Page Contents for Blountsville, Alabama

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Historical Events

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Alabama state capital is Montgomery.
The population of Blountsville is approximately 1,800 (2000), 1684 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 694 (1990), 654 (2010).
The amount of land area in Blountsville is 14.028 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.181 sq kilometers.
The distance from Blountsville to Washington DC is 649 miles.
The distance to the Alabama state capital is 120 miles. (as the crow flies)
Blountsville is positioned 34.08 degrees north of the equator and 86.58 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

northeast of Birmingham in central Alabama.
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History & History Related Items

Bear Meat Cabin/Blountsville was the first settlement in Blount County. The town was established by Caleb Fryley and John Jones in 1816 as Bear Meat Cabin. The post office was opened in 1821. Blountsville was incorporated December 13 ,1827. It was the county seat until 1889 when the government was moved to Oneonta. There were many schools in the town in the early years - The academy, Blount College and The district Agricultural School plus the public schools. Blount County Court house and jail was built in 1833 and remained there until it was moved to Oneonta. Blountsville was very involved in the Civil war with General Forrest and General Streight fighting in the town. The Blount College was in the building that was originally the court house. It was established in 1890. Blountsville United Methodist Church was established in 1818 and the beautiful church is still in use today.

the site of the Civil War event known as the Forrest-Streight Raid which occurred here in May 1863. Every first week end in May this event is re-enacted here.
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The incorporation of Blountsville

December 13, 1827

Attractions

The Copeland-Bussey house built in c. 1835, is one of theoldest structures in northeast Alabama. It is representative of thedwellings of farmers and shareholders of the mid nineteenth century. Lewis usedslave labor to burn the bricks used and build the structure which also served as a stagecoach stop and inn. The structure has been stabilized by theAlabama Historic Preservation Alliance and the Blountsville HistoricalSociety.

The Freeman House, built circa 1825, was damaged by a storm and the 2story brick dwelling was rebuilt, using the same bricks, into a one story. The porches face the historic Bear Meat Cabin Rd. (still apparent) and the other porch faces the U.S. Highway 231. Annual re-enactment is held on the grounds. The structure has been renovated by the Blountsville Historical Society and now serves as a museum and visitors center on a part-time basis. During the reenactment it is furnished with period furnishings and is open to the public for tours.

The Thomas Nation House, circa 1835, is now a ruin due to a stormthat took all but one and one half walls down in 1998 before it could be stabilized. The ruins can still be seen from the U.S. Highway 231.
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Blountsville Historical Events

1911
The Heading Mill was begun by a company from Cleveland, Ohio. The mill made heads of pine for kegs. The Blountsville Cotton Warehouse was a business that also thrived here in association with the cotton gins.

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1895
The old courthouse/Blount College burns. Classes were moved to building that stood on hill (near the current Burns Memorial ) and renamed Ninth District Agricultural School.

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1890
Blount College was established in the former Blount County Courthouse. The foundation still exists under the present day Blountsville Pharmacy building.

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1889
The county seat was moved to Oneonta. Story has it that somemen from Oneonta slipped into Blountsville courthouse, at cover of night,stole the records and established the 'new' courthouse in Oneonta. To this dayit is a source of contention among many of the people of Blountsville.

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1864
Major General Lovell H. Rousseau raided Blountsville with a force of2,700 Union soldiers.

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1863
Forrest-Streight Raid. Civil War skirmish in town, wagons burned nearcurrent cemetery.

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1858
Masonic Lodge chartered.

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1835
Barcliff Hotel was built. Served as a stagecoach stop, physicians office and is still in use now as an apartment (as of 2001).

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1833
A courthouse and jail made of brick was constructed.

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1827
Blountsville was incorporated on December 13th.

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1818
Ebenezer Hearn founded the United Methodist Church here.Services are still held here in the church house built in 1886. 1821..The Alabama legislature passed an act establishing an academy inBlountsville. James Hendrik and Samuel Foust were named as trustees.A post office was established.

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1816
Blountsville, whose former Native American name was Bear Meat Cabin, was established by Caleb Fryley and John Jones.

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1815
Beeson Family History
Vestal Beeson and his family moved to the site of Blountsville, Blount Co., Alabama about 1815, where he became a wealthy farmer and a large slave owner. He gave the lot for the courthouse square in Blountsville when it was made the County Seat in 1820.

Blountsville Schools

Blountsville students attend school in the Blount County School System

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"Blountsville Elementary School: Building Educated Students"
Blountsville Elementary School
P.O. Box 160
Blountsville, Alabama
phone: (205) 429-2458
email: blelem@blountsville.net
1998 administration:
Kay Smallwood, Principal
P.T.O. Officers
Vicki Herndon, President
Ginger Dorning, Vice President
Alene Bullard, Secretary
Bobbie Holaway, Treasurer
P.T.O. Meetings: The 3rd Monday of the following months: September , October, November, December, March, April, and May
P.T.O. Projects: Enhancing Technology and Playground Improvement
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J. B. Pennington High School
81 College Street
Blountsville, Alabama
Phone: 205-429-4101

Faculty & Staff (2/2000)
Gary McGill, Principal
Alan Hargett, Assistant Principal
Mary Nichols, Counselor
Teachers:
Black, Ginger, Brindza, Betty, Brindza, Bill, Ginger Black, Betty Brindza, Bill Brindza, Chris Chambers, Phillip Cleveland, Chris Davis, Leigha Dobbs, JoLynn Finch, Judy Fincher, Jeff Gibbs, John Gibbs, Wilda Kretzschmar, Blake Leeth, Steve Love, Dianne Martin, Melissa McRae, Greg Neill, Grant Nichols, Mary Nichols, John Nolen, Dianne Pinyan, Myris Robinson, Jackie Sivley, Renae Skillman, Jennifer Smith, Patricia Smith, Billy Vaughn, Tina Wynn

J. B. Pennington High School is composed of grades 7 - 12 and is a part of the Blount County School System. The school is located in an area that is generally rural, yet has course offerings that are directed toward both the students that will not seek further schooling after high school and those who will attend some type of other schooling. The administration and staff are open to new ideas and will do everything possible to make the school experience both interesting and worthwhile. Blountsville

Miscellany

The population of Blountsville was:
1990 - 1,527
2000 - 1,800