Arab, Alabama
24 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1885 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Arab census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35016. It stands on Jones Branch. The Survey maps it on the Arab quadrangle. 8,461 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,089 feet above sea level.
Population over time
2 figuresArab grew from 8,050 to 8,461 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8,050 | |
| 2020 | 8,461 | +411 (+5%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
14 surveys from 24 printed sheetsMatched 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.
- 1885 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:125000
- 1888 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:125000
- 1892 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:125000
- 1895 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:125000
- 1903 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1936 USGS Arab quadrangle1:24000
- 1948 USGS Arab quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1950 USGS Arab quadrangle1:24000
- 1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1975 USGS Arab quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1984 USGS Guntersville quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
45 since 1995Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 45 fires within 5 miles of Arab between 1995 and 2017, burning about 278 acres in total. None started naturally. 10 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 |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 18 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 10 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 7 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 September 1995 | Recreation and ceremony | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 September 1995 | Recreation and ceremony | 6.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 1995 | Equipment and vehicle use | 8.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 24 September 2010 | Debris and open burning | 26 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 1997 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 July 1996 | Recreation and ceremony | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 8 June 2016 | Equipment and vehicle use | 4.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20160608-10 |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
60 of 113 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Arab in 113 storm reports between 1996 and 2023: 59 thunderstorm wind, 31 hail, 14 flash flood, 5 tornado. The reports record 1 death. 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2021 | Flash Flood | North Arab | 1 killed | Flash flood fatality occurred on Haynes Road in Arab. Vehicle swept away with child inside. 2 other occupants were able to escape. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $130,000 | no account filed |
| November 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $125,000 | Two chicken houses were heavily damaged on Fry Gap Road (CR 44). |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $75,000 | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | Arab | $55,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds uprooted trees, snapped power lines and power poles in several areas of southern Marshall County, including the communities of Boaz and Sardis City, including along U.S. Highway 431 and Alabama Highway 205. Other trees were knocked down on Church and Gamble Streets in Sardis City. In Boaz, trees were knocked down on Collier, Bassett and Davis Streets, and Summerville Road and Alabama Highway 205. In Albertville, a tree was knocked down into a home on Oak Street causing significant damage. Times were estimated by radar. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Arab | $50,000 | Baseball size hail was reported in Arab. |
| October 2010 | Tornado (EF0) | North Arab | $35,000 | An EF-0 tornado with peak winds up to 85 mph approached the town of Arab and touched down just east of Highway 231 at Haynes Road. The tornado snapped or uprooted several trees along and produced some minor roof and siding damage at a home at the intersection of Haynes Road and Putter Circle. Additional trees were snapped or uprooted on the golf course across the street from the home. The tornado continued a short track east-northeast causing significant damage to a farm outbuilding on Huckleberry Lane. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $35,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Lightning | Arab | $30,000 | Lightning was blamed for three house fires in Arab. Each of the fires were in the attics and didn't affect the rest of the house. |
| February 2008 | Flash Flood | Arab | $27,000 | A bridge was reported washed out near Sundown drive one mile west of Arab. Ankle deep water was reported at a residence 1 mile south of Arab. |
| August 2023 | Lightning | North Arab | $26,000 | Lightning struck a farm and killed 19 cattle near Ruth, including one bull. Location and time estimated by the Severe Weather Data Inventory from NCEI. |
| March 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $20,000 | Numerous trees were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $20,000 | Widespread trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of Hulaco road and Highway 69. |
| April 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Arab | $20,000 | A short lived F0 tornado severely damaged a large barn and storage area near the Cherokee ridge sign and Exxon station near highway 231. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $20,000 | Several trees and power lines were down in the Fry Gap area. A trailer was destroyed when a tree fell on it. There were a few trees that landed on homes, causing minor damage. |
| March 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $20,000 | no account filed |
