Hodges

Hodges is located in south-central Franklin County in the northwestern part of the state. It has a mayor/city council form of government.

The Hodges area was first settled in the 1880s and was called Reid Brake. Its present name came from a prominent early family, with one source pinpointing Thomas Marion Hodges as the town's namesake. The town itself was laid out in 1907 on land owned by John Farr. The land and thus the town were located on a branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. Hodges was incorporated initially in March 1913, but for some reason the incorporation lapsed, and it was reincorporated in August 1919. In the early 1920s, the town claimed three doctors, a cotton gin, a sawmill, a gristmill several general stores, and a drugstore. Today, Hodges maintains a volunteer fire department, a police department, and its own water system.

According to 2020 Census estimates, Hodges recorded a population of 359. Of that total, 98.3 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 1.1 percent as Asian, and 0.6 percent as two or more races. The town's median household income was $62,500, and the per capita income was $24,080.

Employment

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

Students in Hodges attend Franklin County schools; no public schools are located within the town limits.

State Route 172 bisects Hodges running northwest-southeast, and State Route 187 enters Hodges running straight north and exits it going northeast.

Just north of Hodges is Rock Bridge Canyon, which lies along Bear Creek Reservoir. The 670-acre reservoir is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority that impounded this part of the creek in 1969. The canyon features hiking and equestrian trails along its steep rock formations while boating, camping, and fishing opportunities are available at some locations on the reservoir. Little Bear Creek to the north offers similar activities. Dismals Canyon, a Registered National Natural Landmark that showcases a variety of flora and fauna and geological formations, lies a bit to the east of Hodges. Overton Farm, a focus of restoration efforts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It dates to 1817, during the Mississippi Territorial Period, and has served as an area educational center.

Hodges and its fire and rescue departments hold an annual Spirit of Hodges Festival in early October that features arts and crafts, food vendors, and live bands. It takes place at Hodges Town Park, which houses a covered pavilion, playground equipment, and other recreational amenities. A community center is located nearby. Hodges also operates the Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park, which hosts guided trail rides through Rock Bridge Canyon and other events.

Additional Resources

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