DeKalb County officially added a new town to its roster this week, marking a historic moment for the community of Kilpatrick.

A large crowd of residents and local leaders gathered Tuesday evening for the town’s first-ever meeting, where its inaugural mayor and council were sworn into office.

DeKalb County Probate Judge Ronnie Osborn administered the oath of office to Mayor Richard Bruce and council members Rachel Bloodworth, Kim Hunt, Fernando Guzman, and Tina Malone, formally launching the town’s local government.

The milestone comes after residents of the unincorporated community — located between Crossville and Albertville — voted earlier this year to incorporate. With a population of about 300 people, Kilpatrick became Alabama’s 466th municipality, according to the Alabama League of Municipalities.

Mayor Bruce said the moment was years in the making. “We actually started this process about six years ago,” Bruce told the news outlet. “We started with petitions and going around and getting folks to sign, and saying they wanted to be a town.”

The first official town meeting was held at Kilpatrick’s new Town Hall on County Road 179, with dozens in attendance to witness the historic event. Among them was State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre), who represents the area in the Alabama State Senate.

“This is a very rare occurrence, and it’s been several years since the last new town was formed,” Jones said. “It’s just exciting to be part of something, see them actually have their founding documents formed right in front of your eyes.”

Jones also shared a Facebook post celebrating the milestone for the state and congratulating the residents of Kilpatrick.

The formation of Kilpatrick adds a new chapter to DeKalb County’s civic landscape and places the small community among Alabama’s officially incorporated towns.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].