Gadsden, Alabama
22 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1885 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Gadsden census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35901. It stands on Town Creek. The Survey maps it on the Gadsden West quadrangle. 33,945 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 541 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Gadsden
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 records
Alabama City Librarylisted 1974
Alabama City Wall Street Historic Districtlisted 2002
Eleventh Street Schoollisted 1984
Forrest Cemetery Chapel and Comfort Stationlisted 1992
Gadsden Downtown Historic Districtlisted 1997
Gadsden Times-News Buildinglisted 1983
Charles Gunn Houselisted 1993
Col. O. R. Hood Houselisted 1986
Legion Park Bowllisted 1988
U.S. Post Officelisted 1976- Gadsden Coca-Cola Bottling Plantlisted 2023
- Noojin House and Bellevue-Mineral Springs Hotel Sitelisted 2023
Population over time
3 figuresGadsden fell from 38,978 to 33,945 between 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38,978 | |
| 2010 | 36,856 | -2,122 (-5%) |
| 2020 | 33,945 | -2,911 (-8%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
12 surveys from 22 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
- 1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1959 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1959 USGS Gadsden West quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1984 USGS Guntersville quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Photographs
8 of 19 photographs shown, 1940Taken 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.
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Vachon, John, 1940. Library of Congress
Every photograph of Etowah County
Fires near this place
80 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 80 fires within 5 miles of Gadsden between 1994 and 2020, burning about 1,724 acres in total. None started naturally. 49 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 | 49 |
| Debris and open burning | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Smoking | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1995 | Debris and open burning | 6.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 22 September 1998 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 1997 | Recreation and ceremony | 25 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 10 September 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 30 August 2000 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 28 August 2011 | Railroad operations and maintenance | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | GLENN ST., AL |
| 22 August 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 18 August 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | 90 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 22 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 22 workings within 5 miles of Gadsden: 10 past producers, 8 occurrences, 2 producers, 2 prospects. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Iron, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Kaolin, Aluminum, Sulfur. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Steel Corp. Plant | Sulfur | Past Producer | ||
| Anniston, Fort Payne, Ashville, Ala. | Kaolin, Aluminum | Occurrence | Bauxite, Kaolin | |
| Ne Alabama Bauxite-Kaolin | Kaolin, Aluminum | Occurrence | Bauxite | |
| Open Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Chert | |
| Unnamed Quarry | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Quartz | |
| Attalla Iron Ore Prospect No 1 | Iron | Occurrence | ||
| Attalla Iron Ore Prospect No 2 | Iron | Occurrence | ||
| Daisy Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Etowah Iron Ore Prospect N0 2 | Iron | Occurrence | ||
| Etowah Iron Ore Prospect No 1 | Iron | Occurrence |
Storms near this place
60 of 69 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Gadsden in 69 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 39 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 8 flash flood, 4 lightning. The reports record 24 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2000 | Tornado (F3) | Gadsden | 14 hurt, $10,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | 9 hurt, $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | 1 hurt, $5,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in and around Gadsden. One falling tree caused unspecified injuries to a resident. |
| May 1997 | Lightning | Gadsden | $85,000 | Lightning struck a house and it was totally destroyed by the ensuing fire. Three cows were also killed while standing under a tree that was struck by lightning. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $70,000 | Wind from a thunderstorm damaged the side of an apartment building on Forest Avenue ripping siding material away. Flying debris also damaged a car. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $50,000 | Pilot at Gadsden Municipal Airport estimated wind gusts of 65 to 75 mph blew away a tied down airplane. |
| July 2005 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | $30,000 | Meighan Boulevard in Gadsden was flooded and was temporarily impassable. Several other roadways across central Etowah County were flooded and subsequently closed. The Attalla City Park was flooded. |
| April 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $27,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down from the city of Gadsden to the Coates Bend area. A few traffic lights were also blown down. At least 500 customers were temporarily without power. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $25,000 | At least 20 trees were blown down across various parts of Etowah County, mainly around the city of Gadsden. Fallen trees struck two homes in the 1400 block of 4th Avenue in the city, and another tree struck a house on 4th Street. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $25,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down in several areas around the city of Gadsden. At least two trees fell onto homes. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $22,000 | Etowah County Emergency Management Agency reported a wind gust to 75 miles an hour on their wind measuring equipment. One building reportedly lost a roof, and trees were downed in scattered locations across the county. |
