Thorsby, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Thorsby is a town
in Chilton County
, Alabama
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the population
of the town was 1,820. The town mayor is Dearl Hilyer. The Swede-founded town's name, "Thorsby" is Swedish for "Thor's Village."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.58% water.
of 2000, there were 1,820 people, 714 household
s, and 527 families residing in the town. The population density
was 355.5 people per square mile (137.2/km²). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 152.4 per square mile (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.98% White, 6.04% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 0.22% from two or more races. 2.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 714 households out of which 34.2% had child
ren under the age
of 18 living with them, 62.7% are married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population
was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median
age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income
for a household in the town was $36,635, and the median income for a family was $46,328. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $23,810 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,956. 9.4% of the population and 5.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
, characterized by hot summer
s, cold winter
s, and overly abundant rain
fall, as most Alabama receives over 50 inches of rain annually. The spring
and summer are moderately rainy, with frequent strong to severe thunderstorm
s. The fall and winter months are cold and cloudy. The town is almost always under cloud cover
from November to March. January sees average daily high temperatures of 53.0 °F (11.7 °C) and lows of 31.8 °F (−0.1 °C). In July the average daily high is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C) and the low is 69.7 °F (20.9 °C). The average annual temperature in Thorsby is 62 °F (17 °C). In late winter, normally from January through February, Thorsby normally acquires small amounts of snow
accumulation. Snowfall averages only 1.9 inches (4.8 cm), but during the Great Blizzard of 1993, the town received over a foot (12 in/30 cm) of snow, with drifts almost three feet, and on February 28 - March 1, 2009, the town accumulated almost six inches of snow. The average yearly rainfall in Thorsby is about 59 inches (1498 mm), with March being the wettest month and October the driest. Thorsby receives around 204 rainy/cloudy days a year, ranking it one of the rainiest/cloudiest small towns in Alabama. It also receives dense fog annually, around mid-December. The fog is known as Valley Fog, and it impairs visibility extremely.
The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable as cold front
s frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes to the region. The fall season features more rainfall and fewer storms, as well as lower humidity
than the spring, but it is also a secondary severe weather
season. Thorsby is located on the heart of a tornado alley
known as the Dixie Alley
due to the frequency of tornadoes in Central Alabama
. In late summer and fall months, Thorsby experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes due to its proximity to the Central Gulf Coast.
, but who were seeking a mild climate and fertile soil for growing food. One of those earliest settlers was Theodore T. Thorson, for whom the town was eventually named (the suffix "by" meaning "town" in Swedish). The town grew quickly, with a hotel, a sawmill and lumber company, and two wineries being built within the first couple of years. The Town of Thorsby was declared a promised land for northerners looking to relocate to a warmer climate, suitable for farming and better health. The fertile soil of the South produced grapes in large numbers, along with other fruits such as strawberries, and the peaches for which Chilton County is famous. The founders formed the Concordia Land and Improvement Association and began advertising in New England newspapers about the ‘utopia’ they had discovered in the Southeastern U.S. Many traveled by railroad to purchase a tract of land and start a better life. Thorsby became affectionately known as the little “Swede Town” by locals.
Today, many of the descendants of those original Scandinavian settlers still call Thorsby home. While agriculture still plays a vital role in the town's economy, the town of Thorsby is also home to businesses, manufacturers, and industry. There are restaurants, shops, and many small businesses. Thorsby has a well-maintained and heavily used city park with athletic fields. Thorsby is located almost exactly between the downtown areas of Birmingham and Montgomery, with either destination being approximately 45 miles/72 kilometers from the center of town. This location makes Thorsby a prime candidate for new residential, commercial and industrial development. Each Autumn, the town of Thorsby celebrates her heritage with the Annual Swedish Festival that includes an arts and crafts fair, a pageant, music, car and motorcycle shows and food native to the American South. The town maintains a museum in the old Norwegian Lutheran Church named “Helen Jenkins Chapel”. A Scandinavian Cemetery is available for visits any time. The Thorsby Town Council consists of Jean Nelson, Tara Jewell, Neal Benson, Willis Britt and Marvin Crumpton. The town operates its own police and fire departments, as well as departments of building inspection, law, parks and recreation, and the Thorsby Water Works. The Chilton County School System operates the K-12 Thorsby School in the town.
