Community References
History
City of Hartselle
The City of Hartselle is comparatively young as towns go, having been established in 1870 as a site considered strategic alongside the South and North Alabama Railroad. Originally the budding village was located a half-mile north of the present downtown area; it had to pick itself up and move at the railroad’s request because the slopes of the old site made it impractical as a train stop and station.
Hartselle was named for George Hartsell, a founding father and one of the owners of the railroad. There are still some of his descendants in town. The town was recognized by the Post Office by the establishment of a postal facility in 1873, and the Post Office added and “e” to the towns name. Hartselle was not chartered by the state until March 1875.
Many of the oldest buildings in town were distroyed by a horrific fire in 1916. Even with the fire ,Hartselle has more contiguous buildings on the Alabama Historic Register than any other city in Alabama.
Bethel Church baptism, Hartselle Pond – 1908
A religious revival headed by Dr. S.L. Rountree in 1872 helped organize the Methodist Church; the Baptist Church and Presbyterian Church were organized in 1877; and the Christian Church in 1881.
The first newspaper was published in 1876 and the first chartered bank was organized in 1904. Hartselle’s first school was located at the present site of F.E. Burleson Elementary School and was called the Union Male and Female College.
Bank of Hartselle
The Community’s greatest claim to fame, or infamy, came in the early morning hours of March 15, 1926. Fifteen dastardly criminals looted the Bank of Hartselle. That morning, eight blasts of nitroglycerin rocked the sleeping city.
The town was held captive for almost four hours while thieves stripped the bank of all its cash and gold and some silver coins. The robbers arrived in town about 1:00 a.m. and first went to the telephone exchange, using a hand saw to cut the three cables linking Hartselle with the outside world.
Eventually, seven men would be bound and gagged and placed for safekeeping in the rear of the bank. The only injury was Dr. J.D. Johnston, a dentist, who was wounded in the leg when he burst out into the street thinking he was responding to a fire alarm.
The haul for the villains was put at nearly $15,000.00, but the bank was insured against just such a loss and reopened for business the next day, with the help of other banks in town. Ironically, the bank enjoyed more business and depositors than it had before the robbery. The bandits were never identified or caught. The picture at the left is the old Bank.
City of Hartselle Historical Marker
Descendants of George Hartsell’s family gathered for a reunion in September, 2010 and the unveiling of a new historical marker, provided by the Alabama Tourism Bureau. The marker is printed on both sides and is located in front of the historic train depot on Railroad Street.
- John Sparkman, United Staes Congressman, Senator and Vice-Presidential Nominee
- Wiliam Bradford Huie, journalist, editor, publisher and author
- Don Logan, former chairman of time Warner Media and Communications Group, owner Bass Anglers Sportsman Society
- Wilford S. Bailey, former NCAA president and former Auburn University president
- Bud Stallworth, former NBA player
- Jim Edison, former NFL player
- Steve Woodard, former MLB player
- Anna Craig, American country singer
Demographics
The City of Hartselle covers 14.9 square miles and is located along I-65. U.S. Highway 31 intersects Hartselle. The 2010 population (US Census) of Hartselle is 14,255. The Hartselle-Morgan County Regional Airport is located in Hartselle.
Lattitude: 34:36:43.576
Longitude: -86:55:54.771
Hartselle: 20.26 square miles
Summer: warm and humid
Winter: mild and dry
Average annual rainfall: 55.6 inches
Length of growing season: 214 days
Average Temp. (Fahrenheit)
January: 40.2
April: 61.5
July: 79.3
October: 61.3
Median income: $61,557
Hartselle Sales Tax: 9 percent (4 percent city, 1 percent county, 4 percent state)
|
Type of School |
# Schools |
Teachers |
Students |
|
Elementary |
3 |
110 |
1,413 |
|
Junior High |
1 |
47 |
770 |
|
High School |
1 |
68 |
941 |
|
Vo-Tech |
1 (part of high school) |
Area Colleges & Universities:
Athens State Univ., Calhoun CC, Wallace State CC, University of Alabama Huntsville
Approximately 48 churches; 3 grocery stores
Local library with over 30,000 volumes
Quality Park & Recreational facilities
Served by one weekly and one daily newspaper
Six television stations and one cable television service.
Mayor and Council Municipal Government with Zoning Regulation and Planning Commission.
Area Resources
Located in beautiful north central Alabama, the city of Hartselle with a population of approximately 14,300 is home to one of the top fifteen school districts within the state. More recently, Hartselle City Schools was named #4 of the Best K-12 Schools in the 2015 NICHE RANKINGS which indicates that the district has diverse, high-achieving students that are enrolled in advanced classes, perform well on standardized teststs, and are well prepared for college and careers. (www.alabamaschoolconnection.org ; posted January 12, 2015)
Hartselle City Schools was established in 1975 and quickly became a sought after district of educational excellence. Hartselle City Schools is dedicated to equipping students to meet the 21st century global opportunities and challenges with confidence, skill and passion. Hartselle City Schools is comprised of six campuses; three elementary, an intermediate, junior high and high school plus the Board of Education.
The learning experience begins at any one of our three "Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence in Education” award winning elementary schools serving students in classes Pre-K through fourth grade. First is Barkley Bridge Elementary School with approximately 320 students and 40 faculty and staff personnel. Barkley Bridge Elementary earned the "U.S. Department of Education 2011 National Blue Ribbon School" award. Next, the largest of the elementary campuses, Crestline Elementary School boasts an enrollment over 430 strong with a staff of 55 team members. Rounding out the elementary experience is F. E. Burleson Elementary School with enrollment of more than 380 students and 50 faculty and staff members. “F. E. B.” has been ranked in the top one hundred elementary schools in Alabama. April 2014 brought recognition to F.E.B. as the school earned the prestigious U.S. Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award. The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Program is a federal recognition program that began in 2011 Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating "green" environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy."
