North Johns, AL

North Johns is a tiny, quiet town about eight miles southwest of Hueytown in Jefferson County. With roughly 130 residents across a quarter of a square mile, it is one of the smallest incorporated communities in Alabama. Originally founded as a busy coal-mining center in the early 1900s, the town shifted to a relaxed, rural pace after the local mines closed in the 1950s. There are no commercial districts or schools within town limits, so locals head into nearby Hueytown or Bessemer for groceries, errands, and Jefferson County public schools. It is an appealing spot for anyone who values privacy and a low-key atmosphere while still wanting easy access to the greater Birmingham metro.