Hueytown, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.
It was the home of the legendary NASCAR
Alabama Gang
. It also made international headlines in 1992 with the unexplained "Hueytown Hum", a mysterious noise believed to be related to large ventilation fans for an underground coal mine in the area.
The northern area of this city was damaged by an EF4 tornado
on April 27, 2011.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.17%) is water.
It is considered a suburb of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area.
of 2000, there were 15,364 people, 6,155 households, and 4,517 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,323.7 people per square mile (510.9/km²). There were 6,519 housing units at an average density of 561.7 per square mile (216.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.81% White
, 15.49% Black
or African American
, 0.14% Native American
, 0.13% Asian
, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 6,155 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
for the city was $19,735. About 5.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
William & Joseph Woodward formed The Woodward Iron Company
on New Year's Eve, 1881. With William as company president and Joseph as company secretary, the brothers proceeded to purchase the plantation of Fleming Jordan. The plantation had originally been created by his father, Mortimer Jordan, in 1828. The plantation included portions of present day Hueytown and was one of the largest cotton plantations in the area. On the site of Mrs. Jordan's rose garden, Woodward Furnace #1 began operation on August 17, 1883. A second furnace went into blast in January, 1887 and the two furnaces had a daily output of 165 tons. A mine also went into operation in the Dolomite
community which is today mostly within the City of Hueytown. By 1909, there was a third furnace and a daily capacity of 250,000 tons with a workforce of 2000 men on the payroll. By the 1920s Woodward Iron's many expansions made it one of the nation's largest suppliers of pig iron
. By this time, Joseph's son, A. H. (Rick) Woodward, had become Chairman of the Board of Woodward Iron and was one of the most prominent citizens of Alabama. He is probably best remembered as the owner of The Birmingham Barons
baseball team and the namesake of Rickwood Field
, the nation's oldest professional baseball park. In 1968, Mead Corporation acquired Woodward Iron just as the steel industry was going into decline. In 1973, the last blast furnace closed, and Koppers Company bought the remaining coke production plant. Eventually, even Koppers closed, and much of the 1200 acres (485.6 ha) site today has been re-developed for lighter industrial use.
Coal mining began about the start of the 20th century at Virginia City. Today this section of Hueytown contains mostly subdivisons of homes (Virginia Estates and Edenwood). However, some of the original buildings from its mining past, including the superintendent's house, multiple supervisors houses, and two company built churches still remain.
Some sources say veteran prospector Truman H. Aldrich
assembled these lands as part of his extensive coal properties, others cite two red-headed brothers, George and E. T. Shuler as having opened the Virginia Mine in 1902. Having recently arrived from Virginia City, Nevada, they named their new mine after that western city. A mine disaster in February, 1905, demolished their plans, as an underground explosion, one of the worst recorded mining disasters in Alabama history entombed the entire day crew and caved in the mine entrance. When rescuers finally cleared the 1500 feet (152.4 m) shaft, they found 106 dead men and twenty dead mules. In 1936, Republic Steel
purchased the mine and it continued to be worked until September, 1953, when it closed permanently.
Mayor C.C. "Bud" Newell died in office. The President of the City Council, Gerald Hicks, was then elevated to the position of Mayor and completed the remaining years of the term.
The present Hueytown Elementary School, which has been expanded many times, first opened in the fall of 1950 and Mrs. Davis remained as principal until her retirement in 1963. She was succeeded by Mr. Garland Hendrix who held the post for eighteen years.
Other schools serving the city include: Hueytown High School
, Hueytown Middle School (formerly Pittman Middle School and Pittman Junior High), Concord Elementary School and North Highland Elementary School. Four private religious schools, Deeper Life Academy, Garywood Christian School, Brooklane Baptist Academy, and Rock Creek Academy are located in Hueytown.
Other schools that served Hueytown in years past have long since been closed. They included Virginia Mines School, Zimmerman Elementary, and Bell High School. When an F5 tornado destroyed Oak Grove High School and Oak Grove Elementary School on April 8, 1998 students from the Oak Grove high school grades were temporarily relocated to the former Bell School campus until their new school reopened two years later.
