Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,134. Its county seat is Oneonta.

Blount County is a moist county. In the November 6, 2012 elections, a countywide ballot initiative to allow alcohol sales was narrowly defeated, but Blountsville, Cleveland and Oneonta have allowed for the sale of alcohol since 2013.

Blount County has been dubbed the "Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama" since it has more historic covered bridges standing within a single county than any other in the state - with earlier covered bridges known of. This county celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival every autumn in Oneonta to commemorate its three remaining covered bridges.

History

Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial Legislature on February 6, 1818, formed from land ceded to the federal government by the Creek Nation on August 9, 1814. This county was named for Governor Willie Blount of Tennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War. This county lies in the northeastern quadrant of the state, which is sometimes known as the mineral region of Alabama. Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, Walker, and St. Clair Counties. This county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River. Blount County covers . The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County.

Caleb Fryley and John Jones established Bear Meat Cabin, an English translation of Wassausey (a Native American village), in 1816. Its post office was opened in 1821, and the settlement was incorporated as Blountsville on December 13, 1827. In 1889, an election resulted in the county seat being transferred to Oneonta, Alabama.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Marshall County – northeast
  • Etowah County – east
  • St. Clair County – southeast
  • Walker County – southwest
  • Jefferson County – south
  • Cullman County – northwest

Transportation

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 65
  • 20px U.S. Highway 31
  • 24px U.S. Highway 231
  • 23px U.S. Highway 278
  • 20px State Route 67
  • 20px State Route 75
  • 20px State Route 79
  • 23px State Route 132
  • 23px State Route 160

Rail

  • CSX Transportation, formerly the Louisville and Nashville Railroad

Demographics