Sumiton

Sumiton is located in both Jefferson County and Walker County in central Alabama; the majority of the town is in eastern Walker County. It has a mayor/council form of government.

History

Sumiton began as a mining town that grew up around a railroad sometime after the Civil War. The first commercial mining venture in Sumiton was Philip and Moran’s Mining Company. At various times also known as Bald Eagle, Commercial, Democrat, and Summit, Sumiton’s current name, which was adopted in 1926, results from its location at one of the highest points in Walker County. The first post office opened in 1924, and the first public school in 1940. The city was incorporated in 1952.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, Sumiton recorded a population of 2,514. Of that number, 91.5 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 7.1 percent as African American, 1.4 percent as two or more races, and 0.8 percent as Hispanic. The town’s median household income was $55,139, and the per capita income was $31,403.

Employment

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

  • Educational services and health care and social assistance (22.5 percent)
  • Retail trade (16.6 percent)
  • Construction (9.7 percent)
  • Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (9.6 percent)
  • Other services, except public administration (6.8 percent)
  • Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (6.3 percent)
  • Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (5.5 percent)
  • Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (5.5 percent)
  • Manufacturing (5.3 percent)
  • Public administration (3.3 percent)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extraction (3.1 percent)
  • Wholesale trade (3.0 percent)
  • Information (2.8 percent)

Education

Schools in Sumiton are part of the Walker County School system; the town has one K-8 school. A campus of Bevill State Community College is located in Sumiton.

Transportation

Old U.S. Highway 78/Highway 5 runs northwest-southeast through Sumiton, and several county roads serve the city. Interstate 22 lies southwest and connects Birmingham with Tupelo in northeast Mississippi.

Events and Places of Interest

The Sumiton Frog Festival is held on Main Street the first Saturday in October. It features arts and crafts, live music, food vendors, and entertainment for children. The Sumiton Senior Center provides seniors with a gathering place; it also serves as a violent weather safe shelter.

Further Reading

  • Walker County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Walker County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1999.

External Links

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