Recently the Hueytown High School
Marching, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands have gained some prestige by playing at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) and a dual concert with the University Of Alabama At Birmingham's Symphonic and Wind ensembles.
Hueytown High School
's football team made it to the Alabama State Playoffs in 1974, 1975, 1995, and 2004. They also made the playoffs in 2006, 2007, and 2008, marking the first time in school history to make three straight appearances. The team also tied a school record for wins in 2007 with a 10-2 record. On June 18, 2009 Hueytown High School
's football Coach Jeff Smith resigned . Spain Park High School Assistant Coach Matt Scott became the new Head Coach on July 7, 2009. The team made the playoffs once again in 2010 under Coach Scott.
HHS's softball team has won the Alabama State Softball championship three times in four years, 2005 and 2006 as a 5A school and 2008 as a 6A school under Coach Lisa Walker. They won again in 2011 as a 5A school. After the 2011 season, Coach Walker resigned and was hired as the new coach for the Vestavia softball team. Coach Christie McGuirk was hired in Coach Walker's place to be the new coach for the 2011 season.
In 1974, the Hueytown High School
Wrestling Team won the 4A State Championship under the guidance of then head-wrestling coach, Tony Morton.
In addition to the public school sports programs, Hueytown offers many other community sports programs. For decades the city has enjoyed a very strong Dixie Youth Baseball program for all eligible age groups. Its Dixie Youth teams use facilities at Hueytown's Bud Newell Park and have seen several of its players eventually make it to the Major Leagues. The city also has a very strong girls fastpitch program that is based at Allison-Bonnett Girls Softball Park, also a city facility. Its 6U All-Stars won the Alabama State Championship in the summer of 2009. Hueytown also has a Swim Club and a youth football program.
Hueytown also has Youth Soccer which started in 2003.
Hueytown is also home to the Central Alabama Boys & Girls Club, a multi-million dollar facility that provides a variety of sports and recreation opportunities for the youth of the area, focusing primarily on after school and summer programs. It routinely serves more than 300 children each day.
, the Alabama Gang
. The city's main thoroughfare, Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive, takes its name from drivers Bobby Allison
, Donnie Allison
, Davey Allison
, Clifford Allison and Neil Bonnett
. The Alabama Gang also includes racing legend Charles "Red" Farmer
. Though not considered a member of The Alabama Gang, Bobby and Donnie's older brother Eddie Allison had an active role in NASCAR for many years as a respected engine builder and still resides in Hueytown. His son, Jacob, is a radio personality on Birmingham, Alabama station WJOX. He also resides in Hueytown.
Interestingly, and certainly because of its established motorsports roots, Hueytown was chosen as BMW Motorsport
's initial North American base of operations before its first season with the International Motor Sports Association
(IMSA) in 1975.
From local reports and an informal investigation by ABC Evening News, the fan operated by Jim Walter Resources Inc. was generally thought to be the culprit. However, JWR Inc. was in bankruptcy proceedings and denied its fan was the source. Following an inconclusive series of studies the hum subsided later in the year, never to return.
Another theory, not taken seriously by any reasonable person, speculated that the huming was the result of UFO activity in the area.
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.
It was the home of the legendary NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Alabama Gang
Alabama Gang
The Alabama Gang was the nickname for a group of NASCAR drivers who set up shop and operated out of Hueytown, Alabama, near Birmingham, Alabama. In the late 1950s, young auto racer Bobby Allison left Miami, Florida, looking for an area that had more opportunities to race. He discovered central...
. It also made international headlines in 1992 with the unexplained "Hueytown Hum", a mysterious noise believed to be related to large ventilation fans for an underground coal mine in the area.
The northern area of this city was damaged by an EF4 tornado
April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak
An extremely large and violent tornado outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak ever recorded, and popularly known as the 2011 Super Outbreak, occurred from April 25 to 28, 2011. The outbreak affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in...
on April 27, 2011.
Geography
This city is located at 33°26′16"N 86°59′51"W (33.437709, -86.997579).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.17%) is water.
