Calera, Alabama

Calera
—  City  —
Calera Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 2006.
Location in Shelby County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°06′10″N 86°45′13″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Chilton, Shelby
Area
• Total	12.9 sq mi (33.5 km2)
• Land	12.9 sq mi (33.4 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	11,620
• Density	244.8/sq mi (94.3/km2)
Website	http://www.cityofcalera.org/

Calera is a city in Chilton and Shelby counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the location of Birmingham's Shelby County Airport. Its population was 3,158 at the 2000 census, but as of 2010 census the population had nearly quadrupled to 11,620 making it the fastest growing city in Alabama.

Geography

Calera is located at 33°06′27″N 86°45′00″W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33 km²), of which, 12.9 square miles (33 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.

History

The city of Calera was incorporated in 1887, and named after the Spanish word for "limestone" for all of the limestone deposits it has in the area. Since 2000, the city has doubled its population, making it the fastest growing city in Alabama. As of the 2010 Census, the population of Calera is 11,620.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	753		—
1900	770		2.3%
1910	754		−2.1%
1920	852		13.0%
1930	975		14.4%
1940	1,092		12.0%
1950	1,361		24.6%
1960	1,928		41.7%
1970	1,655		−14.2%
1980	2,035		23.0%
1990	2,136		5.0%
2000	3,158		47.8%
2010	11,620		268.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,158 people, 1,248 households, and 888 families residing in the city. The population density was 244.9 people per square mile (94.5/km²). There were 1,400 housing units at an average density of 108.6 per square mile (41.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.42% White, 19.92% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,248 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,650, and the median income for a family was $42,885. Males had a median income of $34,042 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,395. About 12.2% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents

• Hut Stricklin, NASCAR driver
• Virgil Trucks, Retired Major League Baseball pitcher

Points of interest

• Shelby County Airport
• Oliver Park
• Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
• Peek's Auto Tops and Interiors and Trunk Holders
• George Roy Park
• Timberline Golf Course
• Historical Calera Presbyterian Church
• Ozan Winery
• Vizzini Winery

Gallery

• 

  Calera City Hall

• 

  The Historical Calera Presbyterian Church was built in 1885. The church building is now owned by the city. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on March 12, 1997.

• 

  The Cowart Drug Store was built in 1885. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on February 15, 1977.

• 

  Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

External links

• Official Site