| February 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $16,000 | Several trees were blown down across the city of Arab. |
| April 1996 | Lightning | Arab | $15,000 | no account filed |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $15,000 | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | Arab | $12,000 | no account filed |
| October 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $10,000 | A tree and a few power lines were downed due to thunderstorm winds at Cranford road and Matt Morrow road near Arab, Alabama. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $8,000 | Trees were blown down on highway 69. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $8,000 | Trees were blown down on 4th street. |
| January 1997 | Hail | Arab | $8,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $6,000 | A tree was blown down on a house on Mount Oak Drive. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $6,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down in Arab, especially on Brindley Mountain. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $5,000 | A social media report and photo was received of a tree damaging a vehicle off of Highway 231 in south Arab. Time estimated by radar. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Arab | $5,000 | A tree was blown down on power lines at Midfield road. |
| April 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $5,000 | Trees were blown down on Highway 69 E at a Texaco station. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $5,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Arab and in other parts of the county. |
| January 1997 | Flash Flood | Arab | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $4,000 | Power lines were blown down on 4th Avenue in Arab. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $4,000 | no account filed |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Arab | $3,000 | Trees were reported down at the intersection of Midfield road and May Morrow road. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $3,000 | Trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds on Hulaco Road near Arab. |
| July 2001 | Flash Flood | Arab | $3,000 | A few roads in and near the city of Arab were flooded and some were temporarily impassable. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $2,000 | Multiple trees were knocked down in Arab area. Time estimated by radar. |
| February 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $2,000 | A tree was blown down on a residence in Arab. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $2,000 | A tree was blown down onto 12th street near a CVS store. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $2,000 | A tree fell on power lines on Cedar Creek road. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Arab | $2,000 | A tree was blown down on Oakleaf Lane. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Arab | $2,000 | Golf ball size hail was observed just north of Arab in the Ruth Community. |
| February 2000 | Hail | Arab | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,500 | A tree was knocked down on a house on 6th Street. Time estimated by radar. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,000 | Trees were knocked down at Fry Gap Road near Arab. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,000 | Trees were knocked down in the Arab area. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,000 | Up to eight trees were knocked down in the county from southwest to northeast. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,000 | A tree was downed by strong thunderstorm winds. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $1,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down small tree limbs on powerlines which resulted in a small power outage in the town of Arab. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Arab | $500 | One tree was knocked down onto a house. Also, a large oak tree was uprooted near this same location. |
| April 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $500 | One tree was knocked down at Annie Lee Garden apartments at the intersection of Hulaco Road and 7th Avenue NW. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $500 | A tree was knocked down on Rose Lane. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arab | $500 | Windows were blown out of a house. |
| February 2023 | Flash Flood | North Arab | - | Flash flooding along Hogjaw Road near Arab. Water covering the road, rising up to vehicle doors in some areas. |
| February 2023 | Flood | Arab | - | Water covering several roadways and ditches overflowing in and around Downtown Arab. |
| September 2022 | Flash Flood | Arab | - | Several roads in Marshall County are impassable due to flash flooding: Askea Grove Lane, Warrenton Road, Brashiers Chapel Road, Cobb Road, Lookout Drive, and Lexington Drive. |
| October 2021 | Flash Flood | Arab | - | Road washed out at 8th Avenue and Arab-Thompson Road NE. |
| October 2021 | Flash Flood | Arab | - | Multiple reports of numerous roadways flooded across the city of Arab. |
| April 2021 | Hail | Arab | - | Quarter-sized hail was reported in the Arab and Joppa area. |
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 | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Acres | 1.0 miles | 20 | |
| North Arab | 1.8 miles | 20 | |
| May Apple (historical) | 1.8 miles | 20 | |
| Rice | 2.0 miles | 20 | |
| Pine Lake Village | 2.7 miles | 20 | |
| Eddy | 2.7 miles | 20 | |
| Egypt | 2.7 miles | 20 | |
| Askea Grove | 3.0 miles | 24 |
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 Arab | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79405 | The 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 113194. 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.
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.













