McCalla is a census-designated place in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties, Alabama, United States,[3] southwest of Bessemer and the geographic terminus of the Appalachian Mountains.[4]

McCalla
The U.S. Post Office in McCalla
The U.S. Post Office in McCalla
McCalla is located in Alabama
McCalla
McCalla
McCalla is located in the United States
McCalla
McCalla
Coordinates: 33°20′55″N 87°00′51″W / 33.34861°N 87.01417°W / 33.34861; -87.01417
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyJefferson
Area
 • Total
34.21 sq mi (88.60 km2)
 • Land33.77 sq mi (87.47 km2)
 • Water0.44 sq mi (1.14 km2)
Elevation
509 ft (155 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,965
 • Density383.91/sq mi (148.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
35111
Area code(s)205, 659
GNIS feature ID122460[2]

The community is named for Richard Calvin McCalla, a well known civil engineer, who served as chief engineer of several railroads throughout the South, including the Alabama and Chattanooga, the Tuscaloosa and Northern and the Knoxville and Ohio. He also served as surveyor of many of the rivers throughout the South.

Demographics

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McCalla first appeared as a CDP in the 2020 census.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
202012,965
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

2020 census

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McCalla racial composition[6]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 7,322 56.48%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 4,596 35.45%
Native American 23 0.18%
Asian 120 0.93%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 453 3.49%
Hispanic or Latino 450 3.47%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,965 people residing in the CDP. Information on households and families is unavailable at the moment, but the totals will be added once those figures are released for McCalla.

Recreation

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Tannehill Ironworks, McCalla, Alabama
 
Covered bridge in McCalla

Tannehill State Park features a 19th-century blast furnace, the Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama, various historical buildings, rustic cabins, and a campground. The park also has a slave cemetery. The park is home to several festivals throughout the year, including the Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Festival, the Down Home Psaltery Festival, archery tournaments, a civil war reenactment, and other events.

Schools

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The McCalla area is served by McAdory Elementary, McCalla Elementary, McAdory Middle, and McAdory High School.

Notable people

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  • Chad Smith Major League pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
  • Morris Higginbotham, head football coach for several high schools in the Birmingham area.
  • Bo Jackson was raised in Martin Town, and went through the McAdory school system where he set state records in multiple sports. He is an American former professional baseball and football player and is the only athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports.
  • Sherri Martel, known as Sensational Sherri, was a professional wrestling valet who died in McCalla

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "McCalla". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: McCalla, Alabama
  4. ^ http://www.waymarking.com
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2021.