ANNISTON

anniston, a city and the county seat of calhoun county, alabama, u.s.a., in the north-eastern part of the state, about 63 m. e. by n. of birmingham. pop. (1890) 9998; (1900), 9695, of whom 3669 were of negro descent; (1910 census) 12,794. anniston is served by the southern, the seaboard air line, and the louisville & nashville railways. the city is situated on the slope of blue mountain, a chain of the blue ridge, and is a health resort. it is the seat of the noble institute (for girls), established in 1886 by samuel noble (1834-1888), a wealthy iron-founder, and of the alabama presbyterian college for men (1905). there are vast quantities of iron ore in the vicinity of the city, the coosa coal-fields being only 25 m. distant. anniston is an important manufacturing city, the principal industries being the manufacture of iron, steel and cotton. in 1905 the city's factory products were valued at $2,525,455. an iron furnace was established on the site of anniston during the civil war, but it was destroyed by the federal troops in 1865; and in 1872 it was rebuilt on a much larger scale. the city was founded in 1872 as a private enterprise, by the woodstock iron company, organized by samuel noble and gen. daniel tyler (1799-1882); but it was not opened for general settlement until twelve years later. it was chartered as a city in 1879.