Alabama State Route 51
Encyclopedia
State Route 51 is a 115 miles (185.1 km) long route in the southeastern and east-central part of the state
. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with U.S. Highway 84 near New Brockton
. The northern terminus of the route is at an interchange with Interstate 85 and U.S. Highways 29 and 280 at Opelika
.
, the route heads in a northeasterly direction, passing through rural areas and small towns in the southeastern part of the state.
State Route 51 passes through Clio
, the birthplace of former Alabama
governor George C. Wallace
and Baseball Hall of Fame member Don Sutton. At Clio, the route turns briefly turns northward, then resumes its northward trajectory as it leads towards Clayton
. At Clayton, the route then turns northwestward then northward as it leads towards Midway
.
At Midway, State Route 51 joins U.S. Highway 82 and turns westward. The concurrency
of the two routes ends east of Union Springs
. State Route 51 then resumes a northeastward trajectory until it approaches Hurtsboro
. The route then turns northward, continuing this orientation until it reaches its terminus at Opelika
.
When State Route 51 was created in 1940, it covered only the route between Clayton
and Midway
. The route was extended to its current southern terminus in 1957, and was extended to its current northern terminus in 1986.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with U.S. Highway 84 near New Brockton
New Brockton, Alabama
New Brockton is a town in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,250. The community was named for Huey E. Brock, settler.New Brockton is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The northern terminus of the route is at an interchange with Interstate 85 and U.S. Highways 29 and 280 at Opelika
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
.
Route description
While it is signed as a north–south route, the orientation of State Route 51 is rather irregular. From its beginning near New BrocktonNew Brockton, Alabama
New Brockton is a town in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,250. The community was named for Huey E. Brock, settler.New Brockton is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, the route heads in a northeasterly direction, passing through rural areas and small towns in the southeastern part of the state.
State Route 51 passes through Clio
Clio, Alabama
Clio is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. It is the birthplace of former Alabama governor George C. Wallace, as well as Baseball Hall of Famer and current Atlanta Braves broadcaster, Don...
, the birthplace of former Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
governor George C. Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
and Baseball Hall of Fame member Don Sutton. At Clio, the route turns briefly turns northward, then resumes its northward trajectory as it leads towards Clayton
Clayton, Alabama
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.-History:County Seat of Barbour County...
. At Clayton, the route then turns northwestward then northward as it leads towards Midway
Midway, Alabama
Midway is a town in Bullock County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 457.-Old Merritt School:Margaret Elizabeth Merritt of Midway sold two acres for $5 to the State of Alabama in 1921 as a site for an elementary school for African-American children...
.
At Midway, State Route 51 joins U.S. Highway 82 and turns westward. The concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
of the two routes ends east of Union Springs
Union Springs, Alabama
Union Springs is a town in Bullock County, Alabama, United States. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census.-History:The area that became Union Springs was first settled by white men after the Creek Indian removal of the 1830s. Twenty-seven springs watered the land, giving rise to the name of...
. State Route 51 then resumes a northeastward trajectory until it approaches Hurtsboro
Hurtsboro, Alabama
Hurtsboro is a town in Russell County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 592. It was founded in 1857 as Hurtsville and named for Joel Hurt, Sr....
. The route then turns northward, continuing this orientation until it reaches its terminus at Opelika
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
.
When State Route 51 was created in 1940, it covered only the route between Clayton
Clayton, Alabama
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.-History:County Seat of Barbour County...
and Midway
Midway, Alabama
Midway is a town in Bullock County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 457.-Old Merritt School:Margaret Elizabeth Merritt of Midway sold two acres for $5 to the State of Alabama in 1921 as a site for an elementary school for African-American children...
. The route was extended to its current southern terminus in 1957, and was extended to its current northern terminus in 1986.