BLOUNT COUNTY
County Offices
220 Second Avenue East
Oneonta 205-625-4160
www.co.blount.al.us
Chamber of Commerce
227 Second Avenue East
Oneonta 205-274-2153
http://bocc.publishpath.com
Services
Medical Center Blount of the Eastern Health System is located in Oneonta, effectively anchoring the healthcare services and facilities in Blount Count. As one of Alabama’s newest medical facilities, the hospital features all private rooms with private baths. Comprehensive services include outpatient care, state-of-the-art diagnostics, surgical specialties including same-day surgery, intensive care, orthopedic service with full joint replacement capabilities, home health care, rehabilitation and sports medicine, numerous therapies, and pediatric care. The hospital also provides expanded cardiovascular and oncology services and features an outpatient center with physicians that represent 12 distinct areas of specialization. Medical Center Blount serves the region with 24-hour emergency service that includes a trauma room and accompanying heliport.
Students of all ages in all stages of life can look forward to a quality education as residents of Blount County. Proud of its reputation as an area that offers a “Mayberry” environment with urban advantages, Blount County provides a rich learning experience in local schools. The Oneonta City School System, for example, enjoys a top-25 ranking statewide for achievement test performance and graduation rates. Two-year institutions in close proximity to Blount County include Jefferson State Community College, Wallace State Community College, Gadsden State Community College, and Snead State Community College—all located in adjacent counties. An impressive selection of public and private colleges and universities are available within a reasonable commute including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University, the University of Montevallo, and Miles College.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Blount County will discover a strongly agricultural community where church, school, and civic organization play major roles in the quality of life. This family-oriented atmosphere where doors are seldom locked and neighbors greet each other by name is one of the magnets to this panoramic region. Although many residents can trace their generational roots to the region’s earlier settlers, an increasing number of new residents have been drawn to this idyllic atmosphere. Quality schools, responsive county and town governments, delightful parks, highly rated golf courses, a true sense of community, natural beauty, and close proximity to metropolitan advantages make Blount County the best of all worlds.
Major attractions in this area include Rickwood Caverns State Park, an operational cave park that features an underground “miracle mile” of magnificent passages and beautifully lighted rooms, accented with thousands of sparkling white limestone formations. Just beyond the front doorstep, lush parks offer baseball and softball fields, handball and tennis courts, fitness tracks, wooded trails, playground equipment, and a swimming pool. The town of Blountsville adds an expansive waterpark, and Palisades Park at the top of Ebell Mountain is minutes from Oneonta. This 83-acre county park offers breathtaking views of Straight Mountain and sweeping vistas of rolling hills and plateaus. Four hiking trails are available for fitness programs and nature study, although the park is ideal for a wide range of outdoor and group activities. Annual events and celebrations dot the calendar, giving friends and neighbors a chance to gather for good food, arts and craft displays, games and entertainment, commemorative activities, friendly competition, rodeo excitement, and old-fashioned fun. As the “Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama,” Blount County celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival each autumn with multiple stages for musical entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, auto and motorcycle shows, and a golf classic.
Newcomers will be pleased with the wide variety of new homes that are springing up in Blount County, evidence of the trend away from urban traffic and bustle to the serenity of country living. The decade of the 1990s saw a tremendous boom in population growth, with a more controlled and steady flow of newcomers arriving after 2000. Many residents commute to employment centers outside the county with an average commute of 35 minutes. In addition to the more well-developed communities of Blountsville and Oneonta, the county is dotted with small towns that each supports a census of several hundred people. From tiny agricultural communities to growing cities and towns, Blount County is clearly a region where the past, present, and future are converging in a well-balanced and appealing way.
Blountsville
Municipal Offices
205-429-2406
www.blountsvilleal.com
Chamber of Commerce
205-274-2153
http://bocc.publishpath.com
The second-largest of Blount County’s communities nevertheless supports less than 2,000 residents within the town limits. This friendly community takes pride in the serenity of its tree-shaded neighborhoods and the involvement of its residents in civic affairs. Newcomers will find a caring community with a strong spirit of connection and a sense of responsibility toward protecting and enhancing the area’s quality of life. The town adds one of Blount County’s finest recreational attractions at Spring Valley Beach, where an aquatic theme park features three large slides and one of the largest pools in the Southeast. Blountsville draws a number of visitors to the largest of its annual events, the Civil War Re-enactment in Blountsville Historic Park. The selection of housing available in and near the community ranges from well-kept older homes in a variety of sizes and architectural styles to newer construction and the opportunity for spacious lots that offer the opportunity to board or raise horses.
Hayden, Locust Fork, Smoke Rise
Hayden Offices
205-647-7191
http://townofhayden.com
Locust Fork Offices
205-681-4581
www.locustfork.com
Chamber of Commerce
205-274-2153
http://bocc.publishpath.com
The bedroom communities of Hayden, Locust Fork, and Smoke Rise are nestled in the heart of Alabama approximately 30 miles north of Birmingham along Highway 160. Hayden is a small incorporated town that sprang in the early 1900s with the construction of the L&N railroad. Highlights in include the preservation of historic sites, one of Alabama’s finest cornfield mazes, and a few popular restaurants. The local school complex also serves the nearby unincorporated community of Smoke Rise, which is situated east of Interstate 65. Very little commercial development has occurred in this area, which primarily serves as a tranquil bedroom community for Metro Birmingham. Nevertheless, many newcomers appreciate the affordable homes, rural atmosphere, opportunities for outdoor recreation close to home, and small-town charm. Locust Fork is a small town that grew up near the Locust River, situated between the communities of Hayden and Highland Lake.
Oneonta, Highland Lake
Oneonta Offices
205-274-2150
www.cityofoneonta.us
Highland Lake Offices
205-625-6407
www.townofhighlandlake.com
Chamber of Commerce
205-274-2153
http://bocc.publishpath.com
Touting itself as the “Small City with Big Ideas,” Oneonta is the hub of healthcare, education, government, and commerce for Blount County. The historic downtown district features a medley of quaint specialty shops that blend with modern development including several mini-malls. Recreational amenities are highly developed and include lush parks, three local golf courses, and a community swimming pool. Garnering the title of Tree City USA for 10 years, Oneonta welcomes newcomers to lovely neighborhoods where the homes and properties show pride of ownership and quiet streets enjoy a canopy of mature trees. Residents gather frequently for seasonal and special events that include the Blount County Fair, the Blount County Rodeo, the farmers market, the Covered Bridge Festival, the June Fling, the Winter Horse Show Circuit, the holiday home tour and Christmas Parade, and popular golf tournaments. Historic sites and attractions include the Blount County Memorial Museum and Murphree’s Pioneer Home in Palisades Park. Access to Interstates 59, 65, and 20 make this a popular community for commuters. Just five miles from Oneonta, the small and scenic town of Highland Lake surrounds the body of water of the same name. The town offers a tranquil residential haven that experienced a boom in population in the 1990s. Today, the growth rate is slow and steady.
