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History · Powell

Powell was first counted by the census in 1970

Most of Powell was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1985. Below: maps from 1936 on and the census since 1970.

1970first census
0on the National Register
3%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Quick answers

How Powell began

When was Powell founded?

1970

Powell first appears in the census in 1970.

First census: 474 in 19702020 census: 90156 years
Founding year: the first census.

What stands out about Powell’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Powell are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Powell’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Powell’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story so far

Powell, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Powell yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Powell is a town in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 901. Powell is located atop Sand Mountain. Originally incorporated as Powell's Crossroads in the 1960s, it had shortened its name to Powell by the 1990 U.S. Census. Northeast Alabama Community College is located on the northwest border of the town.

Its first post office opened in 1970. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 955 to 901 (-6%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

Powell, decade by decade

Today3 recent
Powell-Town-Hall-al2017Powell-Town-Hall-alPowell-SR35-al2017Powell-SR35-alPowell-Fire-Department-al2017Powell-Fire-Department-al
On the map

Powell on the map, 1936 to 1983

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Powell. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Powell on the 1936 USGS mapPowell on the 1950 USGS mapPowell on the 1970 USGS mapPowell on the 1983 USGS map1936Dutton sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Powell.

People over time

Powell, census by census

02004006008001,000198020002020Peak: 955

Between 474 and 955 people in every census since 1970.

6 censuses, 1970–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Powell’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Powell

Nobody well known was born in Powell itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
J
John Allen ChauAmerican missionary · b. 1991
Philip OberAmerican stage, film and television actor · b. 1902
T
Thomas H. CookAmerican writer · b. 1947
Katherine StinsonAmerican aviator · b. 1891
Tim FlockAmerican racecar driver · b. 1924
Larry NelsonAmerican professional golfer · b. 1947
Places that used to be

Old corners and places now gone

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Powells Crossroads
Gone or out of use
Happy Hill ChurchchurchStraight Creek Churchchurch

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

RainsvilleIts storyD−

Questions about Powell’s history

What year was Powell founded?

The Powell post office opened in 1970, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (3), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.