Balkum, Alabama

Balkum is an unincorporated community in Henry County, Alabama, United States.

Balkum, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Balkum Show map of Alabama Balkum Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 31°25′04″N 85°13′39″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Henry
Elevation	377 ft (115 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	334
GNIS feature ID	113416[1]

History

Balkum is named after James Whitfield Balkum, who settled the area in 1870.[2] Balkum Baptist Church and Balkum Methodist Church were both constructed in 1887. The Balkum Cemetery is adjacent to Balkum Baptist Church. The Balkum schoolhouse stood north of the cemetery, before closing in 1910.[3]

A post office operated under the name Balkum from 1883 to 1903.[4] After the post office closed, most of the business activity moved to Tumbleton.[5]

References

1. "Balkum". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
2. Smith, Larry. "Dead Towns of Henry County". Henry County Historical Group. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
3. "History of Balkum Baptist Church". Balkum Baptist Church. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
4. "Henry County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
5. "Tumbleton Alabama History". ALgenweb.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.