The Rise of Sand Mountain | 50 years of growth and change

Article written by Daniel Taylor of the Sand Mountain Reporter

The year 1970 started a new decade of uncertainty for many people across America. The 60s ended with both triumph and tragedy. NASA had achieved the nearly impossible by placing Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as the first men on the moon. Back on earth, tensions mounted during President Richard Nixon’s term in office as the Vietnam War raged on into its fifth year. The “summer of love” officially ended with the grisly murders of Sharon Tate and her house guests by the Manson family at Cielo Drive in the Hollywood hills. The age of Aquarius that was to usher in a new era of enlightenment and utopia had taken a cultural turn for the worse.

However, life on Sand Mountain was beginning to flourish. Over the next 50 years, the counties, cities and towns would grow in terms of population, economics, industry and diversity. Marshall County, which had an approximate population of 53,962 people in 1970 according to U.S. Census data, now holds more than 95,548 people; an increase of 77%. DeKalb County grew by nearly 74% over the same period, from 41,191 residents to more than 71,617.

While poultry processing has been a major manufacturing industry, other out-of-state business started to move into the area starting in the mid 70s to early 80s, bringing more jobs for the current residents of Sand Mountains and attracting many outsiders. Parker Hannifin opened in Boaz in 1981, Mueller Hydrants in Albertville in 1975 and Progress Rail in 1982, which are a few examples of outside industries that have become prominent employers for a significant part of the local population.

“Because the mayors of Albertville and Boaz worked together, they developed that industrial park … and it kind of makes me think of [Albertville] Mayor [Tracy] Honea and myself today,” Dyar said. “We actually try to work together as much as we possibly can, and I think that’s why good things are going to happen as far as industry in the future.”

Still local municipalities maintain a bright outlook on the future and are doing what they can to draw in more business and in turn, more residents. In Jan. 2019, Albertville broke ground on the new Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater, a 129-acre recreation complex complete with an indoor pool, ball fields, walking trails, water slides and more.

“We designed this park to be a boost to the economies of all of Marshall County as well as Albertville by making sure we have the perfect balance of athletics and community designed facilities,” John Chambless, of Chambless King Architects, told The Reporter.

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