BlockPell City, Alabama
21 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1889 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Pell City census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35125. The Survey maps it on the Pell City quadrangle. 12,939 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 597 feet above sea level.
On record in Pell City
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
Avandale Mill Historic Districtlisted 2000
Old Pell City Historic Districtlisted 2001
Pell City Downtown Historic Districtlisted 2001
Population over time
3 figuresPell City grew from 9,565 to 12,939 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 | 9,565 | |
| 2010 | 12,695 | +3,130 (+33%) |
| 2020 | 12,939 | +244 (+2%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
8 surveys from 21 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.
- 1889 USGS Springville quadrangle1:125000
- 1892 USGS Springville quadrangle1:125000, 7 printings
- 1953 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1956 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Pell City quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1975 USGS Pell City quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Birmingham North quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
126 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 126 fires within 5 miles of Pell City between 1994 and 2020, burning about 1,249 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 39 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 | 61 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 39 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Smoking | 5 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 4 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Natural | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 9 September 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 10 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 September 1995 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 1995 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 3 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2007 | Arson/incendiarism | 8.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 28 September 2000 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 2019 | Arson/incendiarism | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190920-17 |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
7 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Pell City: 6 unknowns, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Iron, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
Storms near this place
38 since 1995Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Pell City in 38 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 24 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 2 tornado, 2 funnel cloud. The reports record 1 death and 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | 1 killed | Storm damage in and around the cities of Pell City and Riverside was found to be consistent with straight-line winds, with peak wind gusts estimated between 80 and 100 mph. There was a diffuse and intermittent, yet discernible, swath of wind damage that extended from just west of the St. Clair County Courthouse, northeastward across Pell City, Industrial Park Drive, Interstate 20, and through Riverside. Additional isolated wind damage was noted to the south and east of this main damage swath. The most significant damage across the area were several large trees that were uprooted, causing damage to homes and structures. One fatality was caused when a large oak tree was uprooted and fell on a manufactured home. Two metal buildings received direct damage from the winds; the damage on both of these buildings appears to have been associated with the failure of large doors. Dozens of homes in the area received minor roof damage as well. |
| November 2001 | Tornado (F2) | Pell City | 2 hurt, $500,000 | A tornado rated an F2 began weakly on the west-southwest side of Pell City just behind the school at 3:10 pm. The tornado traveled on an east-northeast path downing a communication tower at the EMA/911 office and doing minor roof damage. The storm then crossed over downtown Pell City where a number of buildings sustained light to moderate roof damage along with awnings damaged and some windows broken. The tornado crossed US 231 and became very weak, possibly lifting for a little more than a mile, before slamming into a number of buildings in an industrial park. Some of the greatest destruction was done here. The tornado crossed Interstate 20 and ended after damaging a couple of houses on Sprayberry Road at approximately 3:17 pm.The tornado path was 4.5 miles long and approximately 100 yards wide at the widest. No deaths occurred in this tornado but there were two injuries, both classified as minor.Beginning: 33 34.926/86 17.647 Ending: 33 37.039/86 14.029 |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F1) | Pell City | $85,000 | This was the first of two tornadoes to touch down in St. Clair County. It began at the intersection of SR174 and Cook Springs Road northwest of Pell City. The tornado traveled southeasterly through the Bowman Circle and Stewarts areas crossing Mineral Springs Road and lifting just before reaching Interstate 20 (between exits 156 and 158). The tornado downed many trees and power lines and also damaged a few buildings in the area. At least one mobile home was destroyed.Beg: 33 38.519/86 21.652 End: 33 36.308/86 17.702 |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $50,000 | Scattered tree damage was reported all around Pell City, at least one of which fell onto a house. The roof of a junior high school, and a nearby city services building, both received damage. The batting cage at a high school ball field was blown into a fence, damaging about 100 feet of the fence. Several storage sheds in a home improvement store were blown down an embankment and heavily damaged. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $28,000 | Thunderstorm wind cut a swath of damage from a rural area across some homes in the eastern section of St. Clair County just north of Riverside. Several homes sustained minor damage on Lock 4 Road. |
| February 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $20,000 | Trees were knocked down along SR 31. One of the downed trees fell onto a house. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $15,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down in the Pine Harbor area. One of the trees landed on a building at the Pine Harbor Country Club. |
| June 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $15,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Pell City | $8,000 | One and one half inch diameter size hail was reported in Pell City. |
| April 1996 | Hail | Pell City | $8,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $6,000 | Several trees were knocked down in extreme southern St. Clair County. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $6,000 | Large limbs and a few trees were down in Pell City and Moody, in the southern part of the county. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $5,000 | Trees were blown down along SR 174 in Pell City. |
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $5,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down just north of Pell City. |
| January 1997 | Hail | Pell City | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $4,000 | Several trees were reported down in the Chula Vista area about five miles west of Pell City. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $3,000 | Numerous trees were blown down around Pell City. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $3,000 | Trees were reported down in the area about five miles north of Pell City. |
| February 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $2,000 | Several trees blown down in and around Pell City. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $2,000 | Trees down in Argo, New London, and Wattsville. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | $2,000 | A few trees were knocked down in Pell City. |
| February 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Trees were downed in the Pell City area. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Numerous trees were downed across Pell City. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Several trees were downed around Pell City and along I-20 near Leeds. Along Highway 231 south of Pell City, a storage building at a business had metal torn off and wrapped around power lines. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Several trees uprooted across roadways in Pell City. |
| June 2023 | Hail | Pell City | - | Quarter size hail reported in Pell City. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Several trees uprooted in Pell City. |
| June 2020 | Hail | Pell City | - | Large hail reported in Pell City. |
| March 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Duran Junior High School sustained rood damage, as well as the Press Box at the football field. Additionally, an airport hanger door was blown in and damaged an airplane at the St. Clair County Airport. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Trees were reported down within the city limits of Pell City. |
| September 2006 | Funnel Cloud | Pell City | - | Police reported a funnel cloud looking south from the intersection of Al-174 and US-231, toward Pell City. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Pell City | - | Nickel size hail was reported in the Pell City area. |
| March 1995 | Hail | Pell City | - | Hail slightly smaller than a quarter was reported in Pell City. |
| April 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pell City | - | Numerous large tree limbs were reported down in Pell City. |
| April 2008 | Hail | Pell City | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Pell City | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Funnel Cloud | Pell City | - | no account filed |
| January 1996 | Heavy Rain | Pell City | - | no account filed |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 0.5 miles | 21 | |
| Walkerton | 0.6 miles | 21 | |
| Glen City | 0.6 miles | 21 | |
| Park Hill | 0.7 miles | 21 | |
| Avondale Village | 0.7 miles | 21 | |
| Woodmont | 0.9 miles | 21 | |
| Crestview Gardens | 1.1 miles | 21 | |
| Oak Ridge | 1.1 miles | 21 |
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 Pell City | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79584 | 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 164801. 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.