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Centre, Alabama

19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1893 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Centre census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35960. It stands on Terrapin Creek. The Survey maps it on the Centre quadrangle. 3,587 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 663 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Centre within Cherokee County

Population over time

13 figures

Centre grew from 250 to 3,587 between 1850 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
1850250
1880144
1890347+203 (+141%)
1900282-65 (-19%)
19401,012
19501,672+660 (+65%)
19602,392+720 (+43%)
19702,418+26 (+1%)
19802,351-67 (-3%)
19902,893+542 (+23%)
20003,216+323 (+11%)
20103,489+273 (+8%)
20203,587+98 (+3%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 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.

Fires near this place

147 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 147 fires within 5 miles of Centre between 1995 and 2019, burning about 1,854 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 83 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/incendiarism83
Debris and open burning33
Missing data/not specified/undetermined21
Equipment and vehicle use3
Smoking3
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Recreation and ceremony1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
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
5 September 1998Arson/incendiarism60 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
30 September 2007Arson/incendiarism4.0 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
3 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined26 acresAlabama Forestry Commission20160903-2
29 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreAlabama Forestry CommissionNER-20120929-001
28 September 2008Arson/incendiarism16 acresAlabama Forestry CommissionCO RD 59 CENTRE,ALABAMA, AL
27 September 1999Arson/incendiarismunder an acreAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 1999Arson/incendiarismunder an acreAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named
24 September 2010Arson/incendiarism16 acresAlabama Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Cherokee County

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Centre: 2 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Iron, Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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
Cherokee County Hwy. Dept.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Round Mountain MineIronPast Producer
Round Mt. MineIronPast ProducerHematite

