Scene near, 1920
Vinegar Bend’s story
136 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1920 and 2 maps from 1974 on.
- 1890Vinegar Bend is settled
Vinegar BendAL
109 people live in this town, settled in 1890.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Population
109
Census survey, 2020–24
Household income
$14K
median
Median age
75.0
years
Jobs based here
12
A commuter town
Is Vinegar Bend a good place to live?
76% of residents live below the poverty line in Vinegar Bend, above both the Alabama town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 188 Alabama towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Vinegar Bend. Vinegar Bend has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
109 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 Vinegar Bend: who provides what
Vinegar Bend is unincorporated, so Washington County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerClarke-Washington E M C15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWashington CountyWashington County provides services here
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.govWho runs elections hereWashington County Circuit ClerkWashington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code3658436584 100%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 Vinegar Bend.
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Vinegar Bend, with hurricanes at the top
Households in Vinegar Bend have drawn federal disaster aid in 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2020. On expected storm and flood damage, Vinegar Bend sits above 87% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 33% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to hurricanes, and 26% to inland flooding.
87risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Vinegar Bend stands out in Alabama and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
The top destinations are Mobile (20%), Citronelle (8%) and Bay Minette (3%). 1.7% of Vinegar Bend working residents work locally. For half of commuters, work is under 45 miles away.
2%work in town
| Vinegar Bend | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $14,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Vinegar Bend2%
Mobile20%
Citronelle8%
Bay Minette3%
Montgomery3%
45 mi
median commute distance
12
jobs based in Vinegar Bend
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Vinegar Bend brings four seasons and hot summers
The peak summer temperature in Vinegar Bend is 92°F.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–63°
Spring53–78°
Summer70–91°
Fall54–79°
Nov 8
typical first frost
Mar 26
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have diabetes in Vinegar Bend than in most of Alabama or the rest of the country
No town among the 188 in Alabama we compare has a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Vinegar Bend. Just over three in five adults have high blood pressure in the town. Among 188 Alabama towns, just 7 have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Vinegar Bend. In Vinegar Bend, 9.2% of adults binge drink, and 49% sleep under 7 hours.
| Vinegar Bend | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 15% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 9.2% | 14% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 40% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 61% | 43% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
6 better7 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Vinegar Bend | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 9.2% | 14.1% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 18.1% | 23.3% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 7.1% | 4.1% |
Greene County Hospital
13.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Vinegar Bend
13pages on Vinegar Bend
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Vinegar Bend; the nearest are
University of MobileUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mobile35.1 mi$26,910 tuitionUniversity of South AlabamaUniversity or college · Public · Mobile40.5 mi$10,116 in-state tuitionBishop State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mobile43.2 mi$5,340 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Vinegar Bend residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Vinegar Bend for work
Where Vinegar Bend’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
12jobs based in Vinegar Bend
2%of working residents work in town
45 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Vinegar Bend
Census-designated place in Alabama, United States
Vinegar Bend is an unincorporated census-designated place in Washington County, Alabama, United States. Vinegar Bend is 15 miles (24 km) south-southwest of Chatom. As of the 2020 census, Vinegar Bend had a population of 178. Vinegar Bend had a post office with ZIP code 36584 until it was closed July 1, 2010. When the bridge on the "main" road into Vinegar Bend was closed for repairs, the USPS closed the post office for good.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 161 ft
- ZIP code
- 36584
- Area code
- 251
Questions about Vinegar Bend
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Vinegar Bend, AL a good place to live?
Vinegar Bend has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.