Superlative Burbs: Pike Road
This collection of idyllic neighborhoods emerged from 160 acres of former farmland adjacent to Montgomery.
Service, Rebranding Mark Jackson Thornton’s Centennial Year
Jackson Thornton kicked off its “100 Years | 100 Acts of Service” to benefit Rise Against Hunger by using its 200-plus team members to pack more than 34,000 meals.
Spotlight on Montgomery County
Montgomery County, in central Alabama, is part of the state’s River Region and is home to the state’s capital city, Montgomery.
Opelika Ponders, Plumbs, Presents Itself
Residents of Opelika eagerly dove into a citywide charrette called DesignPlace. One result morphed from sticky notes, through local history, into a logo with locomotion.
Spotlight on Chilton, Dallas & Wilcox Counties
Forest products and other agriculture have long been the backbone of the economy in these counties. While those industries continue to thrive, newer sectors have joined the mix in recent years — especially automotive suppliers.
Alabama Gold Assayed
Paul Wellborn is having a go at exploration up on Hog Mountain. It’s the closest Alabama has come to rekindling the great Chilton County Gold Rush. Just don’t tell the weekenders ganging up at Gold Camp in Cragford.
Auburn a Magnet for International Precision
Germany’s Berghoff Group chose Auburn for its U.S. precision manufacturing plant because it had the skilled workforce that could hone parts taking 130 hours to perfect.
Auburn Survey Tracks Retail Revolution
It’s a hard truth, but retail survival is getting more rare.
Retrofitting Suburbia
Three Alabama towns are robust examples of New Urbanism — traditional communities designed to be practical rather than nostalgic. One was named the National Association of Homebuilders’ 2014 Community of the Year.
Whitewater Rafting Right Downtown
Whitewater Express on the Chattahoochee is one of the “top 12 greatest man-made adventures on the planet,” says USA Today.