It is considered a suburb of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,364 people, 6,155 households, and 4,517 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,323.7 people per square mile (510.9/km²). There were 6,519 housing units at an average density of 561.7 per square mile (216.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.81% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.49% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.08% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 6,155 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
Economy
The median income for a household in the city was $41,225, and the median income for a family was $49,380. Males had a median income of $36,087 versus $26,025 for females. The per capita incomePer capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,735. About 5.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Industrial history
Although the Hueytown area has a history of farming, it has also been a part of both the steel and coal mining history of Jefferson County.William & Joseph Woodward formed The Woodward Iron Company
Woodward Iron Company
The Woodward Iron Company was founded on December 31, 1881, by two brothers, William & Joseph Woodward. William was the company president and Joseph was the company secretary. The company operated mines, quarries and furnaces that were connected by a private industrial railroad in Bessemer,...
on New Year's Eve, 1881. With William as company president and Joseph as company secretary, the brothers proceeded to purchase the plantation of Fleming Jordan. The plantation had originally been created by his father, Mortimer Jordan, in 1828. The plantation included portions of present day Hueytown and was one of the largest cotton plantations in the area. On the site of Mrs. Jordan's rose garden, Woodward Furnace #1 began operation on August 17, 1883. A second furnace went into blast in January, 1887 and the two furnaces had a daily output of 165 tons. A mine also went into operation in the Dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
community which is today mostly within the City of Hueytown. By 1909, there was a third furnace and a daily capacity of 250,000 tons with a workforce of 2000 men on the payroll. By the 1920s Woodward Iron's many expansions made it one of the nation's largest suppliers of pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
. By this time, Joseph's son, A. H. (Rick) Woodward, had become Chairman of the Board of Woodward Iron and was one of the most prominent citizens of Alabama. He is probably best remembered as the owner of The Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
baseball team and the namesake of Rickwood Field
Rickwood Field
Rickwood FieldFacility StatisticsLocation1137 2nd Avenue WestBirmingham, AlabamaBroke GroundSpring 1910Cost$75,000OpenedAugust 18, 1910SurfaceGrassOwnerCity of BirminghamTenantsBirmingham Barons 1910-1961...
, the nation's oldest professional baseball park. In 1968, Mead Corporation acquired Woodward Iron just as the steel industry was going into decline. In 1973, the last blast furnace closed, and Koppers Company bought the remaining coke production plant. Eventually, even Koppers closed, and much of the 1200 acres (485.6 ha) site today has been re-developed for lighter industrial use.
Coal mining began about the start of the 20th century at Virginia City. Today this section of Hueytown contains mostly subdivisons of homes (Virginia Estates and Edenwood). However, some of the original buildings from its mining past, including the superintendent's house, multiple supervisors houses, and two company built churches still remain.
Some sources say veteran prospector Truman H. Aldrich
Truman H. Aldrich
Truman Heminway Aldrich was a civil engineer, a mining company executive, and a paleontologist, and briefly served in the United States House of Representatives and as Postmaster of Birmingham.-Early life and education:Aldrich was born in Palmyra and suffered from poor health as a young boy...
assembled these lands as part of his extensive coal properties, others cite two red-headed brothers, George and E. T. Shuler as having opened the Virginia Mine in 1902. Having recently arrived from Virginia City, Nevada, they named their new mine after that western city. A mine disaster in February, 1905, demolished their plans, as an underground explosion, one of the worst recorded mining disasters in Alabama history entombed the entire day crew and caved in the mine entrance. When rescuers finally cleared the 1500 feet (152.4 m) shaft, they found 106 dead men and twenty dead mules. In 1936, Republic Steel
Republic Steel
Republic Steel was once the third largest steel producer in the United States.The Republic Iron and Steel Company was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899....
purchased the mine and it continued to be worked until September, 1953, when it closed permanently.
