Bemiston is an unincorporated community and former company town in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. Bemiston now lies within the city limits of Talladega.

Bemiston, Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama is located in Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama is located in the United States
Bemiston, Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama
Coordinates: 33°24′36″N 86°07′15″W / 33.41000°N 86.12083°W / 33.41000; -86.12083
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyTalladega
Elevation
561 ft (171 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area codes256 & 938
GNIS feature ID159147[1]
Bemiston Mill Village
Bemiston, Alabama is located in Alabama
Bemiston, Alabama
Location of Bemiston Mill Village in Alabama
LocationTalladega, Alabama
Founded1927
Official nameBemiston Mill Village
DesignatedDecember 1, 2008

History

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Bemiston was founded in 1927, as a mill town built around the Bemis Brothers Bag Company cotton mill. The mill was built between Alabama State Route 21 and the Eastern Alabama Railway. The 700,000-square-foot mill produced handbags during the Great Depression and sandbags during World War II. The community was home to a school, general store, automobile repair shop, nurses' office, and gymnasium. The company built a power plant and sewer and water treatment plant to serve the community. A recreational director was hired to develop a community baseball and basketball team. The workers' houses were made of California Redwood, with two-car garages and running hot and cold water.[2] A community dairy farm was started by the company with 68 Holstein cattle to provide milk to the residents.[3] Bemis closed the mill in 1979, but the factory was acquired by Master Brand Industries, a cabinet maker. The community has since been listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19501,007
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

Bemiston appeared on the 1950 U.S. Census as an unincorporated community prior to its annexation into Talladega in 1955.

References

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  1. ^ "Bemiston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Trammell, Bobbye Baker (2009). Bemiston - Bobbye Baker Trammell - Google Books. ISBN 9780738568034. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  3. ^ The Louisville and Nashville Employees' Magazine, Vol. 27 - Louisville and Nashville Railroad - Google Books. 1951. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "Bemiston Mill Village listed to the Alabama Register" (PDF). Alabama Historical Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.