It’s hard to miss the 120-foot peach water tower along the stretch of I-65 between Birmingham and Montgomery that has become Chilton County’s trademark. Known as the peach capital of Alabama, the county produces more than 15 million pounds of peaches each year, and roadside attractions like Peach Park and Durbin Farms Market are popular stops for travelers. Each June, the county celebrates the industry with the Peach Jam Jubilee that brings tens of thousands of visitors to the area.
Agritourism isn’t the only draw to Chilton County. Its strategic location in the center of the state, with almost one-fifth of the state’s population within an hour’s drive, makes it attractive to a variety of industries. In addition to agriculture, top industries are automotive, metalworking and wood and timber product manufacturing. Automotive seating manufacturing company Adient, the largest employer in the county, recently added a new production line that supports the manufacturing of the Nissan P42. Boise Cascade Co., an engineered wood products manufacturer and another top employer, added a new BCI Joist line that expands the mill’s production capabilities; it became operational earlier this year. Chilton County also capitalizes on its easy access to the state’s other leading industries, including automotive manufacturing and aerospace.
A partnership between Chilton County Schools (CCS) and Jefferson State Community College is bringing a new career technical and innovation center to Clanton in 2028. CCS secured a $10.5 million grant for construction of a two-story, 127,500-square-foot facility that will be built on 10 acres adjacent to the Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton campus just off Highway 145.
The county has seen a lot of new development along Highway 145 recently. The new $32 million, 72,000-square-foot Chilton County Courthouse opened in June. It consolidates courtrooms, licensing and administrative offices to serve as a “one-stop shop” for county operations.
Next, the city of Clanton is securing land to build a new facility for the police department next to the new courthouse. A new senior community center also will be built nearby on the historic Adair property. Up the road, the UAB St. Vincent’s Chilton hospital campus recently added a Heart South cardiology office and an orthopedics office.
“Clanton is experiencing a period of meaningful growth, marked by strategic investments in capital improvement projects that will strengthen our community for generations to come,” says Clanton Mayor Jeffrey Price, who was elected in 2025. “The development of a new police station, judicial building and senior community center reflects our commitment to public safety, quality of life and ensures our residents have facilities that meet the needs of our growing city. We are especially grateful to the Chilton County Board of Education and Superintendent Corey Clements for their partnership and support in helping bring the senior community center to fruition at the former Adair property. Their collaboration has made it possible to preserve an important piece of our community’s history while transforming the area into a beautiful and purposeful space that honors our past and serves our future. These investments represent progress, partnership and a shared vision for a stronger Clanton.”
Katherine MacGilvray is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
For more on Chilton County, see the links below:
This section appears in the August 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