Government
The City of Hueytown was incorporated on May 6, 1960, and operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term. The five City Council members are also elected to four-year terms from single-member districts. Neither position is term-limited.| Mayors | Number of Terms | Year Elected | Years served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Majors Nordan | |
|
1960–1964 |
| Wally Watson | |
|
1964–1968 |
| J.P. Campbell | |
|
1968–1972 |
| Wade Jackson | |
|
1972–1976 |
| Preston E. Darden | |
|
1976–1988 |
| Lillian P. Howard | |
|
1988–1996 |
| C.C. "Bud" Newell | |
|
1996–1997 |
| Gerald Hicks | |
|
1997–2000 |
| Joe Williams Joe Williams Joe Williams may refer to:* Cyclone Joe Williams , Negro Leagues baseball pitcher, a.k.a. "Smokey Joe" Williams* Joe Williams , achieved prominence in the late 1950s* Big Joe Williams , delta blues singer... |
|
|
2000–2004 |
| Delor Baumann | |
|
2004–2012 |
Mayor C.C. "Bud" Newell died in office. The President of the City Council, Gerald Hicks, was then elevated to the position of Mayor and completed the remaining years of the term.
Schools and education history
The Hueytown area has been served by many schools over the past one hundred years. Most of these have been public schools of The Jefferson County School System which was founded in 1898. However, the first established school in the community was in August, 1874, when several families gathered to build a small log building that served as both a church and school. That structure was located on the hill behind present-day Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. A later grammar school was built on Upper Wickstead Road, but burned in 1907. The following year, Hueytown Grammar School opened with just four teachers for its 100 students. Also located across the street from Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church it faced Dabbs Avenue. The school was replaced with a larger building in 1935 which faced Hueytown Road. That entire structure burned to the ground on the night of March 3, 1949.The present Hueytown Elementary School, which has been expanded many times, first opened in the fall of 1950 and Mrs. Davis remained as principal until her retirement in 1963. She was succeeded by Mr. Garland Hendrix who held the post for eighteen years.
Other schools serving the city include: Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School is a public high school in Hueytown, Alabama. It is part of the Jefferson County Board of Education school system. Hueytown High was founded in 1922. It is currently a 5A school with an enrollment in 2009 of 1032 students in Grades 9-12. In the fall of 2010, its athletic...
, Hueytown Middle School (formerly Pittman Middle School and Pittman Junior High), Concord Elementary School and North Highland Elementary School. Four private religious schools, Deeper Life Academy, Garywood Christian School, Brooklane Baptist Academy, and Rock Creek Academy are located in Hueytown.
Other schools that served Hueytown in years past have long since been closed. They included Virginia Mines School, Zimmerman Elementary, and Bell High School. When an F5 tornado destroyed Oak Grove High School and Oak Grove Elementary School on April 8, 1998 students from the Oak Grove high school grades were temporarily relocated to the former Bell School campus until their new school reopened two years later.
Recently the Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School is a public high school in Hueytown, Alabama. It is part of the Jefferson County Board of Education school system. Hueytown High was founded in 1922. It is currently a 5A school with an enrollment in 2009 of 1032 students in Grades 9-12. In the fall of 2010, its athletic...
Marching, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands have gained some prestige by playing at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) and a dual concert with the University Of Alabama At Birmingham's Symphonic and Wind ensembles.
Sports and recreation
The abbreviation HYT (HueYTown) has become a popular term of reference for Hueytown among some of the residents; it is constantly used for sports. (for example HYT football)Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School is a public high school in Hueytown, Alabama. It is part of the Jefferson County Board of Education school system. Hueytown High was founded in 1922. It is currently a 5A school with an enrollment in 2009 of 1032 students in Grades 9-12. In the fall of 2010, its athletic...
's football team made it to the Alabama State Playoffs in 1974, 1975, 1995, and 2004. They also made the playoffs in 2006, 2007, and 2008, marking the first time in school history to make three straight appearances. The team also tied a school record for wins in 2007 with a 10-2 record. On June 18, 2009 Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School is a public high school in Hueytown, Alabama. It is part of the Jefferson County Board of Education school system. Hueytown High was founded in 1922. It is currently a 5A school with an enrollment in 2009 of 1032 students in Grades 9-12. In the fall of 2010, its athletic...
's football Coach Jeff Smith resigned . Spain Park High School Assistant Coach Matt Scott became the new Head Coach on July 7, 2009. The team made the playoffs once again in 2010 under Coach Scott.
HHS's softball team has won the Alabama State Softball championship three times in four years, 2005 and 2006 as a 5A school and 2008 as a 6A school under Coach Lisa Walker. They won again in 2011 as a 5A school. After the 2011 season, Coach Walker resigned and was hired as the new coach for the Vestavia softball team. Coach Christie McGuirk was hired in Coach Walker's place to be the new coach for the 2011 season.
