Opelika, AL
Music connected to Opelika
About Opelika
- • Novelist and screenwriter Rick Bragg, known for "All Over But the Shoutin'," hails from Opelika.
- • Opelika was home to the historic Pepperell Mill, a major textile producer in the South.
- • The Montgomery and West Point Railroad's arrival in 1848 established Opelika as a transportation hub.
- • An Opelika street was featured in a scene in the movie "Need for Speed."
- • The Civil War's Battle of Columbus impacted Opelika due to its proximity and strategic rail location.
- • "Opelika" means "large swamp" in Creek, and it was incorporated in 1854.
- • With over 32,000 residents, it's a growing city, larger than its neighbor Auburn in area.
- • Sitting at 784 feet, the city offers gently rolling hills in the Piedmont region.
- • Manufacturing, particularly automotive parts and textiles, remains a key sector in Opelika.
- • Opelika offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with a strong sense of community and Southern charm.
- • The Atlanta Braves, 90 miles away, won the 2021 World Series, their first since 1995.
- • Auburn University, near Opelika, won the BCS National Championship in 2010 against Oregon.