Boaz, Alabama

23 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1885 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Albertville-Boaz census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35957. The Survey maps it on the Boaz quadrangle. 10,107 people lived here at the 2020 count.

Boaz within Marshall County

On record in Boaz

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 4 records

Julia Street Memorial United Methodist Churchlisted 1999
Snead Junior College Historic Districtlisted 1999
Thomas A. Snellgrove Homesteadlisted 1996
Edward Fenns Whitman Houselisted 1997

Population over time

2 figures

Boaz grew from 9,551 to 10,107 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	9,551
2020	10,107	+556 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

13 surveys from 23 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.

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 Mountainboro quadrangle1:24000
1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1958 USGS Boaz quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
1976 USGS Boaz quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
1984 USGS Guntersville quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings

Fires near this place

45 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 45 fires within 5 miles of Boaz between 1994 and 2019, burning about 219 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 18 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
Arson/incendiarism	18
Debris and open burning	14
Equipment and vehicle use	5
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	5
Misuse of fire by a minor	1
Natural	1
Recreation and ceremony	1

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
30 September 2019	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	20190930-23
27 September 2016	Arson/incendiarism	15 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	20160927-6
21 September 2005	Arson/incendiarism	8.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
19 September 2005	Arson/incendiarism	1.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
16 September 2016	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	5.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	20160916-11
25 August 2007	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
1 August 2010	Arson/incendiarism	10 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
2 July 2011	Natural	under an acre	Alabama Forestry Commission	29 N/LESTER RD, AL

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Marshall County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Boaz: 1 prospect. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Iron. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Unnamed Prospect	Iron	Prospect