In 1974, the Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School
Hueytown High School is a public high school in Hueytown, Alabama. It is part of the Jefferson County Board of Education school system. Hueytown High was founded in 1922. It is currently a 5A school with an enrollment in 2009 of 1032 students in Grades 9-12. In the fall of 2010, its athletic...
Wrestling Team won the 4A State Championship under the guidance of then head-wrestling coach, Tony Morton.
In addition to the public school sports programs, Hueytown offers many other community sports programs. For decades the city has enjoyed a very strong Dixie Youth Baseball program for all eligible age groups. Its Dixie Youth teams use facilities at Hueytown's Bud Newell Park and have seen several of its players eventually make it to the Major Leagues. The city also has a very strong girls fastpitch program that is based at Allison-Bonnett Girls Softball Park, also a city facility. Its 6U All-Stars won the Alabama State Championship in the summer of 2009. Hueytown also has a Swim Club and a youth football program.
Hueytown also has Youth Soccer which started in 2003.
Hueytown is also home to the Central Alabama Boys & Girls Club, a multi-million dollar facility that provides a variety of sports and recreation opportunities for the youth of the area, focusing primarily on after school and summer programs. It routinely serves more than 300 children each day.
The Alabama Gang
Hueytown was home to one of the dominant racing groups in NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, the Alabama Gang
Alabama Gang
The Alabama Gang was the nickname for a group of NASCAR drivers who set up shop and operated out of Hueytown, Alabama, near Birmingham, Alabama. In the late 1950s, young auto racer Bobby Allison left Miami, Florida, looking for an area that had more opportunities to race. He discovered central...
. The city's main thoroughfare, Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive, takes its name from drivers Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, Donnie Allison
Donnie Allison
Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
, Davey Allison
Davey Allison
David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
, Clifford Allison and Neil Bonnett
Neil Bonnett
Lawrence Neil Bonnett was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. The Alabama native currently ranks 35th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder...
. The Alabama Gang also includes racing legend Charles "Red" Farmer
Red Farmer
Charles "Red" Farmer is a former NASCAR racecar driver.-Racing career:His first race was at Opa-locka Speedway near Miami, Florida in a 1934 Ford in 1948. He became famous as a member of the Alabama Gang and he considered his hometown to be Hueytown, Alabama...
. Though not considered a member of The Alabama Gang, Bobby and Donnie's older brother Eddie Allison had an active role in NASCAR for many years as a respected engine builder and still resides in Hueytown. His son, Jacob, is a radio personality on Birmingham, Alabama station WJOX. He also resides in Hueytown.
Interestingly, and certainly because of its established motorsports roots, Hueytown was chosen as BMW Motorsport
BMW Motorsport
BMW Motorsport is the division of BMW responsible for motorsport-related activities, including works-run competition programmes in touring car racing, sportscar racing and Formula One.-See also:* BMW M* BMW in motorsport* BMW Sauber* Schnitzer Motorsport...
's initial North American base of operations before its first season with the International Motor Sports Association
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
(IMSA) in 1975.
Hueytown Hum
Beginning in late 1991 residents of Hueytown, and other nearby communities, reported hearing a droning low frequency hum at irregular intervals. The bizarre noises momentarily gained national attention and were reported in the New York Times in April, 1992. In a logical conclusion town officials and many residents suspected the source of the hum was a massive $7 million mine ventilation fan with blades 26 feet (7.9 m) in diameter.From local reports and an informal investigation by ABC Evening News, the fan operated by Jim Walter Resources Inc. was generally thought to be the culprit. However, JWR Inc. was in bankruptcy proceedings and denied its fan was the source. Following an inconclusive series of studies the hum subsided later in the year, never to return.
Another theory, not taken seriously by any reasonable person, speculated that the huming was the result of UFO activity in the area.
External links
- OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR THE CITY OF HUEYTOWN
- Hueytown Information Site - Including tourist information (Driving Maps, Weather etc...).
- Hueytown Historical Society
- The History of Hueytown by Mary K. Roberts (1992)
- History of Hueytown by Simon J. Smith (1962)