to become a part of the public school system in 1957. Thorsby Institute provided a quality education for many years to local and out of state students. Thorsby School continues to provide a good education in the public school system. There is an old school house in central Thorsby, which was in use until the early 1960s. There has been a total of three schools built in Thorsby, the original, which is still standing, a short-lived school that burned down in the late 1970s, and the present school which was built in the place of the burned school. The school's address is 54 Opportunity Drive, Thorsby, AL 35171, and the phone number is (205) 280-4880. Based on its state test results, it has received a Great Schools Rating of 3 out of 10. The school has an average Parent Rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on reviews from 29 parents. 834 students attended Thorsby High School in the 2006-2007 school year. During the '06-'07 school year there were 51 teachers on staff, giving Thorsby High School a student-teacher ratio of 16.5. There were also 54 kindergartners, 66 first graders, 61 second graders, 59 third graders, 65 fourth graders, 69 fifth graders, 74 sixth graders, 74 seventh graders, 69 eighth graders, 70 Freshmen, 53 Sophomores, 63 Juniors, and 57 Seniors
during that year. Currently, there are 388 (45%) of students enrolled that are eligible for discounted/free lunch. The school mascot is The Thorsby Rebel
, and the colors are maroon and white. The high school's principal is Russ Bryan, and the vice principals are Tim Fortner and Mr. Lousuirre.
heritage.
but the classic Coke
verses Pepsi
scenes were filmed in Thorsby. The movies is best known from its runs on the SyFy channel. Hide an Creep was the first feature length film by Birmingham based Crewless Productions. Hide and Creep had its world premiere September 23, 2004 at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, Alabama
. Both the film and an earlier short titled Birthday Call were directed by Chuck Hartsell and Chance Shirley, and were written by Chance Shirley.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Chilton County
Chilton County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.1% White*9.7% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.2% Two or more races*7.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of the town was 1,820. The town mayor is Dearl Hilyer. The Swede-founded town's name, "Thorsby" is Swedish for "Thor's Village."
Geography
Thorsby is located at 32°55'1.171" North, 86°42'57.442" West (32.916992, -86.715956).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.58% water.
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 1,820 people, 714 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s, and 527 families residing in the town. 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 355.5 people per square mile (137.2/km²). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 152.4 per square mile (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.98% White, 6.04% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 0.22% from two or more races. 2.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 714 households out of which 34.2% had child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren under the age
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
of 18 living with them, 62.7% are 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, 8.3% had a female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...
for a household in the town was $36,635, and the median income for a family was $46,328. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $23,810 for females. The per capita income
Per 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 town was $16,956. 9.4% of the population and 5.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Climate
Thorsby has a Humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, characterized by hot summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
s, cold winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
s, and overly abundant rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
fall, as most Alabama receives over 50 inches of rain annually. The spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
and summer are moderately rainy, with frequent strong to severe thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s. The fall and winter months are cold and cloudy. The town is almost always under cloud cover
Cloud cover
Cloud cover refers to the fraction of the sky obscured by clouds when observed from a particular location...
from November to March. January sees average daily high temperatures of 53.0 °F (11.7 °C) and lows of 31.8 °F (−0.1 °C). In July the average daily high is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C) and the low is 69.7 °F (20.9 °C). The average annual temperature in Thorsby is 62 °F (17 °C). In late winter, normally from January through February, Thorsby normally acquires small amounts of snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
accumulation. Snowfall averages only 1.9 inches (4.8 cm), but during the Great Blizzard of 1993, the town received over a foot (12 in/30 cm) of snow, with drifts almost three feet, and on February 28 - March 1, 2009, the town accumulated almost six inches of snow. The average yearly rainfall in Thorsby is about 59 inches (1498 mm), with March being the wettest month and October the driest. Thorsby receives around 204 rainy/cloudy days a year, ranking it one of the rainiest/cloudiest small towns in Alabama. It also receives dense fog annually, around mid-December. The fog is known as Valley Fog, and it impairs visibility extremely.
