Alabasterpez

Shelby County, the geographic center of the state of Alabama, was created 7 Feb 1818 by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly, before Alabama became statehood on 14 Dec 1819. The county was named for Isaac Shelby, a hero of the King's Mountain Battle during the Revolutionary War. Many of the first settlers came from South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky; and returned to this region after the victorious Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. As indicated in the 1820 census records, Shelby County contained 2,492 people; 2,044 whites and 448 Africans. Today, it is the fastest growing county in Alabama and among the fastest in the United States. U.S. Highway 31, a two-lane highway at that time, was the main artery from Birmingham to Montgomery, and played an important part in the growth of the community. George L. Scott, Sr., an Alabaster pioneer, owned and operated Alabaster Lime Co. His shipping point, named for him, was known as "Scott Rock". Later, housing was built to accommodate some of the employees, and the community acquired its name Alabaster from the "white calcium carbonate mineral". The First Bank of Alabaster opened in 1952, and its president was George L. Scott, Jr., who later became the first mayor of Alabaster. The first attempt in 1952 to incorporate Alabaster failed. In January 1953, the petition was again filed, and on 23 Feb 1953, Alabaster was officially incorporated with a favorable vote of 79 to 23, and 427 residing inhabitants. Other Alabaster pioneers were Kenton B. Nickerson and William J. Maxwell. In 1955, the Alabaster Water and Gas Board was formed.