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Alabama›Franklin County

Spruce PineAL

Population 189: a town settled in 1859.

Is Spruce Pine a good place to live?

Among 188 Alabama towns, just 3 have a lower January low than Spruce Pine. Spruce Pine has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

189 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Getting set up

Moving to Spruce Pine: who provides what

Spruce Pine is unincorporated, so Franklin County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerAlabama Power17.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPhil Campbell Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFranklin CountyFranklin County provides services here
SchoolsFranklin County School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereFranklin County Circuit ClerkFranklin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP codes35585, 3558135585 86% · 35581 14%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Spruce Pine.

Work & commute

With 0.3 jobs for every working resident, most of Spruce Pine’s workers commute out

In Spruce Pine, 0.9% of working residents work locally, against 10% in Alabama’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The average trip to work for Spruce Pine comes to 20 minutes. Since 2013, Spruce Pine has added 24 jobs, to 32 in 2023. Half of commuters travel less than 23 miles.

1%work in town
Spruce PineAlabama townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work20 minutes25 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$98,000$62,000$80,000
Working residents who work in town0.9%10%8%
Below the poverty line12%16%9.6%

Where working residents work

In Spruce Pine1%
Russellville25%
Muscle Shoals6%
Florence5%
Hackleburg3%
23 mi
median commute distance
32
jobs based in Spruce Pine
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Housing

Spruce Pine’s typical home value is about $189K

56% of households live in a home they own in Spruce Pine.

$189KZillow home value

Typical home value

Spruce Pine$189K
Alabama$239K
−5.6%
value change, 1 year

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

Expect mild winters and hot summers in Spruce Pine

July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 30° and snow is almost unheard of. Among 188 Alabama towns, just 5 have a lower July high than Spruce Pine.

89°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter32–53°
Spring48–72°
Summer66–88°
Fall49–72°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 5
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

A larger share of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Spruce Pine than in most of Alabama or the rest of the country

For adults in Spruce Pine, the share who have diabetes is 17%. In Spruce Pine, 43% of adults have obesity, above both Alabama’s towns (39%) and U.S. towns (35%).

Spruce PineAlabama townsU.S. towns
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)18%15%14%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)29%24%19%
Depression (CDC PLACES)28%24%23%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)20%16%14%
32 measures vs. Alabama
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
What stands outSpruce PineAL
More older adults who have lost all their teeth25.6%15.4%
More adults with COPD12.2%8%
More smokers20%15.1%
Russellville Hospital
11.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

Top of a moderate hazard risk in Spruce Pine: tornadoes

Federal aid has come to Spruce Pine households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2011. Compared with 53% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage locally is higher. 37% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from tornadoes, followed by inland flooding at 26%.

53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
53Moderate riskLowerHigher
TornadoesInland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Spruce Pine

15pages on Spruce Pine
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Spruce Pine; the nearest are

A commuter town

99% of working residents leave Spruce Pine for work

Where Spruce Pine’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

25% → Russellville Russellville 25% 6% → Muscle Shoals Muscle Shoals 6% 5% → Florence Florence 5% 3% → Hackleburg Hackleburg 3% 3% → Gadsden Gadsden 3% 3% → Hamilton Hamilton 3% Spruce Pine · 1% stay
32jobs based in Spruce Pine
1%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Spruce Pine

Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States

Spruce Pine is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, Spruce Pine had a population of 215.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
0.9 sq mi
Elevation
1,027 ft
ZIP code
35585
Area code
256

Questions about Spruce Pine

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Spruce Pine, AL a good place to live?

Spruce Pine has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.