Zip City, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Zip City is a small unincorporated community
in Lauderdale County
in the northern part of the U.S. state
of Alabama
, at the interchange of Alabama Highways 8 and 17. Zip City falls within the U.S. Central Time Zone
. It is part of the Florence
- Muscle Shoals
Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals
".
Zip City, of late, has been popularized by the Drive-By Truckers
song of the same name. The song was penned by the Truckers' co-founder, Mike Cooley, (a longtime resident of the area) in 2001. The song appeared on the Truckers' 2002 release, Southern Rock Opera
.
Said the band's other co-founder, Patterson Hood, of the song:
While interviewing the band in 2002, David Dye of the radio program "The World Cafe" had this to say about the song:
"People around the country call the radio stations that carry this show and say
this Album (Southern Rock Opera
) is their life, and "Zip City" is most certainly one
I get that from."
The community was named "Zip City" by Alonzo Parker, in the early 1900s. He was the proprietor of a general store, and a calendar salesman asked Mr. Parker the name of the community. Mr. Parker replied "Just call it Zip City, because anyone who comes here just zips right through."
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.4% White*10.0% Black*0.4% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.4% Two or more races*2.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in the northern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, at the interchange of Alabama Highways 8 and 17. Zip City falls within the U.S. Central Time Zone
Central Time zone
In North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...
. It is part of the Florence
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
- Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals
The Shoals
The Shoals is a metropolitan area in northwestern Alabama, officially known as the Florence-Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Area, including the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield, and the counties of Lauderdale and Colbert...
".
Zip City, of late, has been popularized by the Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
song of the same name. The song was penned by the Truckers' co-founder, Mike Cooley, (a longtime resident of the area) in 2001. The song appeared on the Truckers' 2002 release, Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera is the third studio album by the alt country band Drive-By Truckers. It was a double album and released in 2001. Covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the...
.
Said the band's other co-founder, Patterson Hood, of the song:
- "Cooley wrote this one and should be the one explaining it. I do know that it is at least 90% true and is my personal favorite song on the album."
While interviewing the band in 2002, David Dye of the radio program "The World Cafe" had this to say about the song:
"People around the country call the radio stations that carry this show and say
this Album (Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera is the third studio album by the alt country band Drive-By Truckers. It was a double album and released in 2001. Covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the...
) is their life, and "Zip City" is most certainly one
I get that from."
The community was named "Zip City" by Alonzo Parker, in the early 1900s. He was the proprietor of a general store, and a calendar salesman asked Mr. Parker the name of the community. Mr. Parker replied "Just call it Zip City, because anyone who comes here just zips right through."