• Newspaper
  • Community
  • History

    Boone Newspapers purchased the weekly Central Alabama Independent Advertiser on Aug. 15, 1975. The newspaper evolved into The Independent Advertiser and eventually The Clanton Advertiser. As the paper grew, so did its publication cycle — to twice-weekly, then thrice-weekly before going to five days a week (Tuesday through a Weekend edition).

    The newspaper’s office is located at 1109 Seventh Street North in Clanton, Ala., which is the county seat of Chilton County. In addition to printing The Clanton Advertiser five days a week, Clanton Newspapers Inc. also publishes North Chilton Advertiser, a free weekly paper that focuses on the northern end of the county; Peach Living magazine, a monthly lifestyles magazine; and several websites.

    Our Goal

    The Clanton Advertiser and its employees strive to:

    • Produce exciting, top-quality news publications focusing on people and events that affect the Chilton County area;
    • Go the extra mile to meet the needs of our advertisers;
    • Report news accurately and without bias;
    • Edit and publish with integrity and with the best interest of our community in mind;
    • Operate at a profit level that allows us to fairly compensate our employees, reinvest in our community and stand independent from outside influences;
    • Take an active leadership role in our community;
    • Do what we say we will do;
    • Treat our readers, advertisers and employees as we would like to be treated ourselves.

    Circulation

    The Clanton Advertiser is published daily Tuesday through Friday and on Sunday, and has a wide readership across Chilton County and its communities of Clanton, Jemison, Thorsby, Maplesville and Verbena.

    Production

    In 2002, The Advertiser finished construction of a new press and mailroom facility featuring a refurbished Goss Community press. The Advertiser presswork has been awarded numerous awards for quality by the Alabama Press Association.

    Internet presence

    The Advertiser’s online home, clantonadvertiser.com, serves a 24-7 breaking news engine, as well as a way to interact with our web readers.

    Awards

    The Advertiser consistently wins awards for its news, sports and opinion writing, photography, advertising design, layout and web presence as part of the Alabama Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.

    Community Involvement

    The Advertiser believes in being a community leader. To that end, our staff is actively involved with the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce as well as civic organizations and charitable groups.

  • Geographic location

    The county is located in the center of the state, on the growing Interstate 65 corridor between Birmingham and Montgomery. The county is within an hour’s drive from Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Selma and the state capital of Montgomery.

    Population

    Chilton County : 43,951

    Market

    The economy of the Clanton and Chilton County area is diverse and enjoys relatively low unemployment. It is a commuter county to jobs in the nearby Birmingham and Montgomery markets.

    The decision to put Interstate 65 through Chilton County decades ago spurred the creation of local jobs and economic growth. Two automotive supplier plants and a food distribution warehouse anchor the economy.

    Agriculture still plays an important role in the county. About 3,000 acres of peach farms bring in between $5 million to $7 million a year for the county.

    A 30-bed hospital featuring a 24/7 emergency department, surgical services, diagnostics, inpatient care, intensive care and other services is scheduled to open in fall 2016. The facility will be operated by St. Vincent’s Health System.

    History

    Chilton County was formed in 1868 as Baker County, with the named changed to Chilton County three years later in honor of William Parish Chilton, a chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

    The county seat, Clanton, was named after Brigadier General James Holt Clanton. Nearby Lay Lake Dam and Mitchell Dam became Alabama Power’s first two dams in the state, bringing economic improvements to the area. Immigrants played a part in starting the county’s peach industry more than a century ago. Today, the peach industry is the number one industry in Chilton County, not only bringing fame to the county, but also millions of dollars to the local economy. The city of Clanton constructed a water tower in the form of a peach in 1993, becoming a landmark for travelers along Interstate 65.

    One of the biggest events each year in Chilton County is the annual Peach Festival held in June. The festival, held in Clanton, crowns a new Peach Queen each year and also includes a Peach Parade and the Peach Jam Jubliee, a music concert and street fair.

    Climate

    Chilton County experiences a typical Southern climate with warm, humid summers and mild winters.

    Education

    A total of six high schools (with multiple feeder schools) are located in Chilton County. There is also a career technical school and a private Christian academy.

    Jefferson State Community College’s Chilton-Clanton campus has experienced remarkable growth since opening in 2008. Also, the University of Montevallo is within a 30-minute drive; the University of Alabama at Birmingham is within an hour’s distance; and the University of Alabama and Auburn University are both within 90 miles of the county.

    Recreation

    The area is known for its excellent hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities, as well as two major dams. There is a county YMCA and a nine-hole golf course, as well as Minooka Park, knowing for ATV riding, hiking and fishing. A number of antique shops are in the area. Chilton County is famous for its peach stands, peach ice cream, and U-pick farms, which attracts a number of tourists.

    Area information

    Chilton County Chamber of Commerce

    (205) 755-2400

    chiltoncountychamber.com

    e-mail to info@chiltonchamberonline.com