About Calhoun County

Calhoun County was created in 1839 from land ceded by the Creek Indians. It was originally named after Col. Thomas Hart Benton, but it was later changed in 1858 in memory of South Carolina Sen. John C. Calhoun. The county seat was established at Jacksonville in 1833, but it was moved to Anniston in 1899.

Calhoun County's principal crops are cattle, poultry, greenhouse crops, turfgrass and forest products. Principal employers include the government, foundries and the textile, manufacturing and service industries.

The county is largely urbanized and has a population of more than 117,000 with 19 percent black, 79 percent white, 1 percent latino and 1 percent other. Sixty-seven percent of adults have completed high school. The county has 19 elementary schools, five middle schools,15 high schools, a technical school, two two-year colleges and one four-year university.

Tourist attractions include numerous areas for outdoor recreation, the Knox Concert Series, Neely Henry Dam, the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, the Anniston Museum of Natural History, the Berman Museum and Silver Lakes Golf Course.

The Extension office employs 14 people full time. Current active programs include Master Gardener, Master Environmental Educator, Agriculture, Calhoun County Saves, nutrition education, urban environment, family sciences and family money management. The county's 4-H program involves over 1,400 youth.