The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable as cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
s frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes to the region. The fall season features more rainfall and fewer storms, as well as lower humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
than the spring, but it is also a secondary severe weather
Severe weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
season. Thorsby is located on the heart of a tornado alley
Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley is a colloquial and popular media term that most often refers to the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains is usually associated with it.The areas...
known as the Dixie Alley
Dixie Alley
Dixie Alley is a nickname sometimes given to areas of the southern United States that are particularly vulnerable to strong or violent tornadoes...
due to the frequency of tornadoes in Central Alabama
Central Alabama
Central Alabama is the region in the state of Alabama that stretches approximately 170 miles from the western border with Mississippi to eastern border with Georgia and 136 miles from the northern border of Cullman County to the Alabama River in southern Autauga County. With a...
. In late summer and fall months, Thorsby experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes due to its proximity to the Central Gulf Coast.
History
Thorsby is a small town with a rich, historical past. Thorsby was settled in 1865 by three Swedes, and established in 1901 by Scandinavian immigrants who had originally settled in New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, but who were seeking a mild climate and fertile soil for growing food. One of those earliest settlers was Theodore T. Thorson, for whom the town was eventually named (the suffix "by" meaning "town" in Swedish). The town grew quickly, with a hotel, a sawmill and lumber company, and two wineries being built within the first couple of years. The Town of Thorsby was declared a promised land for northerners looking to relocate to a warmer climate, suitable for farming and better health. The fertile soil of the South produced grapes in large numbers, along with other fruits such as strawberries, and the peaches for which Chilton County is famous. The founders formed the Concordia Land and Improvement Association and began advertising in New England newspapers about the ‘utopia’ they had discovered in the Southeastern U.S. Many traveled by railroad to purchase a tract of land and start a better life. Thorsby became affectionately known as the little “Swede Town” by locals.
Today, many of the descendants of those original Scandinavian settlers still call Thorsby home. While agriculture still plays a vital role in the town's economy, the town of Thorsby is also home to businesses, manufacturers, and industry. There are restaurants, shops, and many small businesses. Thorsby has a well-maintained and heavily used city park with athletic fields. Thorsby is located almost exactly between the downtown areas of Birmingham and Montgomery, with either destination being approximately 45 miles/72 kilometers from the center of town. This location makes Thorsby a prime candidate for new residential, commercial and industrial development. Each Autumn, the town of Thorsby celebrates her heritage with the Annual Swedish Festival that includes an arts and crafts fair, a pageant, music, car and motorcycle shows and food native to the American South. The town maintains a museum in the old Norwegian Lutheran Church named “Helen Jenkins Chapel”. A Scandinavian Cemetery is available for visits any time. The Thorsby Town Council consists of Jean Nelson, Tara Jewell, Neal Benson, Willis Britt and Marvin Crumpton. The town operates its own police and fire departments, as well as departments of building inspection, law, parks and recreation, and the Thorsby Water Works. The Chilton County School System operates the K-12 Thorsby School in the town.
