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Anniston, Alabama

19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1900 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Anniston census division. It lies in ZIP code area 36201. It lies near Washer Hill. The Survey maps it on the Anniston quadrangle. 21,564 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 719 feet above sea level.

Anniston within Calhoun County

On record in Anniston

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 48 shown

Every listing in Calhoun County

Surveyed buildings and structures 8 records

Population over time

2 figures

Anniston fell from 23,106 to 21,564 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201023,106
202021,564-1,542 (-7%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 19 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 14 photographs shown, 1936 to 1941

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Alabama tenant farmer near Anniston, Alabama
Alabama tenant farmer near Anniston, Alabama
Lange, Dorothea, photographer, 1936. Library of Congress
Soldiers from a nearby camp waiting for a bus in Anniston, Alabama
Soldiers from a nearby camp waiting for a bus in Anniston, Alabama
Delano, Jack, 1941. Library of Congress
Soldier and his girl coming out of a restaurant in Anniston, Alabama
Soldier and his girl coming out of a restaurant in Anniston, Alabama
Delano, Jack, 1941. Library of Congress
Soldiers from a nearby Army camp waiting for a bus in Anniston, Alabama
Soldiers from a nearby Army camp waiting for a bus in Anniston, Alabama
Delano, Jack, 1941. Library of Congress
Soldier and his girl. Anniston, Alabama
Soldier and his girl. Anniston, Alabama
Delano, Jack, 1941. Library of Congress
Alabama tenant farmer and children. Family labor in cotton. Near Anniston, Alabama
Alabama tenant farmer and children. Family labor in cotton. Near Anniston, Alabama
Lange, Dorothea, photographer, 1936. Library of Congress
Fort McClellan Ammunition Storage Area, Building No. 4409, Second Avenue (Magazine Road), Anniston, Calhoun County, AL
Fort McClellan Ammunition Storage Area, Building No. 4409, Second Avenue (Magazine Road), Anniston, Calhoun County, AL
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fort McClellan Ammunition Storage Area, Second Avenue (Magazine Road), Anniston, Calhoun County, AL
Fort McClellan Ammunition Storage Area, Second Avenue (Magazine Road), Anniston, Calhoun County, AL
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Calhoun County

Fires near this place

177 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 177 fires within 5 miles of Anniston between 1993 and 2020, burning about 7,646 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 43 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined62
Arson/incendiarism43
Debris and open burning36
Equipment and vehicle use19
Recreation and ceremony8
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Smoking2
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 1994Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresWheeler National Wildlife RefugeFM 94-10
6 September 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresWheeler National Wildlife RefugeFM 95-14
3 September 2002Arson/incendiarism20 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 2016Equipment and vehicle use800 acresAlabama Forestry Commission20160925-18
22 September 2016Debris and open burning5.0 acresAlabama Forestry Commission20160922-14
18 September 1998Debris and open burning5.0 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
16 September 1999Missing data/not specified/undetermined30 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
16 September 1997Arson/incendiarism3.0 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Calhoun County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 71 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 71 workings within 5 miles of Anniston: 38 unknowns, 21 past producers, 9 prospects, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Iron, Aluminum, Kaolin, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Anniston PitsIron, ManganesePast Producer1875
Not Known, Ammiston AreaManganese, IronPast ProducerResidual
QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Shirey Prospect No 2MicaProspect
Shirey Prospect No. 2MicaProspect
Cal 3 Clay ProspectClayProspect
Donoho MineClayProducer
Lackey PitClayProducer
Unnamed MineClayPast Producer

