Kimberly


Kimberly is located in north-central Jefferson County in the central part of Alabama. It has a mayor/council form of government.

History 

The city of Kimberly began existence as a stagecoach station, built in the 1830s; it remained in service until 1865. At this time it was known as Kennelsville. The city later was known as Jefferson, probably after the Old Jefferson coal mine, until the late 1880s. In 1888, the town's post office was relocated to nearby Morris. In 1905, the town voted to change the name to Kimberly because another Alabama town had already claimed the name Jefferson. The city officially incorporated in 1952. Many city records and history were lost in 1989, when the city hall burned.

Demographics 

Kimberly's population according to the 2010 Census was 2,711. Of that number, 96.2 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 1.8 percent as black, 0.8 percent as Hispanic, 0.7 percent as two or more races, 0.6 percent as Asian, and 0.4 percent as Native American. The town's median household income, according to 2010 estimates, was $75,350, and the per capita income was $26,358.

Employment 

According to 2010 Census estimates, the work force in Kimberly was divided among the following industrial categories:

· Educational services, and health care and social assistance (22.2   percent)
· Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (11.7 percent)
· Manufacturing (11.5 percent)
· Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste   management services (9.6 percent)
· Retail trade (8.6 percent)
· Construction (8.5 percent)
· Transportation and warehousing and utilities (6.8 percent)
· Other services, except public administration (6.5 percent)
· Public administration (5.8 percent)
· Wholesale trade (4.0 percent)
· Information (2.5 percent)
· Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services   (2.3 percent)

Education 

Schools in Kimberly are part of the Jefferson County School system; the town has approximately 1,368 students and 74 teachers in one middle school and one high school.

Transportation 

U.S. Highway 31 runs north-south through Kimberly, and Interstate 65 also runs north-south just west of downtown.

Events and Places of Interest 

The Down Home Southern Festival is held in Kimberly in March and features vendors, food, and music for three days. The city also holds a Fall Festival/Labor Day celebration in early September.

Additional Resources 

Jefferson County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Jefferson County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2002.

James P. Kaetz
Auburn University


Published May 31, 2012
Last updated March 15, 2013