Annual Swedish festival
Thorsby Swedish Festival, an annual heritage festival, is held around the middle of October.The event celebrates and heralds the town’s Scandinavian roots. The festival hosts a beauty pageant, car show, entertainment, arts and crafts booths, traditional Swedish food vendors, games, and fun for the entire family in the Richard H. Wood Memorial Park. The 2008 festival saw 4,000 or so visitors and each year continues to increase. There is a current movement among town residents to find more ways to connect with their Swedish beginnings. The town displays the Swedish flag and coat-of-arms in the Richard H. Wood Memorial Park during the time of the festivities. Besides hoping to recruit Swedish businesses to central Alabama, Thorsby leaders are interested in starting a sister city relationship with Torsby, Sweden.Thorsby High School
Thorsby High School is a,2-A,K-12 educational institution located in the Town of Thorsby. Thorsby School has been a public school since 1957. The school originated as Thorsby Institute shortly after the town was founded in the early 1900s. Thorsby Institute was founded as a private school and was turned over to the Chilton County Board of EducationBoard of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
to become a part of the public school system in 1957. Thorsby Institute provided a quality education for many years to local and out of state students. Thorsby School continues to provide a good education in the public school system. There is an old school house in central Thorsby, which was in use until the early 1960s. There has been a total of three schools built in Thorsby, the original, which is still standing, a short-lived school that burned down in the late 1970s, and the present school which was built in the place of the burned school. The school's address is 54 Opportunity Drive, Thorsby, AL 35171, and the phone number is (205) 280-4880. Based on its state test results, it has received a Great Schools Rating of 3 out of 10. The school has an average Parent Rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on reviews from 29 parents. 834 students attended Thorsby High School in the 2006-2007 school year. During the '06-'07 school year there were 51 teachers on staff, giving Thorsby High School a student-teacher ratio of 16.5. There were also 54 kindergartners, 66 first graders, 61 second graders, 59 third graders, 65 fourth graders, 69 fifth graders, 74 sixth graders, 74 seventh graders, 69 eighth graders, 70 Freshmen, 53 Sophomores, 63 Juniors, and 57 Seniors
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
during that year. Currently, there are 388 (45%) of students enrolled that are eligible for discounted/free lunch. The school mascot is The Thorsby Rebel
Rebel
Rebel may refer to:*Rebel, a participant in a rebellion-People:* Hans Rebel , Austrian entomologist* Jean-Féry Rebel , French Baroque composer and violinist* a member of the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars universe...
, and the colors are maroon and white. The high school's principal is Russ Bryan, and the vice principals are Tim Fortner and Mr. Lousuirre.
Helen Jenkins Chapel
Helen Jenkins Chapel is very important to the townspeople of Thorsby. This church was originally built as a Norwegian Lutheran Church. It was later sold to the Congregational Church and played a big role with Thorsby Institute student life (thus the reason it is named after the long serving principal of Thorsby Institute - Helen Jenkins). After the Congregational Church disbanded, it was sold to the Masons who did some renovations to the building. They handed the building to the Town of Thorsby and it was used as a temporary band practice facility for the Thorsby High School Band. Presently, it serves as public meeting space and houses a museum of the towns ScandinavianScandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
heritage.
Movies based in Thorsby
The B grade zombie movie Hide and Creep was based in Thorsby. A few of the scenes from the movie were filmed in and around the town. Most of the downtown scenes were actually filmed in Leeds, AlabamaLeeds, Alabama
Leeds is a tri-county municipality located in Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a suburb of Birmingham. As of the 2009 population estimate, the population of the city is about 11,474.-History:...
but the classic Coke
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
verses Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
scenes were filmed in Thorsby. The movies is best known from its runs on the SyFy channel. Hide an Creep was the first feature length film by Birmingham based Crewless Productions. Hide and Creep had its world premiere September 23, 2004 at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. Both the film and an earlier short titled Birthday Call were directed by Chuck Hartsell and Chance Shirley, and were written by Chance Shirley.
Significant events
- On March 8, 1976, the Chilton County Bank in Thorsby, Alabama, a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, was robbed of a sum in excess of $15000.
- On March 12–13, 1993, the Great Blizzard of 1993 blasted Thorsby hard, with hurricane force winds and below zero temperatures. The storm leaves behind 14 inches (35 cm) of snow in some places, with the highest drifts almost three feet. Thorsby was the hardest hit place in Chilton County.
- On July 31, 2009, the old Thorsby Elementary School was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. The town is now attempting to renovate the old school building.
- On August 20, 2009, the town of Thorsby was featured in a large Swedish newspaper.
- On October 19, 2009, the town approved its coat of arms.