| February 1999 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | $20,000 | Localized rainfall amounts of three inches across the city of Gadsden in a short period of time produced some flooding. Several cars were inundated and a few residences had water in them. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $20,000 | Several trees were blown down and about six utility poles were clipped along SR 77. Part of a barn roof was also blown off in the same area. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $17,000 | A hardware store in Gadsden along Highway 29 sustained roof damage. Several trees were blown along US Highway 431 near Glencoe. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $15,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down in and near the city of Gadsden. One tree landedon a vehicle. |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $12,000 | An amateur radio antenna was blown down 13 miles north of Gadsden. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $10,000 | Trees were downed by strong wind in the Whorton Bend area of Gadsden and along Meighan Boulevard. |
| February 1997 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| January 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Lightning | Gadsden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 1996 | Lightning | Gadsden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| January 1997 | Hail | Gadsden | $9,000 | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $8,000 | Several trees were blown down around Gadsden. A few trees were also blown down in Rainbow City. |
| November 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $7,000 | no account filed |
| February 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $5,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down in and around Gadsden. |
| October 2009 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | $5,000 | Several roads around the city of Gadsden had to be closed due to becoming temporarily impassable due to flooding. |
| April 2002 | Hail | Gadsden | $5,000 | Nickel to golf ball size hail was observed from Gadsden to Glencoe. |
| April 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $5,000 | Trees and power lines were down in Gadsden. The EOC reported a gust to 66 mph. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $3,000 | Trees were blown down at several locations around the city of Gadsden. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $2,000 | Trees were blown at several locations around the city of Gadsden. |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $2,000 | A few trees were blown down on Scenic Drive on Noccalula Mountain. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Gadsden | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $1,000 | A tree was blown down across Walnut Street, near 11th Street South. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $1,000 | A few power lines were blown down in the city of Gadsden. |
| August 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | $1,000 | Several trees were blown down on Owls Hollow Road, north of Gadsden. |
| April 2005 | Hail | Gadsden | $1,000 | Quarter size hail was observed in Gadsden. |
| November 2000 | Lightning | Gadsden | $1,000 | no account filed |
| February 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | A tree was blown onto a home on Cansler Ave in Gadsden. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Trees were blown down across Etowah County. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Several trees uprooted around Gadsden. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Numerous trees uprooted around the city of Gadsden. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Numerous trees uprooted and power lines downed in downtown Gadsden. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Several trees uprooted in the city of Gadsden. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | A large tree uprooted and power lines downed on Tuscaloosa Avenue and Tyler Street in the city of Gadsden. |
| February 2016 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | - | Several streets in the city of Gadsden flooded. A vehicle was partially submerged on 11th Street. Water across roadway on Tuscaloosa Avenue and at the intersection of Hoke Street and Stillman Avenue. Intersection of 6th Street and 6th Place impassable. Intersection of Pilgrims Rest and South Vllaey Avenue impassable. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Numerous trees uprooted and power lines downed in the city of Gadsden. |
| July 2014 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | - | Several streets in the city of Gadsden were flooded and impassable. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Several trees uprooted in the city of Gadsden. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Trees were reported down along Highway 411 in Gadsden. |
| March 2011 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | - | Multiple roads flooded in the city of Gadsden, including 11th Street, 6th Street, Furman Road, and College Parkway. |
| July 2011 | Flash Flood | Gadsden | - | A few roadways in Gadsden were closed due to flash flooding. |
| April 2009 | Hail | Gadsden | - | Golf ball sized hail was reported at the EMA office. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Gadsden | - | Reported about 3 miles southeast of Boaz, but in Etowah County. |
| June 2006 | Hail | Gadsden | - | Numerous reports around the city. |
| May 2003 | Hail | Gadsden | - | Penny size hail was observed across the northern part of Gadsden. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Etowah County Emergency Management Agency reported a wind gust of 60 miles an hour. |
| February 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gadsden | - | Wind gusts recorded at the Gadsden EMA office reached 72 miles an hour. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Gadsden | - | Dime size hail was reported just south of Gadsden. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pull Tight (historical) | 0.9 miles | 22 | |
| Goodyear | 1.0 miles | 18 | |
| Monte Vista | 1.5 miles | 22 | |
| Bellevue | 1.6 miles | 22 | |
| Black Creek Falls (historical) | 1.8 miles | 22 | |
| Northside | 2.1 miles | 18 | |
| Alabama City | 2.1 miles | 22 | |
| East Gadsden | 2.2 miles | 18 |
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 Gadsden | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79389 | 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 157961. 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.











