BlockMoulton, Alabama
18 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1935 and the latest in 2000. It stands in the Moulton census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35650. It stands on Almon Branch. The Survey maps it on the Moulton quadrangle. 3,398 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 640 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Moulton
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 3 records
Ice Houselisted 2000
Moulton Courthouse Square Historic Districtlisted 1998- Dr. Robert Price Irwin Houselisted 2025
Surveyed buildings and structures 1 record
- Lawrence County Courthouse, Courthouse Square bounded by Main Street, Lawrence Street, Market Street & Court Street, Moultonfederal building survey, 14 photographs
Population over time
2 figuresMoulton fell from 3,471 to 3,398 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 | 3,471 | |
| 2020 | 3,398 | -73 (-2%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
11 surveys from 18 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.
- 1935 USGS Moulton quadrangle1:24000
- 1936 USGS Moulton quadrangle1:48000
- 1936 USGS Mt Hope quadrangle1:62500
- 1940 USGS Mt Hope quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1960 USGS Moulton quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1980 USGS Haleyville quadrangle1:100000
- 2000 USGS Moulton quadrangle1:24000
Photographs
1 photograph,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.
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fires near this place
112 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 112 fires within 5 miles of Moulton between 1994 and 2019, burning about 1,166 acres in total. None 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 |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 46 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 43 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 9 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 3 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 2 |
| Other causes | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 2010 | Debris and open burning | 4.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 28 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | 3.5 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20160928-23 |
| 28 September 2004 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 25 September 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | NOR-20140925-001 |
| 19 September 2010 | Arson/incendiarism | 50 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 17 September 1999 | Recreation and ceremony | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 12 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 1 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Moulton: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moulton Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 150 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Moulton in 150 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 64 thunderstorm wind, 55 hail, 18 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1997 | Lightning | Moulton | 2 hurt, $45,000 | Lightning struck near a site where amateur radio operators had assembled to participate in a nationwide activity called Field Day. A thunderstorm that developed nearby produced lightning that apparently struck very close to the site where towers, antennas, a tent, and several campers were set up. The lightning damaged a number of pieces of computer and radio equipment as well as a portable generator. Two people, one in contact with a metal table and one in contact with a metal chair sustained minor burns from the incident. |
| July 2002 | Lightning | Moulton | 1 hurt | One person was struck by lightning and sustained minor injuries just north of SR 157 near Moulton. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,500,000 | A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of wind damage across Moulton in the form of a macroburst or a large scale microburst. The overall damage area stretched approximately four miles from west to east and 3.3 miles from north to south, covering the city. The majority of the wind damage was identified as snapped softwood and hardwood trees along with damage to power lines. Many trees were noted to be down on homes and businesses across Moulton. Several businesses had windows partially broken out. Pockets of more intense damage was specifically found in an area along highway 157, just north of highway 24. Specifically, the Lawrence county exchange building received significant roof damage and the surrounding grounds had damage to fencing and large items were picked up and thrown some distance. The adjacent building and farm equipment were completely flattened. Across the street, the Lawrence county funeral home had its roof partially ripped off with significant interior damage. In Moulton, the shirt factory building, which was a free standing concrete building along Court street, had its roof completely ripped off along with a partial wall collapse. Several power poles were snapped off near the base, in this area. The store front across the street had its windows completely blown out. Further west along Court street, a gas station sustained roof damage and another building had its garage destroyed. The high school also sustained significant damage, with the gynmasium roof covering being completely removed and other portions of the school having the windows blown out. There was also significant water damage inside of the main classrooms of the school. The final maximum wind rating of the macroburst was based on a combination of the damage to power poles and damage to free standing structures in three separate locations across the city of Moulton, Alabama. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $65,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Flash Flood | Moulton | $50,000 | Numerous roads, between Main Street and Court Street, were closed in Moulton due to heavy rain and high water. Tankersly Avenue and Sparkman Road were covered with high water and barricaded. In addition, several homes along Main Street, Katherine Avenue and Littrell Circle, sustained water damage from high water. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $50,000 | Wind snapped trees and damaged several buildings in Moulton during a strong thunderstorm. Over 2,000 power customers were without power in the central sections of Lawrence County. Although most of the damage was reported in and around Moulton, scattered trees were reported down all across the county. |
| January 1997 | Tornado (F1) | Moulton | $40,000 | no account filed |
| January 1999 | Lightning | Moulton | $30,000 | Two people were killed when lightning struck a mobile home and it burned to the ground. |
| March 2015 | Lightning | Moulton | $25,000 | Lightning struck a 100 foot tower at the Lawrence county, Alabama emergency management/911 facility. EMA officials reported that there was damage to the tornado early warning system and 911 phone lines. |
| March 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $25,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed a wood storage building and two car metal garages at the intersection of county Roads 244 and 157. |
| January 1999 | Flash Flood | Moulton | $25,000 | Several homes in Moulton had to be evacuated due to high water. |
