful views to boot. You can also check out the B.B. Comer Memorial Library, where you will find marble sculptures created by some of the world’s best sculptors. For something on the weirdest side of things, you can see the marble Hodges Meteorite memorial called 'The Falling Star' on the Sylacauga Municipal Complex. The meteor was the only one in history to ever hit a person after landing in Sylacauga in 1954, and the original fragment is held at the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
Jasper
Located in Walker County, the town of Jasper was another one of Alabama’s integral coal-mining centers up until the early 20th century. The town sits in the Warrior Coal Field, which powered Alabama’s industrial economy for many decades. When railroads arrived and expanded in the area, Jasper grew rapidly. Soon, it became a center for coal mining, processing, and shipping to steel mills and factories across the Southeast. Life revolved around coal mining in Jasper, with workers coming from the South and overseas immigrant communities. The town persevered during unforeseen challenges, especially fluctuating coal demand. To this day, Jasper remains connected to its mining roots and is committed to preserving its mining legacy.
You can learn more about how mining shaped Jasper at the Bankhead House and Heritage Center. Several important artifacts and exhibits here also depict the area’s past beyond mining. In addition to historical sites, you can enjoy sports at one of Jasper's city parks, including Memorial Park, which offers sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths. If you want to add water activities, Lewis Smith Lake is a 30-minute drive from Jasper. The lake offers opportunities for boating and swimming, and you can have a fun family picnic on the shore.https://www.bhandhc.org/ https://walkerleader.com/2024/01/24/bankhead-house-heritage-center-launches-new-walker-county-bicentennial-exhibit/ https://www.jaspercity.com/parks-recreation/neighborhood-parks/memorial-park
Anniston
Anniston is in Calhoun County and owes its origins to iron ore mining and iron production. The Woodstock Iron Company founded the town in the early 1870s after it identified the area as rich in iron ore. The region also offered access to timber for charcoal production and proximity to rail lines. Unlike other Southern towns, Anniston was designed deliberately as an industrial community centered on iron furnaces and mining operations. The town became a valuable supplier of iron products during the Spanish-American War and World War I. But, as iron production slowed, Anniston transformed into a regional service and cultural center.
At the Anniston Museum of Natural History, you can explore more than 2,000 exhibits and natural history artifacts spanning centuries. There are seven exhibit halls, each with a different theme. These themes include rock formations, dinosaurs, fossils, and more. There are also mineral exhibits as well as mummy and animal displays. The museum, along with the Berman Museum of World History, shows the town’s growth beyond its industrial roots. You can also take a walk through downtown Anniston to see the historic neighborhoods and commercial buildings that date back to the city’s iron boom. For some nature-filled activities, head to Oxford Lake, five miles south of town. Here, you will find the oldest covered bridge in the state, the Coldwater Covered Bridge. You can walk the trails and have a picnic at the designated pavilions.
Alabama’s Mining History Echoes Through Its Small Towns
It is easy to reduce mining towns to dates and minerals, but these places have supported entire communities, often during the harshest times. The towns on this list are not included solely because mines once operated here. They matter because they enabled their communities to adapt as demand for mineral mining declined. Each town still reflects its response to that shift, creating the perfect blend of past and present. Today, modern communities remain strong in these towns, working to preserve their historical roots while moving forward.