The student population is a tremendous representation of diversity in ethnicity and socioeconomic levels having approximately seven percent minority and 30% qualifying for free and reduced lunch programs. Specials services are available for students through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.), Title I reading at the elementary level and Advanced Placement classes at the high school level. Hartselle City Schools offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and opportunities for participation in sports programs ranging from fishing to football.
Hartselle City Schools is blessed with outstanding community support; whether sporting events, concerts or pageants, festival or field day; family and friends come together to make each event an exciting experience for every student. Students have opportunities to participate in Community Theater events at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center and service projects with local churches and civic organizations.
We encourage you to visit the individual school websites to learn more about each of them. Feel free to contact us should you need additional information. You will quickly see why we are excited about Hartselle City Schools, Home of the Hartselle Tigers!
Hartselle City Schools – A high-quality education provided for approximately 3,334 students led by a devoted staff of 230 certified and 130 support team members. Hartselle City Schools earned District Accreditation from SACS/AdvancEd.
- HARTSELLE HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)
- HARTSELLE JUNIOR HIGH (7-8)
- HARTSELLE INTERMEDIATE (5-6)
- BARKLEY BRIDGE ELEMENTARY (P-4)
- F.E. BURLESON ELEMENTARY (P-4)
- CRESTLINE ELEMENTARY (P-4)
Click here for information about the SNAP playground project.
For Information on the SNAP Project please visit the City of Hartselle Website
Randy A. Garrison | Mayor
Kenny Thompson | Council President
Dwight Tankersley | Council Member, Place Two
Charles “Chuck” Gill | Council Member, Place Three
Virginia Alexander | Council Member, Place Four
Ken Doss | Council Member, Place Five
Morgan County Food Banks
Morgan County Schools Food Pantry--72 Plainview St., Hartselle 256-309-2124
Redeeming Love Outreach Ministry--1528 Sherman St. SE, Decatur 256-351-2711
Progressive Christian Outreach Ministries--635 Memorial Dr. SW, Decatur 256-340-2020
Neighborhood Christian Center--706 Bank St. NE, Decatur 256-351-7633
Jubilee Family Worship Center 2704 Point Mallard Pkwy, Decatur 256-355-7771
Decatur Dream Center 312 8th St. SE, Decatur 256-350-0615
PACT - Parents & ChildrenTogether--245 B Jackson St. SE, Decatur 256-355-7252
Grant Street Church of Christ 240 Grant St. SE, Decatur 256-353-8561
Faith House--210 Hickory St., Hartselle 256-773-6952
Feeding Families of Alabama--373 Mount Tabor Rd., Hartselle 256-754-5020
The Caring Place--1410 State St., Hartselle 256-773-7922
The Share House--643 Farm Supply Rd., Lacey’s Spring 256-293-7193
The Carpenters Cabinet--44 Railroad Ave., Falkville 256-784-5311
Fairview The Grace Place--4154 Huckaby Bridge Rd., Falkville 256-784-5642
Somerville United Methodist Church--264 Center Springs Rd., Somerville 256-778-7246
Hands and Feet - Somerville Baptist Church--41 Main St., Somerville 256-778-8844
Oak Grove First Congregational Methodist Church--307 County Road 356, Trinity 256-350-4259
- Austin High School, 3004 Modaus Road, Decatur (Only open during non-school hours)
- Brindlee Mountain Volunteer Fire Dept 4373 U.S. Hwy. 231 Union Grove, AL 35175
- Cotaco Volunteer Fire Dept 6463 Hwy. 36 East Somerville, AL 35670
- Danville Volunteer Fire Dept 5798 Hwy. 36 W Danville, AL 35619
- Decatur High School, 910 Somerville Road SE (Only open during non-school hours)
- Eva Volunteer Fire Dept 4238 Eva Road Eva, Al 35621
- Flint City Volunteer Fire Department 114 Oxmore Flint Rd SW Decatur, AL 35603
- Hartselle High School 1000 Bethel Road NE Hartselle, AL 35640 (Only open during non-school hours)
- Massey Volunteer Fire Dept 386 Evergreen Road Danville, AL 35622
- Morgan County Courthouse Basement 302 Lee St. N.E. Decatur, AL 35602
- Neel Volunteer Fire Dept 70 Neel School Road Danville, AL 35622
- Oak Ridge VFD Station 1 200 NW Simmons Road Hartselle, AL 35640
- Oak Ridge VFD Station 2 2580 Vaughn Bridge Rd Hartselle, AL 35640
- Priceville High School, 2650 North Bethel Road, Decatur, AL 35603 (Only open during non-school hours)
- Punkin Center Volunteer Fire Dept 116 Kirby Bridge Road Danville, AL 35619
- Shorty Ryan Park 3824 Eva Road Eva, AL 35621
- Somerville Community Shelter (1) 192 Broad St. Somerville, AL 35670
- Somerville Community Shelter (2) 72 Cross Creek Loop Somerville, AL 35670
- Somerville VFD, Station 2 122 Perkins Wood Road Hartselle, AL 35640
- Trinity Town Hall 35 Preston Drive Trinity, AL 35673
Find a chamber member and their location on our Member Directory Map