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Alicia Whitehead 6th Grade MSMS Moving to AMSTI | Kevin Stephenson Technology Coordinator District Retiring October 1 | Sharon Franck Secretary/Bookkeeper McBride Retiring October 1 |
Alicia Whitehead
MSMS
Moving to AMSTI
Kevin Stephenson
District
Retiring October 1
Sharon Franck
McBride
Retiring October 1
Industry, schools likely reasons for Muscle Shoals' growth
By Russ Corey
MUSCLE SHOALS — A combination of growth in the industrial sector coupled with quality educational opportunities and good quality of life contributed to the city's phenomenal population growth over the past 10 years. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Muscle Shoals experienced a growth rate of 23.8%, said Keith Jones, executive director of the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments. Jones said the city had a population of 13,146, according to the 2010 Census. That number grew to 16,275 in the 2020 Census.
Mayor Mike Lockhart said the Census indicates the city is the 13th fastest growing in the state percentagewise. Lockhart said he moved to the Shoals in 1993 for a job at Helen Keller Hospital, but chose Muscle Shoals because of the reputation of the school system.
There was also a good quality of life, bolstered by the city's Park and Recreation Department, and retail opportunities.
"It's kind of a cycle," the mayor said. "You've got to have the school system, and that has consistently shown through enrollment going up."
The city has also seen increased industrial development, especially in the Shoals Research Airpark where its main tenant, North American Lighting, continues to expand. Kevin Jackson, the executive director of the Shoals Economic Development, said expanding industry is not solely responsible for the city's growth. He said roughly 60% of the people working in Muscle Shoals live in the city, but the other 40% live in surrounding cities.
"I live in Muscle Shoals and work in Florence," Jackson said.
Jackson attributed the steep growth in population to new jobs, but also to the city's education system, which is something people look at when choosing a place to live. "I think that will be more of a recipe for what's working over there," Jackson said. "Of course, in order for people to come here, we have to have jobs and good jobs. We're glad we can provide those."
Not being a Shoals native, Jackson said he sees the Shoals as one large community, akin to the five boroughs of New York City. "When we market the community, we market the Shoals," he said.
Jones said improved transportation infrastructure in Muscle Shoals makes it easier for someone to live in Muscle Shoals and work outside the city. But he also said a unified effort to encourage Shoals residents to fill out their Census forms also had an impact.
"You had a commitment by the school system to encourage parents to respond to the Census," Jones said.
Muscle Shoals Superintendent of Education Chad Holden said he's been working for the school system for 20 years. During that time, he's seen enrollment increase year after year.
"We typically see 40 to 50 new enrollments during the summer every year," Holden said. This year, however, they had in excess of 200 new enrollments.
"That's staggering," he said. "I personally called the mayor and gave him a heads up. We know schools are often the heartbeat of the community and a vital factor in bringing in residents and improving the quality of life."
More students mean more teachers, but it also creates a need for larger facilities. Holden said some of Muscle Shoals' schools are aging and running out of space.
"We've been sounding this alarm for some time," Holden said. He said failing to address those issues over the next 5 to 10 years is "not an option."
"Schools have to be on the top of the priority list," Holden said. "As families move to the area, they're bringing children with them."
Muscle Shoals City Council member Gina Clark spent 30 years in the real estate business.
"The main factor that people ask about is our school system if they have children, or are planning to have children, and that’s a big reason for the growth," Clark said. "Almost every new person who moves here asks about our schools, or they’ve heard about our schools and want to be here."
She said people want the small-town feel without the big city issues. "Our crime rate is low, our city does a great job in keeping our streets and public facilities in good shape which people really look at as well," Clark said. Clark expects the growth to continue over the next few years. "We have multiple new residential areas that will open up, new apartment buildings as well," she said. "So I’m hoping we see more retail and industry come our way, as well as the restaurant scene increase that people really want."
Lockhart said the city has enjoyed a consistent rate of growth every year. Muscle Shoals has also added some new apartment complexes, which he said fill up fairly quick.
The mayor said he thought Muscle Shoals could be drawing people from other Shoals cities, but Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Florence all showed increased population numbers, just not as large as Muscle Shoals.
Board of Education Meetings and Minutes Available on Website
Dr. Chad Holden, Superintendent
