It was built on land once owned by Uriah Smith, near the company townBlocton. Many of its non-native residents were immigrants from various European countries, with Italians being the largest, as they came to do mining in the area. West Blocton has a neighborhood previously named "Dago Hollow" and now called Little Italy.[2]
Since 1883, West Blocton has been an essential part of Alabama's history and industrial development. It is a celebrated city with natural beauty on the Cahaba River.
It is on a midway point between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.[2]
Alabama State Route 5 passes through the town, west of the town center, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Woodstock and south 12 miles (19 km) to Brent and Centreville, the county seat.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), of which 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.52%, is water.[4]
West Blocton Coke Ovens Park blends history with nature, providing a place to relax and learn about the history of the industrial era of Alabama and how the Coke Ovens supplied the steel of the South.
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 1,240 people, 494 households, and 341 families residing in the town. The population density was 271 inhabitants per square mile (105/km2). There were 576 housing units at an average density of 125.2 per square mile (48.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.6% White, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. 0.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 494 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,844, and the median income for a family was $59,875. Males had a median income of $37,384 versus $31,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,224. About 11.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
The community's original economy was coal. By 2002 industry left the town. Robert Dewitt of the Tuscaloosa News stated that the community remained active despite the lack of jobs, and that "While downtown West Blocton is a shell of its former self, the place isn’t a ghost town."[2]
Mel Allen, broadcaster for the New York Yankees, was a frequent visitor to West Blocton, where his grandfather, Julius Israel, resided as a boy.
Another member of the Israel family was Mel Allen's first cousin, Elmo Israel Ellis, pioneer radio broadcaster, WSB/ Cox Broadcasting Corporation in Atlanta, GA. Ellis was Valedictorian of West Blocton High School, Class of 1936.
Rufus Parker, a well known Inventor who has created and patented inventions such as a carbon steel wheel lock for 18 wheelers, His most noted invention was an "oil jaw lock" after an oil company commissioned his help after a string of crude oil thefts. Mr. Parker was born and raised in West Blocton, leaving in 1949, briefly staying in Chicago IL and Cleveland OH. Unable to find satisfaction in either town, Mr. Parker enlisted in the US Army where he served in Korea, earning medals along the way. Upon his return to the states and discharge from the Army, Mr. Parker became the very first individual in United States history to receive a small business loan, acquiring a Peterbilt 18 wheeler with it. Growing tired of highway runs, Parker sold his Peterbilt and went into business with blues legend Albert King, buying a nightclub in St. Louis.[9]
Coke Ovens are the foundation of this town and the celebrated heritage of Alabama's history providing steel for the South.West Blocton is known for its historic beehive ovens, built in the late 1880s for coke production.
A feature-length documentary, West Blocton: Small Town, Big Heart, was made in 2012 by Michael J. Logan, an independent filmmaker whose family is from the town. The film covers the history of West Blocton from its inception in 1884 as a coal mining town until present day.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, West Blocton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [10]
