Shorter is located in Macon County in the east-central part of the state. It has a mayor/council form of government.

History

Organic Farm in Shorter

The land currently encompassed by Shorter was part of the Creek Nation until their forced removal in 1832. White settlers moved into the area soon after. It was first named Cross Keys after the birthplace of an early settler. The Federal Road was built through the area in 1811. The town was renamed Shorter after the Civil War in honor of John Gill Shorter, who served as governor during the early years of the war. The town incorporated in 1984.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, Shorter recorded a population of 302. Of that number, 75.2 percent of respondents identified themselves as African American, 24.2 percent as white, and 0.7 percent as two or more races. The town’s median household income was $40,804, and the per capita income was $24,728.

Employment

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

• Educational services and health care and social assistance (37.9 percent)
• Manufacturing (18.4 percent)
• Retail trade (12.6 percent)
• Public administration (11.5 percent)
• Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (6.9 percent)
• Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (4.6 percent)
• Other services, except public administration (3.4 percent)
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extraction (1.1 percent)
• Construction (1.1 percent)
• Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (1.1 percent)
• Wholesale trade (1.1 percent)

Education

Public education in Shorter is overseen by the Macon County schools. The town has one K-6 elementary school.

Transportation

Interstate 85 runs east-west through portions of the town, as does U.S. Highway 80. County Road 40 runs north-south through the center of the town, and County Road 8 runs east-west through the center of the town.