| March 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $20,000 | Numerous trees blown down by thunderstorm winds and blocking Highway 33. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $15,000 | A few trees were downed by thunderstorm winds onto highway 33 in Bankhead National Forest, about 12 miles south of Moulton. |
| April 2000 | Flash Flood | Moulton | $15,000 | Lawrence County EMA reported extensive flooding in the city of Moulton. |
| June 1997 | Flash Flood | Moulton | $15,000 | Almost one inch of rain fell in about an hour over saturated grounds causing flooding in many locations. Several home had water inside, up to 12 inches. Several businesses in downtown were also flooded. There were also a few roads under water. |
| April 1996 | Hail | Moulton | $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $13,000 | A number of trees were reported blown down along Old Hillsoboro road and the Livingston community. Also, the sign at the Days Inn at the intersection of Old Moulton Road and Alabama Highway 157 was twisted by the strong winds. |
| July 2013 | Flash Flood | Moulton | $10,000 | Rising water caused a fuel leak in downtown Moulton, Court Street. About 200 gallons of gasoline leaked out due to flood waters. Emergency personnel contained the spill within about 15 minutes. No injuries or additional impacts reported. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $10,000 | A 46 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the CWOP weather station at Speake School. A few power lines were also downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| March 2002 | Hail | Moulton | $10,000 | A supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of hail ranging in size from nickel to golf ball. The area was generally from Moulton to the Caddo community and south. This area covered the east central part of Lawrence County. |
| September 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $10,000 | Roofs were torn off three buildings in the city of Moulton. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $10,000 | no account filed |
| October 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $9,000 | Trees were knocked onto a house in Moulton. |
| January 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $7,000 | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $7,000 | no account filed |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $6,000 | Trees were knocked down on Tankersley street in Moulton. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | A few trees were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | Trees were knocked down around the Moulton community. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Main street, just east of Moulton. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | Damaging straight-line winds knocked down a power pole and power lines in downtown Moulton. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down just west of CR 33, near the intersection of CR 50 and CR 100, 4 miles south of Moulton. Several homes had shingle damage. A few trees and power lines were also knocked over in the city of Moulton. |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | Hail ranging from pea-size to one inch fell on Wolf Springs area about 13 miles northwest of Moulton. A tractor shed and a barn were damaged and a garage door was blown in by thunderstorm winds in the Loozier area about 10 miles northwest of Moulton. |
| July 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| October 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| October 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| September 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $4,000 | Thunderstorms winds knocked trees and power lines down in Moulton. |
| April 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $4,000 | A large tree was blown down on Main Street in Moulton. TIme estimated from radar. |
| March 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $4,000 | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $3,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged an outdoor shed with the roof partially blown off of the shed along with a few power lines blown down by the thunderstorm winds. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Moulton | $3,000 | Quarter size hail was reported east of Moulton. |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $3,000 | Trees and power lines were down on Highway 17 south of Caddo in the eastern part of Lawrence County. Trees and power lines were down on County Road 33 south of Moulton near the county line. Trees were blocking the highway. |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $3,000 | Trees and power lines were down on Highway 17 south of Caddo in the eastern part of Lawrence County. Trees and power lines were down on County Road 33 south of Moulton near the county line. Trees were blocking the highway. |
| May 1997 | Hail | Moulton | $3,000 | no account filed |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,000 | Power lines were reported down on Market Street. Time was estimated from radar. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,000 | Power lines were knocked down on highway 157 at CR 213. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,000 | Power lines were reported down on Livingston Lane. Time was estimated from radar. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,000 | Trees were knocked down onto County Road 87. |
| December 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $2,000 | Trees were blown down in the city of Moulton. |
| May 1998 | Hail | Moulton | $2,000 | Quarter size hail was reported at Wolf Springs just south of SR 157. |
| May 1998 | Hail | Moulton | $2,000 | Quarter size hail was reported north of Moulton. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | Minor awning damage was reported to some businesses on Main Street. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | Trees were knocked down on CR 170 just off of Highway 157. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | A tree was reported down in the Moulton area. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | A tree was blown down onto a powerline near Coffey Road and Somerville Road. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | A tree was blown down onto a power line on Church Street. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moulton | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds knocked a power pole down at the intersection of State Highways 157 and 24 in Moulton. |
| April 2006 | Lightning | Moulton | $1,000 | Lightning struck a residence during a severe thunderstorm, traveling through a satellite dish, cable and phone lines. The Tivo cable hook-ups were also melted. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wren | 3.2 miles | 18 | |
| Muck City | 3.3 miles | 18 | |
| Masterson Mill | 4.0 miles | 13 | |
| Harmony | 4.2 miles | 14 | |
| Mount Moriah | 4.7 miles | 13 | |
| Aldridge Grove | 4.9 miles | 17 | |
| Longtown | 5.3 miles | 13 | |
| Fairfield | 5.3 miles | 17 |
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 Moulton | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79240 | 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 160141. 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.