Editing Alabaster, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Alabaster, Alabama
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Alabaster Hwy 31.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Aerial view of Highway 31 in Alabaster, AL
| image_map          = File:Shelby County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Alabaster Highlighted 0100820.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Alabaster in Shelby County, Alabama.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Alabaster, Alabama.png
| image_seal         =
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Alabaster, Alabama.png
| blank_emblem_type  = logo
| pushpin_map        = Alabama
| pushpin_label      = Alabaster
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|13|52|N|86|49|25|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alabama]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Shelby County, Alabama|Shelby]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Scott Brakefield
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 25.59
| area_land_sq_mi    = 25.28
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.31
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 584
| population_total   = 33284
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 35007, 35114
| area_codes         = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205, 659]]
| website            = [http://www.cityofalabaster.com/ Official website]
| footnotes          = 
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = February 23, 1953
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 01-00820
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2403069<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403069}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 66.29
| area_land_km2      = 65.47
| area_water_km2     = 0.81
| leader_title1      = City Administrator
| leader_name1       = Brian Binzer
}}

'''Alabaster''' is a city and southern suburb of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] in [[Shelby County, Alabama|Shelby County]], [[Alabama]], [[United States]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 33,284. Alabaster is the 16th largest city in Alabama by number of residents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alabama Cities by Population |url=https://www.alabama-demographics.com/cities_by_population |website=Alabama-Demographics |quote=16: Alabaster, 33,340 |access-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503131501/https://www.alabama-demographics.com/cities_by_population |archive-date=May 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
George L. Scott Sr., an Alabaster pioneer, owned and operated Alabaster Lime Co., which mined this mineral. His shipping point was known as “Scott Rock.” Later, worker housing was built to accommodate some of the mine employees. The community was named Alabaster after the "white calcium carbonate mineral."{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The First Bank of Alabaster opened in 1952, and its president was George L. Scott Jr., who later was elected as the first mayor of Alabaster. The first attempt in 1952 to incorporate Alabaster failed. In January 1953, the petition was again filed, and on February 23, 1953, Alabaster was officially incorporated, with a favorable vote of 79 to 23, and 427 residing inhabitants.  In 1955, the Alabaster Water and Gas Board was formed.<ref>Alabaster merged with the adjoining city of [[Siluria, Alabama]] on April 27, 1971. [http://www.rootsweb.com/~alshelby/shelby.html "History of Shelby County"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517101842/http://www.rootsweb.com/~alshelby/shelby.html |date=May 17, 2008 }}. ALGenWeb: Shelby County. Retrieved on May 21, 2008.</ref>

In 2015, the city announced that it was considering options to expand the area commonly known as the "Main Street Medical Mile" along Highway 31. The plans include not just expansion of medical facilities, but a civic center and different retail locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2015/05/alabaster_has_big_ideas_to_tra.html|title=Alabaster exploring ideas for growth, development|date=May 1, 2015|website=al|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref>

Additionally, it was announced in 2017 that a 350,000 square feet retail complex would be built at the corner of Highway 31 and Interstate 65. The new complex, currently named District 31, was slated to open in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/business/2017/09/district_31_a_75-acre_developm.html|title=350,000-SF mixed use development coming to Alabaster|last=Poe|first=Kelly|date=September 13, 2017|website=al|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> however as of 2020, the complex remained under construction.

==Geography==
Alabaster is located at {{Coord|33|13|52|N|86|49|26|W|type:city}} (33.231162, −86.823829).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020527061848/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|archive-date=May 27, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Alabaster mostly occupies the Cahaba and Opossum valleys, which are divided by the Pine Ridge that runs north to south. To the east and west, both valleys are flanked by parallel mountain ridges that locally run north to south, but are a part of a larger system of ridges that generally runs north-east to south-west (the tailing ends of the Appalachian foothills). The valleys are drained by small creeks (Buck Creek, Beaverdam Creek) that flow into the Cahaba River.<ref name="MAP">{{cite topoquest|quad=Alabaster, AL|url=https://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=33.23874&lon=-86.81840&datum=nad27&zoom=8&map=auto&coord=d&mode=zoomin&size=xl|accessdate=August 14, 2015}}</ref>

