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By Scott Mims | Community Columnist

For this column I wanted to explore five things that I think are great about Chilton County. As a lifelong county resident, I think it’s a positive thing to be proud of your hometown, and I also want to counteract the negative news and remarks that are so prevalent on social media and in the media in general.

Proximity to cities

One thing that has always been great about Chilton County is our central location in Alabama, putting us between our capital, Montgomery, and the state’s largest metro area, Birmingham. This not only gives us plenty of shopping opportunities but also allows for a relatively easy commute for residents who work in either of those cities. In addition, the central location can allow Clanton and surrounding communities to serve as a convenient meeting place for state groups and organizations.

 

Pageants

Those who know me might be surprised to see this on my list, but it’s undeniable that pageants are a go-to fundraiser for many schools, groups and communities in our county and this method has proven successful time and time again.

I don’t mind telling you, however, that I do not particularly enjoy attending pageants but I respect all of the hard work that goes into them. They are just not my cup of tea.

I will not bother to list all of the pageants because I would no doubt forget one of them, so let’s just say that the people involved do a great job representing Chilton County all around the state of Alabama.

 

Peaches

Of course, I have to include our most famous crop. Let’s face it, peaches bring people here and they are pretty much synonymous with our area. It’s visible on our water tower, in local markets every summer and it’s also reflected in names and artwork countywide.

My grandfather grew peach trees in his small backyard orchard, and I have many memories of picking and eating different varieties of peaches every summer. They are absolutely delicious.

 

People

Of course, the greatest thing about Chilton County is our people. It’s a small-town mindset and people pretty much take care of each other and are proud of their communities. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a problem and someone stepped up to help without me even having to ask.

 

Potential

It goes without saying that our county has tremendous potential. Our three Interstate interchanges bring many opportunities for future growth, and we have certainly come a long way in the past 50 years. I realize that people disagree on how they want that growth to come, and I don’t think people necessarily want to see a large city develop here. However, more growth will come and I believe the keys to smart growth are careful planning (with input from residents) and seizing the right opportunities as they come along.

 

I could easily write a column featuring five things I want to complain about, but this week I wanted to keep things positive. What do you love about Chilton County?