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Situated in a tree lined valley of the Appalachian foothills, the City of Anniston is the commercial and industrial center of Calhoun County. With a mild climate and four distinct seasons, Anniston has plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities, including bicycling, fishing, camping and golfing. www.ci.anniston.al.us - City of Anniston Calhoun County Chamber Anniston Public Library Spirit of Anniston McClellan - JPA Founded July 3, 1883 (opened to the public) Named for Annie Scott Tyler (Annie's Town), daughter-in-law of General Daniel Tyler, one of Anniston's founders. Slogan "The Model City" Area 52.321 sq. kilometers Location Calhoun County, Alabama, USA Latitude: 33.659145 Longitude: -85.825055 Elevation 730 feet Time Zone Central Population 24,276 (2000 Census) Median Age 39.3 years Average Temperature 40.6 degrees - January 56.6 degrees - April 80.3 degrees - July 63.0 degrees - October Municipal Sales Tax 4% Local Zip Codes 36201, 36207, Post Office Boxes: 36202 Largest Employer Anniston Army Depot Government City Manager Form of Government
The City began as a private business venture. In 1872, Samuel Noble and General Daniel Tyler founded the
Woodstock Iron Company. Noble, an iron master, was the son of an iron master who brought his family from
Cornwall, England in 1855 and settled in the South. General Tyler, an industrialist, was interested in
both railroads and iron. For almost a decade, the city existed as a private company town called Woodstock.
It was closed to outsiders who had no link with the company. The first public lots were sold in June
1883 and the town was officially opened to the public on July 3, 1883. It was renamed "Annie's Town" in
honor of Annie Scott Tyler, wife of Gen. Tyler's son, Alfred. The seat of county government had
been in Jacksonville since the creation of the county in 1832. After years of local controversy and
finally a ruling by the State Supreme Court in June 1900, Anniston was established as the new home
of county government. 
To advertise the young town's land for sale, Samuel Noble made the decision to engage the services of an artist to paint a "portrait" of the young town. It was the desire of the founders that the "portrait" should enkindle the imagination of the country, and people from all walks of life should come to Anniston.
Early in 1882, Noble contacted Mr. Christopher H. Shearer, an outstanding landscape artist in Pennsylvania, and persuaded him to come to Anniston.
Upon Shearer's arrival, a small home was built on the Noble estate, and orders to give the artist any materials he needed accompanied his arrival. Shearer's first request was for canvas.
The "portrait" is 13th and Woodstock looking Southwest, about where Samuel Noble's house was located. The child in the foreground is Josephine Noble (Keith) daughter of Samuel Noble. Far background: Coldwater Mountain. The original painting is hanging in the Alabama Room at the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County.
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