Every working recorded in Marshall County

Storms near this place

54 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Boaz in 54 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 30 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 5 flash flood, 2 tornado. 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.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
August 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$150,000	A thunderstorm produced microburst type damage first in Albertville, Alabama, with numerous trees downed by thunderstorm winds along Highway 205. Three homes sustained minor to moderate damage due to trees falling and trees were reported through two additional homes. Also along Highway 205, several power lines, two power poles and four traffic lights were downed due to the thunderstorm winds. The Foodland grocery store in Albertville, Alabama sustained wind damage, with one third of its roof, sheeting and inside ceiling tiles, moderately damaged by thunderstorm winds. In Albertville, Alabama, numerous trees were downed by thunderstorm winds along Corbinville, Country Club and Cochran roads. A tree was also downed due to thunderstorm outflow winds at Boaz, Alabama.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$70,000	Numerous trees and power lines were blown down all around Boaz. Several trees fell on homes causing damage. A forty foot high billboard was totally destroyed at a restaurant. No injuries were reported.
February 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$45,000	no account filed
September 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$20,000	A large sign was blown down onto a car on Mill Street in Boaz at a shopping complex. Tree limbs and power lines were knocked down along Highway 168 and other parts of Boaz which knocked out power to traffic signals. This prompted city police and officials to direct traffic and clear city streets. Witnesses remarked that the winds lasted only a brief period, a minute or less. Time estimated by radar.
August 1996	Lightning	Boaz	$15,000	no account filed
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$10,000	Numerous trees were knocked down in the Boaz area, including one onto a house.
July 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$10,000	no account filed
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$8,000	Tin roofing was partially blown off a store in the downtown portion of Boaz. Multiple trees and powerlines were reported down as well. Time was estimated from radar.
June 1999	Flash Flood	Boaz	$8,000	Heavy rainfall of three to four inches during the early morning hours caused some flooding. Several roads were temporarily closed in the Boaz area due to water covering the roads. Several area creeks and streams were out of their banks for a brief period causing additional flooding.
September 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$8,000	no account filed
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$6,000	Trees and power lines were blown down in Boaz.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$5,000	Several trees and power lines were blown down in Boaz. A few homes received minor damage when parts of trees fell on them.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$5,000	Seven power poles were blown down near Boaz.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$5,000	A few trees were down in the Boaz community.
August 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$3,000	Two 30-foot trees were blown down due to thunderstorm winds.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$3,000	no account filed
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$2,000	A tree was uprooted onto a powerline. Time estimated based on radar.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$2,000	Trees were knocked down.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$2,000	Trees were knocked down.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$2,000	Trees were knocked down.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$2,000	Power lines were blown down near Boaz.
June 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$1,000	Two pecan trees were uprooted in the Boaz area. Time estimated by radar.
July 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$1,000	A tree was knocked down near the corner of Bethsaida Road and Strawn Road. Time estimated by radar.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$500	A tree was knocked down at Highway 205 at Summerville Road.
April 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	$500	One tree was knocked down onto Highway 205 near the golf course.
February 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	Trees were knocked down in Boaz. Time estimated by radar.
April 2025	Hail	Boaz	-	Quarter size hail was reported at this location at Boaz.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	Trees were knocked down and blocking Alabama Highway 168.
May 2021	Flash Flood	Boaz	-	Portions of 6 city streets were under water, with around 3 feet of water over the roads at one point.
April 2020	Tornado (EF2)	Boaz	-	The tornado continued from Etowah County west of Highway 431, south of Denson Avenue. It quickly intensified to its peak strength as it crossed Highway 431 and plowed through a neighborhood north of Roden Road. Nearly every single home (dozens) in this neighborhood experienced some degree of damage. The most intense damage was noted from two separate single family homes. The first home, with the most devastating damage, was completely destroyed and was mostly taken off its foundation with only two small interior rooms remaining, where the residents took shelter. It was noted however that the anchorage system for the home appeared to be non-existent with no bolts observed to the foundation crawl space piers. The second heavily damaged home on Lee Avenue, experienced a collapse of exterior walls, likely occurring after the roof was taken off. The tornado continued on an east to northeast track across and along Bethsaida Road causing numerous trees to snapped or be uprooted. Several houses appeared to have had shingle roof damage. The tornado continued into DeKalb County.
April 2020	Flash Flood	Boaz	-	Flash flood waters 12 deep at the intersection of Al 168 and Brown Street in Boaz.
March 2018	Hail	Boaz	-	Golf ball sized hail was reported.
June 2017	Flood	Boaz	-	Greater than 2 inches of rain in Boaz resulted in significant ponding of water in yards along Highway 168. Report relayed via Social Media.
March 2017	Hail	Boaz	-	Quarter sized hail was reported near Boaz.
June 2013	Hail	Boaz	-	Penny sized hail was reported.
June 2013	Hail	Boaz	-	Penny sized hail was reported.
June 2013	Hail	Boaz	-	Hail up to penny sized was reported in Boaz.
March 2013	Tornado (EF0)	Boaz	-	A tornado touched down just east of U.S. Highway 431 in Boaz just south of Bruce Road producing minor structural damage to businesses along Highway 431. The tornado tracked east-southeast crossing McVille Road and Alabama Highway 168 causing minor tree damage. The tornado intensified and widened to 300 yards as it crossed Bethsaida Road, when it uprooted and snapped numerous trees as it approached Alewine Road, just north of Ellis Road. The tornado then crossed into Etowah County about a half of a mile west of Oak Drive.
April 2013	Flood	Boaz	-	Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding with several inches of water over the roads along Highway 168 near Summerville road, west of Boaz, Alabama.
January 2012	Flash Flood	Boaz	-	Flash flooding of a creek occurred on Mount Vernon Road.
April 2011	Heavy Rain	Boaz	-	Heavy rain caused minor street flooding around Boaz.
June 2009	Flash Flood	Boaz	-	Heavy rainfall caused water to cover a bridge at Slab Creek southwest of Albertville.
August 2008	Hail	Boaz	-	Quarter size hail was reported in the Boaz community.
April 2006	Hail	Boaz	-	Quarter size hail was reported.
April 2006	Hail	Boaz	-	Quarter size hail was reported.
April 2006	Hail	Boaz	-	Walnut size hail reported.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	A tree and several limbs were blown down across Highway 168 between Boaz and Douglas.
April 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down a few trees in Boaz.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	A few power lines were blown down due to thunderstorm winds.
May 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	numerous trees and power lines blown down.
May 2003	Hail	Boaz	-	penny size hail reported
May 2003	Hail	Boaz	-	quarter size hail reported
February 1999	Hail	Boaz	-	no account filed
February 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Boaz	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Marshall 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.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Red Apple (historical)	2.2 miles	23
Marshall	3.1 miles	23
Double Bridges	3.1 miles	22
Saratoga	3.9 miles	24
Needmore	4.2 miles	23
Whitesville	4.5 miles	23
Bartlett (historical)	4.9 miles	22
White Oak	5.0 miles	23

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 Boaz	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79855	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 114631. 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.