Heath

Heath is located in central Covington County in the extreme south-central part of the state. It has a mayor/city council form of government.

History

Heath was first known as Willow Head; it began to be settled as early as the 1850s. After the Central of Georgia Railroad came through, the town was renamed in honor of its first postmaster, Kate Heath. A post office was established in 1900. A depot to accommodate passengers on the railroad was constructed, and the growth accompanying the passage of the railroad through town resulted in other businesses. Several of them, including a general store, a cotton gin, a grist mill, and a sawmill, were all owned by Jack Kilpatrick. Other stores and groceries followed. The town welcomed electricity in 1941 and gas in 1955. Heath first incorporated in February 1952, but had to renew the incorporation in July 1967.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, Heath recorded a population of 293. Of that number, 90.4 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 9.6 percent as African American, and 1.0 percent as Hispanic or Latino. The town’s median household income was $53,240, and the per capita income was $28,862.

Employment

According to 2020 Census estimates, the workforce in Heath was divided among the following industrial categories:

  • Educational services, and health care and social assistance (18.8 percent)
  • Manufacturing (17.5 percent)
  • Retail trade (13.8 percent)
  • Other services, except public administration (12.5 percent)
  • Transportation and warehousing and utilities (7.5 percent)
  • Public administration (6.3 percent)
  • Wholesale trade (6.3 percent)
  • Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (5.0 percent)
  • Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (5.0 percent)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extraction (3.8 percent)
  • Information (3.8 percent)

Education

Students in Heath attend Covington County schools; no public schools are located within the town limits. A branch campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is located three miles to the southeast in Andalusia.

Transportation

Heath lies along U.S. Route 29 that runs north-south, while County Road 70 runs through town east-west.

Events and Places of Interest

Heath is located nine miles to the south of the 2,700-acre Gantt Lake, which offers boating, swimming, skiing, and fishing opportunities.

Additional Resources

Bryan, Gus J., and Ruby R. Bryan. Covington County History, 1821-1976. Opp. Ala.: Opp Historical Society, 1985.

Covington County Heritage Book Committee. Heritage of Covington County, Alabama, Volumes I and II. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2002.

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