Editing Thorsby, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Thorsby, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = Little [[Sweden|Swede]] Town, The [[Peach]] Basket, Thor’s carbuncle 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Thorsby from space
|image_shield             = Thorsby coat of arms.jpg
|image_map                = File:Chilton County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Thorsby Highlighted 0176080.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Thorsby in Chilton County, Alabama.
|image_skyline            = 
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Chilton County, Alabama|Chilton]]
|government_type          = Mayor-Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Robert Hight
|established_date         = 1901
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.84
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.83
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|elevation_ft             = 696
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2064
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 354.09
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|32|55|1|N|86|42|57|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35171
|area_code                = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205, 659]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-76080
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0153689
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.townofthorsby.com}}
|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 = 15.12
|area_land_km2 = 15.10
|area_water_km2 = 0.03
|population_density_km2 = 136.72
}}
'''Thorsby''' is a [[town]] in [[Chilton County, Alabama]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the town was 2,064.<ref name=Census2020>{{cite web |title=Thorsby, Alabama |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Thorsby,%20Alabama |website=data.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
Thorsby is located north of the center of Chilton County at 32°55'1.171" North, 86°42'57.442" West (32.916992, -86.715956).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|13.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.03|km2|order=flip}}, or 0.19%, is water.<ref name=Census2020/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 426
|1920= 513
|1930= 771
|1940= 772
|1950= 828
|1960= 968
|1970= 944
|1980= 1422
|1990= 1465
|2000= 1820
|2010= 1980
|2020= 2064
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref><br>2013 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013|accessdate=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Thorsby racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0176080&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,700
|82.36%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|112
|5.43%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|1
|0.05%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|7
|0.34%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|1
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|59
|2.86%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|184
|8.91%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,064 people, 706 households, and 486 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2015-07-11|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,980 people, 733 [[household]]s, and 573 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|386|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 817 housing units at an average density of {{convert|158.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial]] makeup of the town was 89.7% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], 5.7% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.3% from [[race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 0.6% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|race]].

There were 733 households, out of which 34.0% had [[children]] under the [[ageing|age]] of 18 living with them, 62.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.2% had a [[female]] householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the [[population]] was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The [[median]] age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median [[income]] for a household in the town was $45,179, and the median income for a family was $52,813. Males had a median income of $43,235 versus $37,772 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $21,269. 11.9% of the population and 9.5% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the [[total population]], 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Climate==
Thorsby has a [[Humid subtropical climate]], characterized by hot [[summer]]s, cold [[winter]]s, and abundant [[rain]]fall, as most Alabama receives over {{convert|50|in}} of rain annually. The [[spring (season)|spring]] and summer are moderately rainy, with frequent strong to severe [[thunderstorm]]s. The fall and winter months are cold and cloudy. The town is almost always under [[cloud cover]] from November to March. January sees average daily high temperatures of {{convert|53.0|F}} and lows of {{convert|31.8|F}}. In July the average daily high is {{convert|90.6|F}} and the low is {{convert|69.7|F}}. The average annual temperature in Thorsby is {{convert|62|F}}. In late winter, normally from January through February, Thorsby normally acquires small amounts of [[snow]] accumulation. Annual snowfall averages only {{convert|1.9|in}}, but during the [[Great Blizzard of 1993]], the town received over {{convert|1|ft}} of snow, with drifts almost {{convert|3|ft}}, and on February 28 - March 1, 2009, the town accumulated almost {{convert|6|in}} of snow. The average yearly rainfall in Thorsby is about {{convert|59|in}}, with March being the wettest month and October the driest.

The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable as [[cold front]]s frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional [[tornado]]es to the region. The fall season features more rainfall and fewer storms, as well as lower [[humidity]] than the spring, but it is also a secondary [[severe weather]] season. Thorsby is located on the heart of a [[tornado alley]] known as the [[Dixie Alley]] due to the frequency of tornadoes in [[Central Alabama]]. In late summer and fall months, Thorsby experiences occasional [[tropical storm]]s and [[hurricane]]s due to its proximity to the [[Central Gulf Coast]].

