Anniston’s industrial decline in the Appalachian foothills
The Calhoun County seat of Anniston sprawls across the low-rolling Appalachian foothills just west of Talladega National Forest, roughly halfway between Birmingham and the Alabama-Georgia state line. For years, this community was home to a thriving piping industry — it was once nicknamed “The Soil Pipe Capital of the World” — and a busy military base. But the country’s shift toward technological warfare and deindustrialization hurt the local economy. “It was very much a military town,” says longtime resident Anna King, broker-owner of ERA King Real Estate. “After [the fort] closed, it got to be very close-knit.” Anniston’s population has decreased every decade since the 1960s, a trend officials hope to stem with new developments like the 38-acre retail development, Summerall, and Katt Williams’s incoming movie studio, Kemet Movie Works.
Anniston’s station connects riders to Birmingham, Atlanta and regional stops.
Tree-lined Anniston streets feature sidewalks and welcoming front yards.
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The Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston
The community made international headlines in 1961 when a bus of Freedom Riders protesting segregated public transit was stopped and firebombed by white supremacists. The site of the tragedy — formerly a Greyhound bus station — is now home to the Freedom Riders National Monument, a key stop on the Anniston Civil Rights Trail.
Freedom Riders National Monument marks the 1961 bus attack site in Anniston.
A vintage Greyhound sits as a tribute for the 1961 Freedom Riders attack in Anniston.
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Outdoor activities and nature spots around Anniston
Anniston has two golf courses, several recreation centers and about 20 parks. Railways-turned-trails surround the city center, giving walkers, bikers and runners over 50 miles to explore. The Chief Ladiga Trail winds through almost 40 miles of hilly farms, forests and wetlands between Anniston and the Alabama-Georgia state line, where it meets Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail, which runs another 60 miles east to Atlanta’s outskirts. Access to Talladega National Forest’s hiking trails, creeks, waterfalls and wildlife is off Interstate 20, about 10 miles from central Anniston.
Zinn Park offers shaded picnic areas and playgrounds in Anniston.
Anniston Municipal golf course is one two golf courses that welcomes year-round play.
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Median home price, architectural styles and environmental hazards in Anniston
The median sale price for homes in Anniston is around $170,000. Vintage 19th-century cottages and Victorians are scattered around Historic Downtown Anniston, often on the same street as early 20th-century bungalows and shotgun-style homes. Midcentury ranch-style houses and split-level properties are also popular. Tornadoes can occur anytime, but the season is from March to May. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to invest in insurance for wind and hail damage. Anniston has a history of water contamination stemming from a Monsanto plant that closed in the 1970s, but current contaminant levels are safe by federal standards. “We were actually known as ‘toxic town’ at one point. It was trouble,” King says. “But all that’s been cleaned up.”
Brightly painted wood-paneled homes in Anniston offer spacious porches.
Anniston homes sometimes showcase bold roofs and distinctive window designs.
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For now, the commercial scene is mostly in Oxford, less than 5 miles away
Pick 'n Save is the main grocery store in town. Staple restaurant Effina's serves authentic Italian fare on Noble Street, next to popular sports bar Rack & Roll Billiards. Most traffic comes through Anniston’s south side, so its commercial presence is focused there, where it borders Oxford, a small city with a popular mall. “Anniston and Oxford go hand-in-hand,” King says. “From my house, I can be in Oxford in 2 minutes, it’s just down the road.” Quintard Mall, anchored by Dillard’s and JCPenney, is the closest choice for retail therapy, only about 4 miles south of central Anniston. Oxford Exchange is also nearby, featuring various chains, from familiar restaurants like Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q to retailers like Old Navy to big-box stores like Walmart. The Summerall development will bring more shopping options, such as Aldi, to Anniston’s north side. Efforts to revitalize its downtown are ongoing. The main hospital, Regional Medical Center, is just outside downtown.
Exploring educational opportunities at Anniston City Schools
Anniston City Schools serves around 1,900 students across five schools and earns an overall C-minus on Niche. The community has only one middle school — Anniston Middle — and one high school — Anniston High — both are graded C-minus. High school students can explore fields of interest by enrolling in the culinary arts program and STEM programs, or even by working as a teller at the school’s on-site bank.
Walter Wellborn High School supports academics and athletics west of Anniston.
Anniston High School offers STEM and culinary programs for local students.
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Major routes connect Anniston to Birmingham and beyond
Anniston is just under 65 miles east of Birmingham and 90 miles west of Atlanta. I-20 is a direct route into both of their downtown areas, while U.S. Route 21 and 431 provide access to commercial and residential areas throughout Anniston. The Areawide Community Transportation System offers fixed bus routes with paratransit options; residents can ride the Greyhound and Amtrak. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is almost 60 miles west.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
Photography Contributed By
Luke Mancari
Video By
Mark Barakat
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Anniston, AL sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Anniston, AL over the last 12 months is $233,000, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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