Sterrett, Alabama

Sterrett, Alabama
Census-designated place
Sterrett, Alabama
Coordinates: 33°26′55″N 86°28′48″W / 33.44861°N 86.48000°WCoordinates: 33°26′55″N 86°28′48″W / 33.44861°N 86.48000°W
Country United States
State Alabama
County Shelby
Area[1]
  Total 23.575 sq mi (61.06 km2)
  Land 22.927 sq mi (59.38 km2)
  Water 0.648 sq mi (1.68 km2)
Elevation 518 ft (158 m)
Population (2010)[2]
  Total 712
  Density 30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
  Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 35147
Area code(s) 205
GNIS feature ID 127366[3]

Sterrett is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. Its population was 712 as of the 2010 census.[2] Sterrett was named in honor of a prominent local family, which included Alphonso A. Sterrett, who served in the Alabama Legislature.[4] At one point in its history, Sterrett was a center of pottery production in central Alabama. Also known as "Jugtown", Sterrett was once home to at least ten potters.[5] The pottery produced here was classified as being part of the East Alabama style of pottery, which used high quality clay and a two-toned glaze decoration.[6] William Hilliard Falkner purchased the Sterrett Pottery Works in 1874 and operated it until 1903. His father, Joel Falkner, was also a potter in Sterrett.[7]

Sterrett was once home to Twin Pines Conference Center, which was founded by Robert "Bob" Saunders. The Bob Saunders Family Covered Bridge is located on the property of the former conference center and is listed in the World Guide to Covered Bridges.[8]

References

  1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  3. "Sterrett". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. Foscue, Virginia (1989). Place Names in Alabama. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press. p. 132. ISBN 0-8173-0410-X.
  5. Gaffney, Dennis (2012-01-16). "Alabama Stoneware — A Jug-full of History | Follow the Stories | Antiques Roadshow". PBS. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  6. American Studies: An Annotated Bibliography - Jack Salzman - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  7. Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 1 - Joel Campbell DuBose - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  8. "Saunders Covered Bridge". Shelby County Tourism. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2014-11-10.