Every working recorded in Cherokee County

Storms near this place

60 of 67 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Centre in 67 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 36 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, 5 flash flood, 3 tornado. The reports record 1 death and 6 injuries. 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
November 2002Tornado (F2)Centre1 killed, 4 hurt, $1,200,000The Centre Tornado touched down near Highway 411, just to the east of the Cherokee Country Club. It then traveled northeast, crossed over Cowan Creek, and damaged houses along County Road 40 at approximately 1122 pm CST. The tornado continued its northeastward movement and crossed over County Road 16 at approximately 1125 pm CST. One death was reported in a mobile home at the point where the tornado crossed over County Road 16. From this point, the tornado crossed County Road 31, damaging more homes before moving over Spring Creek. The tornado turned more to the east-northeast, damaging even more homes, before finally lifting near the eastern end of Weiss Lake near Mud Creek.The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency estimates that 88 homes were either damaged or destroyed as this tornado moved across the county. In addition to the one fatality, there were also 4 injuries reported.The tornado was on the ground from 1120 pm CST to approximately 1132 pm CST. It had a path 10.5 miles long, and at its widest point was 440 yards wide.Beg: 34 07.176/85 38.020 End: 34 10.010/85 27.928
August 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre1 hurtA tree fell on a kayaker on Terrapin Creek near County Road 336, resulting in an injury. Nearby, a tree was downed at CR 14 and CR 523 as well.
April 2018Thunderstorm WindCentre1 hurtLarge tree on home with one injury.
May 2003HailCentre$65,000Hail up to the size of softballs fell across western and southern Cherokee County. Many locations reported the hail was covering the ground. Most of the hail fell across rural areas.
December 2000Tornado (F3)Centre$40,000no account filed
January 2009Flash FloodCentre$25,000Heavy rainfall produced flooding at several locations across Cherokee County. Around a half a dozen roads were closed due to high water. One car on Park Street, in the city of Centre, was swept away by flood waters, briefly trapping its occupant.
June 1999LightningCentre$25,000Lightning struck the steeple of the Shiloh Baptist Church on Bay Springs Road during a thunderstorm. The lightning started a fire which heavily damaged the roof, the main sanctuary, and the foyer. Additional damage was done by the smoke and the water used to put out the fire.
April 1998Tornado (F0)Centre$25,000A small tornado touched down on the east side of Centre downing a number of trees and damaging several house roofs.
February 1999Thunderstorm WindCentre$20,000Numerous trees reported down around the Davis Chapel Church near CR 19. In the Mt. Weisner Community on CR 39, two mobile homes were totally destroyed and six other homes sustained minor damage. Numerous barns and outbuildings were demolished, and numerous trees and power lines were blown to the ground.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCentre$20,000Trees were down along SR 9 in Centre.
April 2009Thunderstorm WindCentre$10,000A large awning was blown off a service station, and several trees were blown down, in the city of Centre. Single trees were blown down at several other locations across the county.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindCentre$10,000A barn was damaged on County Road 22, just north of US-411.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindCentre$10,000Numerous trees were blown down across the southern sections of the county.
May 2003Flash FloodCentre$8,000US 411 was flooded and temporarily impassable near Centre.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindCentre$8,000A few trees and power lines were blown down in and around the city of Centre. Pea size hail also accompanied this storm.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindCentre$7,000no account filed
February 2011Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000Trees were blown down in Centre and a couple of those trees landed on homes.
January 2009Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000Several trees were blown down across the county, including around the city of Centre.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000Unspecified roof damage occurred at the Cherokee Plaza shopping center, near Centre.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000Trees and power lines were blown down in the Spring Garden Community.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000Several trees were down, east of Centre along US 411.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindCentre$5,000A few trees were down in the Sand Rock area, in the northwest part of the county.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindCentre$4,000A roof was blown off a trailer home on US 411, 7 miles east of Centre.
April 2010Thunderstorm WindCentre$3,000Trees were blown down at several locations around the city of Centre.
August 2003Thunderstorm WindCentre$3,000Trees were knocked down along CR 38 near Plano.
December 2023Thunderstorm WindCentre$2,000Metal roofing was peeled off the front of a Cherokee Farmers' CO-OP building in Centre, and a small tree fell on a house on Hardwood Hills Drive, causing minor roof and gutter damage. A few small trees were uprooted and tree limbs were snapped around town, blocking roadways.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindCentre$2,000Several trees were snapped off in Centre.
May 2001HailCentre$2,000Golf ball size hail was observed near Ellisville, 7 miles southwest of Centre.
March 2000Thunderstorm WindCentre$2,000Trees were blown down on SR 9 near Centre.
June 2001HailCentre$2,000no account filed
August 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre$1,000A tree and a small light pole were downed at a residence along County Road 524 in Centre. Additionally, trees were downed along Ray St and CR 631, and power lines were downed along CR 382 just south of Centre.
April 2005HailCentre$1,000Nickel size hail was reported just east of Centre.
August 2005Flash FloodCentre$1,000High water covered Park Street in downtown Centre. The roadway was impassable and was temporarilyclosed.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindCentre$500A single tree was blown down onto Gossett Street, in the city of Centre.
February 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees were blown down across roadways in Cherokee County.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre-Trees were blown down across Cherokee County.
April 2025HailCentre-Quarter to half dollar size hail fell in Centre.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre-Trees were downed in the Centre area.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre-A tree and power line was downed in Centre, a tree was downed at Highway 9 and CR 121, and a tree down along Mackey St in Leesburg, blocking both lanes.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCentre-Numerous reports of trees and power lines down around Cherokee County, especially the northern half including Sand Rock, Cedar Bluff, and Gaylesville.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindCentre-Trees were down across the road in the area of County Road 71 and Highway 9. Along County Road 19 and County Road 55, the roof blown off a manufactured home and nearby power lines were damaged.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in the city of Centre. Numerous trees uprooted across the county.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindCentre-Wind gust of 58 mph measured at the Cherokee County EOC in the city of Centre. Numerous trees uprooted across the county.
April 2019Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees uprooted.
March 2018Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in and around the city of Centre. Roof damage to Webb Concrete Store on Main Street in Centre.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindCentre-Multiple trees uprooted in the Cedar Bluff community.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees uprooted near the intersection of County Road 71 and County Road 19.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindCentre-Several trees uprooted near the intersection of County 71 and County Road 38.
December 2015FloodCentre-Residual flooding from heavy rain that fell on Christmas Day. The flooding was mainly due to rises on Weiss Lake and the Coosa River. Eleven people had to be rescued at a campground near the Coosa River.
April 2013Flash FloodCentre-A slow moving thunderstorm resulted in flash flooding in and around Centre. Water flowed across County Road 163, Park St, and Cedar Bluff Rd, making them impassable. Additionally, water rose and entered a house on Hardwood Drive off Alabama Highway 9.
July 2013Heavy RainCentre-Heavy rainfall caused Park St near Alabama Highway 9 to become impassable due to water covering the roadway. One person had to be rescued from their vehicle.
July 2011Flash FloodCentre-Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding on Highway 68, causing it to close.
April 2009HailCentre-Reported at Cherokee County High School.
June 2006HailCentre-Reported in the Pollard Bend Community.
July 2004HailCentre-Nickel size hail was reported in the Key Community just off CR 34.
June 2002HailCentre-Penny size hail was reported at the Tennala community about 4 miles south of Centre.
June 1994HailCentre-Nickel-size hail was reported by the Cherokee County Sheriff's office about 10 miles south-southeast of Centre. A funnel cloud was reported near Coloma about seven miles south-southeast of Centre. A weak tornado touched down in the Rock Run/Spring Garden area with damage to seven houses along with a number of trees uprooted.
March 1994HailCentre-Golf ball-size hail was reported in southern Cherokee County with the thunderstorm that produced the tornado.
March 2017HailCentre-no account filed
March 2012HailCentre-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Cherokee 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
Brooks Estates1.1 miles19
Turkey Town (historical)1.3 miles19
Bay Springs2.5 miles19
Northwood Estates2.6 miles19
Piney2.8 miles19
Billy Goat Hill3.0 miles19
McGhee3.0 miles19
Elrath3.5 miles19

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 CentreAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79650The 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 115902. 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.