Access to the city from major highways is found from [[U.S. Highway 31|U.S. Route 31]], which runs through the city, and via [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|I-65]] exit 238. Downtown Birmingham is 23&nbsp;mi (37&nbsp;km) north, and [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] is 69&nbsp;mi (111&nbsp;km) south, both via US-31 or I-65.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|25.6|sqmi|km2|1}}, of which {{convert|25.3|sqmi|km2|1}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2|1}} (1.2%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>

===Climate===

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Alabaster has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

{{Weather box
|location = Alabaster, Alabama ([[Shelby County Airport (Alabama)|Shelby County Airport]]), 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1995&ndash;present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 101
|Nov record high F = 89
|Dec record high F = 81

|Jan avg record high F = 72.7
|Feb avg record high F = 76.1
|Mar avg record high F = 82.2
|Apr avg record high F = 86.1
|May avg record high F = 91.6
|Jun avg record high F = 95.7
|Jul avg record high F = 96.5
|Aug avg record high F = 97.1
|Sep avg record high F = 93.9
|Oct avg record high F = 88.5
|Nov avg record high F = 77.9
|Dec avg record high F = 74.9
|year avg record high F = 98.6

|Jan high F = 55.7
|Feb high F = 60.5
|Mar high F = 67.9
|Apr high F = 75.4
|May high F = 82.5
|Jun high F = 88.3
|Jul high F = 91.1
|Aug high F = 90.8
|Sep high F = 86.1
|Oct high F = 76.3
|Nov high F = 66.0
|Dec high F = 58.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 45.7
|Feb mean F = 49.9
|Mar mean F = 57.0
|Apr mean F = 64.0
|May mean F = 71.8
|Jun mean F = 78.5
|Jul mean F = 81.3
|Aug mean F = 80.9
|Sep mean F = 75.8
|Oct mean F = 65.1
|Nov mean F = 54.6
|Dec mean F = 48.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 35.6
|Feb low F = 39.3
|Mar low F = 46.0
|Apr low F = 52.6
|May low F = 61.0
|Jun low F = 68.7
|Jul low F = 71.6
|Aug low F = 71.0
|Sep low F = 65.5
|Oct low F = 53.9
|Nov low F = 43.1
|Dec low F = 38.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 18.3
|Feb avg record low F = 24.2
|Mar avg record low F = 29.7
|Apr avg record low F = 38.3
|May avg record low F = 47.9
|Jun avg record low F = 61.3
|Jul avg record low F = 65.0
|Aug avg record low F = 64.4
|Sep avg record low F = 53.5
|Oct avg record low F = 37.3
|Nov avg record low F = 26.9
|Dec avg record low F = 24.3
|year avg record low F = 17.2

|Jan record low F = 9
|Feb record low F = 4
|Mar record low F = 14
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 37
|Jun record low F = 49
|Jul record low F = 56
|Aug record low F = 55
|Sep record low F = 42
|Oct record low F = 31
|Nov record low F = 21
|Dec record low F = 10

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.35
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.76
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.40
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.07
|May precipitation inch = 4.15
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.58
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.93
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.72
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.57
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.03
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.56
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.07
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.8
|Feb precipitation days = 11.4
|Mar precipitation days = 11.5
|Apr precipitation days = 9.7
|May precipitation days = 9.9
|Jun precipitation days = 11.5
|Jul precipitation days = 12.8
|Aug precipitation days = 11.5
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.2
|Nov precipitation days = 9.0
|Dec precipitation days = 11.3

|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.2
|Mar snow inch = 0.1
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.3
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.2
|Feb snow days = 0.2
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 
|Feb snow depth inch = 
|Mar snow depth inch = 
|Apr snow depth inch = 
|May snow depth inch = 
|Jun snow depth inch = 
|Jul snow depth inch = 
|Aug snow depth inch = 
|Sep snow depth inch = 
|Oct snow depth inch = 
|Nov snow depth inch = 
|Dec snow depth inch = 
|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00053864&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Alabaster Shelby CO AP, AL
|access-date = October 14, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow/snow days 2006&ndash;2020)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Birmingham
|access-date = February 13, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
===City of Alabaster (1960-)===
Alabaster first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an incorporated city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf|title=Number of Inhabitants|website=census.gov|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829231935/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{US Census population
|align=left
|1960= 1623
|1970= 2642
|1980= 7079
|1990= 14732
|2000= 22619
|2010= 30352
|2020= 33284
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