Every working recorded in Calhoun County

Storms near this place

42 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Anniston in 42 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 21 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 3 lightning, 3 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1995Thunderstorm WindAnniston$85,000Thunderstorm wind downed trees in Anniston including one that fell on two cars and one that fell on a house causing substantial damage. Lightning also struck one house causing a fire.
May 2003LightningAnniston$75,000no account filed
April 1995Thunderstorm WindAnniston$40,000Several buildings were damaged as well as numerous trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm wind according to the emergency management office. Winds gusted to 66 mph in Anniston.
May 2003LightningAnniston$30,000A storage building at the Anniston Museum of Natural History was struck by lightning and subsequently burned to the ground. The storage building mainly housed landscaping tools and machinery.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindAnniston$20,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindAnniston$20,000no account filed
June 2009Thunderstorm WindAnniston$15,000A few trees were blown down around the city of Anniston. A large tree limb fell onto a home, destroying a porch and damaging the adjoining roof.
March 2003HailAnniston$10,000Golf ball size hail was observed in Wellborn.
June 1999HailAnniston$10,000Quarter to golfball size hail was reported around the city of Anniston. Dime size hail fell in the Piedmont area. A multi-car accident occurred on Interstate 20 due to hail and heavy rainfall but no injuries were reported.
May 1998HailAnniston$10,000Golf ball size hail was reported in White Plains.
January 1997Thunderstorm WindAnniston$10,000no account filed
July 1996LightningAnniston$10,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindAnniston$10,000no account filed
January 1997HailAnniston$9,000no account filed
April 2011Thunderstorm WindAnniston$5,000Numerous trees were blown down throughout Calhoun County.
April 2009Thunderstorm WindAnniston$5,000Power lines were blown down in several locations in the city of Anniston.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindAnniston$5,000Wind damage was reported by emergency management along County Road 93 about four miles north of United States Highway 78 in southwest Calhoun County. About 25 trees were downed and several buildings were damaged.
January 1997HailAnniston$5,000no account filed
January 1997HailAnniston$5,000no account filed
August 2006Thunderstorm WindAnniston$4,000Trees and power lines were blown down along SR-144, between Ohatchee and Alexandria.
July 2005Flash FloodAnniston$3,000Sections of Interstate 20 near Anniston were flooded and temporarily impassable.
May 2001HailAnniston$3,000Dime to golf ball size hail was reported in and around the city of Anniston, especially on the east side.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindAnniston$2,000Trees and power lines were blown down in Anniston.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindAnniston$1,000Several trees were blown down across the road at 10th Street and Christine Avenue, in Anniston.
April 2005HailAnniston$1,000Nickel size hail fell across north central Calhoun County.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Trees were downed across Anniston.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Numerous trees down across Anniston, Oxford, and Weaver, including Quintard Ave, Rainbow Cir, Conger Rd, M St, Lenlock Ln, and Interstate 20. Some trees fell on homes, vehicles, or power lines.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Multiple trees uprooted between Oxford and Anniston.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Several trees uprooted between the cities of Anniston and Oxford.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Multiple reports of trees uprooted and power lines downed in the city limits of Anniston.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Numerous trees uprooted in the city of Anniston and across Calhoun County.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Numerous trees uprooted and power lines downed in the city of Anniston.
March 2003Funnel CloudAnniston-A funnel cloud was spotted near the Anniston Army Depot along US 431. Another funnel cloud was observed in Anniston.
March 2003HailAnniston-Penny to nickel size hail was reported in and near the city of Anniston.
November 2002HailAnniston-Nickel size hail was reported in Oxford and in Anniston.
June 2002HailAnniston-Nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Saks and in Oxford. Dime size hail was observed in Weaver.
January 1999Funnel CloudAnniston-A funnel cloud was reported in the city of Anniston and also north of Anniston near Saks.
May 1998HailAnniston-Dime size hail was reported at Saks on the north side of the city of Anniston by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office.
April 1995Thunderstorm WindAnniston-Several buildings were damaged as well as numerous trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm wind according to the emergency management office. Winds gusted to 66 mph in Anniston.
March 1995HailAnniston-Dime-size hail was reported on U.S. 431 north of Anniston by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department.
February 2009HailAnniston-no account filed
April 2006Funnel CloudAnniston-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Calhoun County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Oxanna0.8 miles19
Letchers1.3 miles19
Mechanicsville1.4 miles19
Blue Mountain1.8 miles19
Woodland Park1.9 miles19
Wayside2.2 miles19
West End Anniston2.2 miles19
Lardent2.6 miles21

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on AnnistonAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79474The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 159066. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.