Growth in Alabama

The U.S. Census Bureau released new population estimates last week, reports AL.com’s Ramsey Archibald.

The state of Alabama added around 40,000 new residents in 2024.

To nobody’s surprise, buoying that figure was the growth in North Alabama. Huntsville led the state by adding 4,174 people. Madison added 3,007, Athens 1,641 and Triana 455 (that’s over 10% growth).

Here are the 10 cities with the largest population growth last year, in order: Huntsville, Foley, Madison, Athens, Opelika, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Fairhope, Prattville and Loxley.

Note that you heard three Baldwin County cities in the top 10 and that Gulf Shores was the 13th-fastest-growing city in Alabama last year.

The highest growth rate last year was in the Jefferson County town of Brookside at 13.2%. That reflects an addition of 158 people.

The biggest population decreases in Alabama were seen in Mobile, Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery and Eufala.

Mobile lost 553 residents last year.

The highest percent decrease happened in Memphis, Alabama, where one person left town to leave Memphis with a population of 24.

Fly into … Gulf Shores?

Commercial flight is coming to Gulf Shores on Wednesday, reports AL.com’s John Sharp.

It’s coming in on an Allegiant Air flight from Knoxville that’s supposed to land around 1:14 p.m. It’s scheduled to depart at 5:15 p.m. to return.

The $8 million worth of construction on the two-gate Gulf Shores International Airport was being shored up as we headed into the weekend.

Allegiant will fly two year-round and four seasonal routes twice a week through Gulf Shores, connecting the Alabama Gulf coast to Knoxville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City and Fayetteville, Ark.

Airport director Jesse Fosnaugh said he’s hoping for 60,000 passengers to use the airport this year, with a breakdown of 80% tourists flying in and 20% locals flying out.

Upgrading Toyota Field

Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, opened in 2021 with a $46 million price tag.

Within a couple years, however, it needed a couple of upgrades required by Major League Baseball. Those upgrades are supposed to be put into place by next April.

AL.com’s John R. Roby reports that the Madison City Council authorized planning for upgrades that satisfy the requirements but fall short of the plan championed by financial advisers and stadium operator Ballcorp.

The required upgrades are estimated to cost around $7 million and includes a one-story building for a visitor’s locker room and facilities for female staff and umpires.

More robust upgrades that some want include a four-story building, expanded seating and event space. That would cost much more, but the financial advisers believe it could be paid for with the additional tax revenue it would bring.

The council voted 5-2 on the mid-range plan.

Council President John Seifert, however, has said he’d be calling another meeting to take another look at the more involved scenario.

Council member Teddy Powell said he doubts it’ll be considered again: “We’re basically saying we’re better than our financial adviser, we are smarter than that guy, so why do we even hire people?”

Picture That

Quoting

“What y’all need to understand is, you don’t have to be an Alabama fan or an Auburn fan. You just have to not be a Tennessee fan.”

Country singer and Jacksonville native Riley Green, on stage at the Sand in My Boots festival, explaining to the crowd that, despite the lyrics of one song, he’s an Auburn fan.

Alabama News Quiz results/answers

Overall results:

• Five out of five: 23.0%
• Four out of five: 34.0%
• Three out of five: 29.3%
• Two out of five: 10.3%
• One out of five: 3.0%
• None out of five: 0.3%

After pushback from both sides of the issue, a bill was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey that puts regulation of these products in the hands of the ABC board.

• Consumables containing THC (CORRECT) 96.7%
• Energy drinks 1.7%
• Near beer 1.7%
• Ice cream products 0.0%

What kind of replica space vehicle is going up alongside I-65 to replace the one that sat near the Tennessee line for more than 40 years?

• Saturn V rocket 55.7%
• Saturn IA rocket (CORRECT) 35.7%
• Space shuttle 8.3%
• Millennium Falcon 0.3%

A coalition of companies in these industries that are big in Alabama recently requested the Trump Administration to use targeted trade tariffs against its foreign competition.

• Honey, catfish, crawfish and shrimp (CORRECT) 68.7%
• Iron and steel 18.7%
• Lumber and steel 11.3%
• Smoked sausage and eggs 1.3%

Recently, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin went on his personal Facebook page to remind people he does work outside his full-time mayoral job. What is Woodfin’s other gig?

• Personal-injury and criminal-law attorney (CORRECT) 87.0%
• Tour guide at Vulcan Park and Museum 7.3%
• Ear, nose and throat doctor 4.3%
• A roadie for contemporary gospel artist Pastor Mike Jr. 1.3%

This city recently became the sixth in Alabama to decide to stop adding fluoride in its drinking water.

• Madison (CORRECT) 74.7%
• Huntsville 14.0%
• Mobile 7.7%
• Dothan 3.7%

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