===2010 Census data===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 30,352 people, 11,016 households, and 6,482 families residing in the city [9]. The population density was {{convert|1,104.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 81.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 15.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.64% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. 4.54% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,016 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $64,411, and the median income for a family was $78,940.  The per capita income for the city was $22,466. About 4.3% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 Census data===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Alabaster Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0100820&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|21,791
|65.47%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|5,300
|15.92%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|63
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|394
|1.18%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|20
|0.06%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,500
|4.51%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|4,216
|12.67%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 33,284 people, 11,568 households, and 8,667 families residing in the city.

==Alabaster-Helena Census Division (1980-)==
{{US Census population|align=left
|1980= 33674
|1990= 59090
|2000= 86781
|2010= 118831
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507121432/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=May 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
The Alabaster-Helena Census Division was created in 1980 through the merger of the former Helena Division and Siluria Divisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=1980 Census of Population |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_alABC-01.pdf |website=census.gov |access-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125194555/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_alABC-01.pdf |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> It includes portions of Alabaster, [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] (Shelby County portion), [[Brantleyville, Alabama|Brantleyville]], [[Calera, Alabama|Calera]], [[Chelsea, Alabama|Chelsea]], [[Helena, Alabama|Helena]], [[Hoover, Alabama|Hoover]], [[Indian Springs Village, Alabama|Indian Springs Village]], [[Meadowbrook, Alabama|Meadowbrook]], [[Montevallo, Alabama|Montevallo]], [[Pelham, Alabama|Pelham]] and [[Vestavia Hills, Alabama|Vestavia Hills]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-2.pdf|title=2010 Census of Population and Housing|website=census.gov|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102125147/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-2.pdf|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government==
The government consists of a mayor, who is elected [[at-large]], and a seven-member city council. Each member is elected from a [[single-member district]], called a ward, of roughly equal population.

The Mayor and City Council are elected every four years. The most recent election was held in 2020.
{{clear}}

The current City Council Members are: Sophie Martin, Rick Ellis, Stacy Rakestraw, Greg Farrell, Jamie Cole, Zach Zahariadis, and Kerri Pate.

Alabaster Fire Department
ISO Class 2 rated. Consisting of 3 Firehouses with 61 Full Time Firefighters.

Alabaster Firehouse #1
Located at 890 1st Avenue West.

Alabaster Firehouse #2
Located at 950 Butler Road.
[[File:AFDFT.jpg|thumb]]
Alabaster Firehouse #3
Located at 910 1st Street South (US 31 South)

== City Council ==
{| class="wikitable"
!District
!Name
!Position
|-
|1
|Mrs. Sophie Martin
|President
|-
|2
|Mr. Rick Ellis
|Councilperson
|-
|3
|Mrs. Stacy Rakestraw
|Councilperson
|-
|4
|Mr. Greg Farrell
|President Pro-Temp
|-
|5
|Mr. Jamie Cole
|Councilperson
|-
|6
|Zach Zahariadis
|Councilperson
|-
|7
|Ms. Kerri Bell-Pate
|Councilperson
|}

==Schools==
On July 1, 2013, the [[Alabaster City Schools System]] officially separated from the [[Shelby County Schools (Alabama)|Shelby County Schools]] system, and now operates the public schools in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Martin J. |title=Alabaster school district celebrates independence from Shelby County |url=https://www.al.com/spotnews/2013/07/alabaster_school_district_cele.html |website=AL.com |language=en |date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125194552/https://www.al.com/spotnews/2013/07/alabaster_school_district_cele.html |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Private school K-12 education is also available.

*Creek View Elementary School
*Meadow View Elementary School
*Thompson Intermediate School
*Thompson Middle School
*[[Thompson High School]]

Private:
*[[Evangel Christian School (Alabama)|Evangel Christian School]]
*[[Kingwood Christian School]] (closed)

==Transportation==
ClasTran provides [[dial-a-ride]] transit service on weekdays in Alabaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clastran.com/|title=ClasTran|access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.cityofalabaster.com/ City of Alabaster]

{{Coord|display=title|33.231162|-86.823829}}

{{Shelby County, Alabama}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Shelby County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]