Gadsden, Alabama

Gadsden, Alabama
Aerial photo of downtown Gadsden
Aerial photo of downtown Gadsden
Flag of Gadsden, Alabama
Official seal of Gadsden, Alabama
Official logo of Gadsden, Alabama
Motto: 
"City of Champions"
Location of Gadsden in Etowah County, Alabama
Location of Gadsden in Etowah County, Alabama
Coordinates: 34°0′36″N 86°0′37″W / 34.01000°N 86.01028°W / 34.01000; -86.01028
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyEtowah
FoundedFebruary 18, 1867[1]
IncorporatedMarch 9, 1871[2]
Government
 • TypeMayor Council (with seven councilmen)
 • MayorCraig Ford (D)
Area
 • City38.657 sq mi (100.121 km2)
 • Land37.443 sq mi (96.978 km2)
 • Water1.214 sq mi (3.143 km2)
Elevation581 ft (177 m)
Population
 • City33,945
 • Estimate 
(2022)[6]
33,335
 • RankUS: 1200th
AL: 16th
 • Density890/sq mi (343.8/km2)
 • Urban
57,975 (US: 460th)
 • Urban density947/sq mi (365.7/km2)
 • Metro
103,088 (US: 357th)
 • Metro density192.6/sq mi (74.38/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
35901, 35902, 35903, 35904, 35905, 35906, 35907
Area code(s)256 and 938
FIPS code01-28696
GNIS feature ID2403673[4]
Websitecityofgadsden.com

Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located on the Coosa River about 56 miles (90 km) northeast of Birmingham and 90 miles (140 km) southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,931. The population 33,945 at the 2020 census.[5]

In the 19th century, Gadsden was Alabama's second-most important center of commerce and industry, trailing only the seaport of Mobile. The two cities were important shipping centers: Gadsden for riverboats and Mobile for international trade.

From the late 19th century through the 1980s, Gadsden was a center of heavy industry, including the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Republic Steel. In 1991, following more than a decade of sharp decline in industry, Gadsden was awarded the honor of All-America City by the National Civic League.

  1. ^ Alabama Laws and Joint Resolutions of the Legislature of Alabama. United States, J. Boardman, 1867. "No. 506. An Act To incorporate the town of Gadsden, in the county of Baine. (...) Approved February 18, 1867 Google Books. Access date May 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gadsden, Alabama
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).