Alabaster

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City of Alabaster
2021 Alabaster logo.png
Incorporated 1953
Population 31,545
Mayor Scott Brakefield
School district Shelby County Schools
Government

Alabaster City Council
Alabaster Fire and Rescue Service
Alabaster Police Department

Web site cityofalabaster.com
Alabaster locator map.png
Locate with Google Maps

Alabaster is a city and southern suburb of Birmingham occupying 20.5 square miles in Shelby County. According to the 2015 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city has a population of 31,545.

The vicinity of Alabaster was developed near the mill village of Siluria along the Montgomery Highway in the 1930s, primarily on behalf of the Alabaster Lime Company owned by George Scott Sr. The community took its name from the white high-calcium limestone which was abundant there, especially on the outcropping later called Scott Rock. The Alabaster Water Works was incorporated on June 19, 1933. A concrete bridge connecting Alabaster and Siluria over the John Allen Branch was completed on December 12, 1935.

In 1951 A. H. Albright, Postmaster of Birmingham, approved a new post office for Alabaster, housed in the store owned by Sara Reed, who was appointed the town's post mistress. Scott's son, George Scott Jr opened the First Bank of Alabaster on January 21, 1952 and led the efforts to incorporate the town. He was elected as the city's first Mayor upon successful incorporation on February 23, 1953. At the time the community was served by a small newspaper, the Alabaster Advertiser until it ceased publication in 1958.

On September 21, 1959 the Shelby Memorial Hospital was dedicated in Alabaster. The current Alabaster City Hall was completed in 1960 and housed the first Alabaster Public Library.

Siluria was merged into Alabaster in 1971.

The city adopted new branding, and a slogan "Alabaster: City Unlimited", in 2021. In 2023 Alabaster raised its sales tax rate to 9%, with the additional funds set to go toward improvements to streets, parks, recreation centers, libraries, and fire and rescue service. In 2024 the city engaged CMH Architects to design a new $40 million recreation center.

Demographics

The 2020 U.S. Census counted 33,284 people, 11,568 households, and 8,667 families residing in the city. The population was 66% white, 16% Black or African-American, and 13% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

year     pop.   %change

1960 |  1,623 |    ---  |
1970 |  2,642 |  +62.8% |
1980 |  7,079 | +167.9% |
1990 | 14,732 | +108.1% |
2000 | 22,619 |  +53.5% |
2010 | 30,352 |  +34.2% |
2020 | 33,284 |   +9.7% |

Government

Alabaster's municipal government, operating from Alabaster City Hall, consists of a Mayor elected at-large every four years, and seven Alabaster City Council members, each representing a ward for the same term. The current Mayor, Scott Brakefield, was elected in 2020.

Much of the day-to-day operation of city departments are managed by a City Administrator, a position currently held by Brian Binzer.

Schools

Until the 20132014 school year, Alabaster students attended Shelby County Schools. The Alabaster City Council voted on October 17, 2011 to form a separate school district, and appointed five citizens to the new Alabaster Board of Education on March 5, 2012. The district officially split on July 1, 2013.

Six Shelby County schools within the Alabaster city limits became the city's first (and current) schools: Creekview Elementary School, Meadowview Elementary School, Thompson Intermediate School, Thompson Sixth Grade Center, Thompson Middle School, and Thompson High School. The Linda Nolen Learning Center, serving Shelby County children with special needs, was moved from Thompson High to Pelham in 2012 in anticipation of the new Alabaster school district.

Notable locations

References

External links

Shelby County seal.jpg Shelby County
Topics

Communities | County Commission | Schools | Sheriff

Cities

Alabaster | Calera | Chelsea | Columbiana (seat) | Harpersville | Helena | Indian Springs Village | Montevallo | Pelham | Vincent | Westover | Wilsonville | Wilton