Chilton

Formed December 30, 1868 (64^th county)

Chilton County (45,009), Clanton (8,749)

The white and tan brick and concrete courthouse sits on 2^nd Avenue, 5^th Street, 3^rd Avenue, and 6^th Street.  United States Highway 31 is two blocks west of the site.  It was built in 1960 after two previous courthouses, in 1896 and 1918.  Charles H. McCawley designed this Modern courthouse.  The building has marble enhancements and the grounds have veteran memorials.  Chilton County was named for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice William Parish Chilton.  Confederate General James Holt Clanton provided the county seat’s name.  Chilton County was created on December 30, 1868 as Baker County from parts of Autauga, Bibb, Perry, and Shelby counties as the 64^th county.  It was renamed in 1874.  Grantville was the original county seat.  It was moved in 1870 to Clanton. 

Chilton County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 7 commissioners (legislative.)  Chilton County government consists of a sheriff and 7 commissioners.  Three Circuit Judges serve Chilton, Autauga, and Elmore counties and a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Chilton County (judicial.)  The county is in the center of the state between Birmingham, Alabama and Montgomery, Alabama.  The geographical center of Alabama is 12 miles southwest of Clanton in the county.  The center of the county is 4.1 miles West-Northwest of Clanton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Shelby, Coosa, Elmore, Autauga, Perry, and Bibb counties.  Clanton is slightly southeast of center in the county.  Clanton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 19.4% of the county population. 

The county has an area of 696.9 square miles.  It ranks 32 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 29 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 65.8 persons per square mile making it 28 out of 67 in the state.  Chilton County has 31.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 65 goes north to south from Shelby County to Autauga County.  United States Highway 31 parallels Interstate Highway 65 from Shelby County to Autauga County.  United States Highway 82 cuts the southwest corner of the county coming from Bibb County, west, and exiting to Autauga County, south.  A boot best describes the shape for the county.  The Coosa River forms the eastern border.  The county is in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area.