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Walker County, Alabama combines pristine natural beauty with small-town living, while in the very shadows of the major metropolis of Birmingham.  Located in northwestern Alabama, only 22 miles from Birmingham, Walker County is the retail hub for the surrounding five counties. 

Walker County covers over 800 square miles, 11 of which are water.  Census 2000 recorded the population at almost 70,000.  Twelve communities comprise Walker County, with the city of Jasper as the county seat, whose population is 14,000.  The cities of Sumiton and Cordova each have nearly 2,600 residents, while Dora and Carbon Hill, approximately 2,200.  The town of Parrish is home to 1,200 citizens.  The rest of Walker County’s towns contain less than 1,000 residents.  These include Sipsey, Nauvoo, Oakman, Kansas and Eldridge.  

While formed in 1824, Walker County had few settlements until 1886, when the Kansas City-Memphis-Birmingham Railroad and the Sheffield and Birmingham Railroad extended into Jasper.  By 1891, Walker County boasted six coalmines, four-hundred coke ovens, two sawmills, two sandstone quarries, four hotels and two banks.  Today, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism also form a part of Walker County’s economy.  Walker County boasts a large shopping mall, two Wal-Mart Supercenters, a Food World Super Center and a fine array of small stores and quality restaurants.

Alabama's powerful Black Warrior River winds its scenic route through Walker County, lending itself to recreational opportunities.  The Lewis-Smith Dam, created by the Alabama Power Company in 1961, diverts the waters to form Smith Lake, possibly the deepest lake in Alabama.  Smith Lake provides some of the finest fishing in the southeastern United States, with numerous tournaments held here.  The lake is 35 miles long with 500 miles of shoreline, some of which is part of the wilderness region found in the Bankhead National Forest.  The deep waters leaving the lake flow into Sipsey Fork and stay at fifty to sixty-five degrees all year, which allows rangers to stock rainbow trout and striped bass. 

Walker County residents show a devotion to nature and a devotion to their particular faith as well.  Found here is a representative of every major denomination.  The town of Jasper itself contains more than fifty churches.  Civic-minded citizens use their church groups to sponsor charitable organizations and a wide array of social events.  Walker County is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Alabama, such as the First Church of the Nazarene and the Saint Cecilia Catholic Church.