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = 
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Thorsby Experiment Station, Alabama (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 79
 | Feb record high F  = 82
 | Mar record high F  = 89
 | Apr record high F  = 91
 | May record high F  = 97
 | Jun record high F  = 100
 | Jul record high F  = 104
 | Aug record high F  = 103
 | Sep record high F  = 100
 | Oct record high F  = 100
 | Nov record high F  = 87
 | Dec record high F  = 81
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 55.1
 | Feb high F = 59.4
 | Mar high F = 67.0
 | Apr high F = 74.4
 | May high F = 81.5
 | Jun high F = 87.2
 | Jul high F = 89.8
 | Aug high F = 89.6
 | Sep high F = 85.2
 | Oct high F = 76.2
 | Nov high F = 65.8
 | Dec high F = 57.4
 | year high F = 74.0
 | Jan mean F = 44.0
 | Feb mean F = 47.9
 | Mar mean F = 54.7
 | Apr mean F = 61.9
 | May mean F = 69.7
 | Jun mean F = 76.4
 | Jul mean F = 79.3
 | Aug mean F = 78.9
 | Sep mean F = 74.1
 | Oct mean F = 63.8
 | Nov mean F = 53.4
 | Dec mean F = 46.4
 | year mean F = 62.5
 | Jan low F = 33.0
 | Feb low F = 36.3
 | Mar low F = 42.5
 | Apr low F = 49.4
 | May low F = 57.9
 | Jun low F = 65.7
 | Jul low F = 68.7
 | Aug low F = 68.2
 | Sep low F = 62.9
 | Oct low F = 51.4
 | Nov low F = 41.0
 | Dec low F = 35.3
 | year low F = 51.0
 | Jan record low F  = -4
 | Feb record low F  = 5
 | Mar record low F  = 12
 | Apr record low F  = 28
 | May record low F  = 39
 | Jun record low F  = 44
 | Jul record low F  = 53
 | Aug record low F  = 54
 | Sep record low F  = 38
 | Oct record low F  = 27
 | Nov record low F  = 15
 | Dec record low F  = 0
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 5.60
 | Feb precipitation inch = 5.65
 | Mar precipitation inch = 5.83
 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.79
 | May precipitation inch = 4.09
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.78
 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.37
 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.09
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.59
 | Oct precipitation inch = 2.88
 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.34
 | Dec precipitation inch = 5.18
 | year precipitation inch = 56.19
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 8.6
 | Feb precipitation days  = 8.8
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.9
 | Apr precipitation days  = 7.6
 | May precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Jun precipitation days  = 9.3
 | Jul precipitation days  = 9.5
 | Aug precipitation days  = 8.0
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.1
 | Oct precipitation days  = 5.4
 | Nov precipitation days  = 6.5
 | Dec precipitation days  = 8.2
 | year precipitation days = 95.0
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bmx
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00018209&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==History==
[[Image:Thorsby town sign displaying Rebel man.jpg|thumb|Thorsby's town sign displaying the local high school's mascot, the Rebel Man]]
Thorsby is a small Central Alabama town located in Chilton County. Thorsby was first settled in 1895 and incorporated in 1901 by [[Scandinavia]]n immigrants who had originally settled in the midwestern United States, but who were seeking a milder climate and fertile soil for growing food. One of those earliest settlers was Theodore T. Thorson, for whom the town was eventually named (the suffix ''"[[wikt:býr#Old Norse|by]]"'' meaning "settlement" in [[Scandinavian language]]s). The town grew quickly, with two hotels, a sawmill and lumber company, and two wineries being built within the first couple of years. The town of Thorsby was declared a promised land for northerners looking to relocate to a warmer climate, suitable for farming and better health. The fertile soil of the South produced grapes in large numbers, along with other fruits such as strawberries, and the peaches for which Chilton County is famous. The founders formed the Concordia Land and Improvement Association and began advertising in [[New England]] newspapers about the "utopia" they had discovered in the Southeastern United States. Many traveled by railroad to purchase a tract of land and start a better life. Thorsby became affectionately known as the little "Swede town" by locals.

Thorsby is located almost exactly between the downtown areas of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] and [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], with either destination being approximately {{convert|45|mi}} from the center of town.

Each autumn, the town of Thorsby celebrates its heritage with the Annual Swedish Festival that includes an arts and crafts fair, a pageant, music, car and motorcycle shows and food native to the American South. The town maintains the old Norwegian Lutheran Church, now called "Helen Jenkins Chapel". It is a venue available for public use. A Scandinavian Cemetery is available for visits any time. The town operates its own police and fire departments, as well as departments of building inspection, law, parks and recreation, and the Thorsby Water Works. The Chilton County School System operates the K-12 Thorsby School in the town.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alcsilve/memories.html ''The town of Thorsby'' (Scandinavians in Alabama)]</ref>

==Thorsby High School==
[[Image:Thorsby High School Mascot.jpg|thumb|left|Thorsby High School's official mascot, the Thorsby Rebel]]
Thorsby High School is a 3-A, K-12 educational institution. It has been a public school since 1957. The school originated as Thorsby Institute shortly after the town was founded in the early 1900s. Thorsby Institute was founded as a private school and was turned over to the Chilton County [[Board of Education]] to become a part of the public school system. Thorsby Institute provided a quality education for many years to local and out-of-state students.

There is an old school house in central Thorsby, which was in use until the mid-1970s.
[[Image:Thorsby High School in snow.jpg|thumb|right|Thorsby High School, January 2008]]

Based on its state test results, Thorsby High School has received a Great Schools Rating of 3 out of 10. 834 students attended Thorsby High School in the 2006–2007 school year. During the 2006–07 school year there were 51 teachers on staff, giving Thorsby High School a student-teacher ratio of 16.5. There were 54 kindergartners, 66 first graders, 61 second graders, 59 third graders, 65 fourth graders, 69 fifth graders, 74 sixth graders, 74 seventh graders, 69 eighth graders, 70 [[freshman|freshmen]], 53 [[Tenth grade|sophomore]]s, 63 [[Junior (education year)|juniors]], and 57 [[Senior (education)|seniors]] during that year. Currently,{{when|date=June 2014}} there are 388 (45%) of students enrolled that are eligible for discounted/free lunch. The school mascot is the Thorsby [[Johnny Reb|Rebel]], and the colors are maroon and white.

==Notable people==
* [[Jackie Burkett]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[Center (American football)|center]]
* [[William Sprague (Rhode Island, 1830–1915)|William Sprague]] (1830–1915); U.S. Senator and the 27th governor of Rhode Island; born in Cranston, RI (spent ages 4–7 residing in Thorsby)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=Chilton County|series=Images of America|author1-first=Billy J.|author1-last=Singleton|publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]]|year=2017|isbn=9781439661765|chapter=Thorsby}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://townofthorsby.com/ Town of Thorsby Alabama website]
*[http://www.thorsbyswedishfestival.com/ Thorsby Swedish Fest]

{{Chilton County, Alabama}}
{{Coord|display=title|32.916992|-86.715956}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Chilton County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1815]]
[[Category:Swedish-American culture in Alabama]]