Rainsville, Alabama, perches atop Sand Mountain with a population that climbed from 5,524 in 2020 to an estimated 5,931 by mid-2024.

Its origins trace back to the early 1900s when Will Rains opened a general store at a crossroads somewhere between 1903 and 1910, and that building served as one of the first schools. Today’s residents walk streets first trod by those who shaped the town during a period in the 1960s when Rainsville soared to become one of Alabama’s fastest-growing towns.

In the early evening of April 27, 2011, the place endured one of the deadliest tornadoes in America’s history. An EF5 twister with winds over 200 mph carved a 36-mile path through DeKalb County, obliterating the civic center, high school, downtown businesses, and dozens of homes. Debris from homes swept clean off foundations lay strewn over a mile away, while a school bus was tossed and mangled beyond recognition. Recovery efforts rallied around Plainview High School and the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center, where volunteers, FEMA and the Red Cross staged rebuilding initiatives and community meetings.

Tornado memory remains woven into local identity. Every April since 2011, memorial walks and debris-clean-up drives mark the path of destruction. In 2024, Plainview High School initiated a scholarship in memory of lives lost, while the enrichment center installed permanent photographic displays of the tornado aftermath.

That sense of community and resilience has anchored the city since. Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative has provided power and local investment since its founding in 1940; it publishes a monthly section in Alabama Living with local news and recipes, connecting rural households. Dizzy Dean’s Fireworks, operational in Rainsville since at least 2024, runs a regional outlet that lets you preview fireworks on TV screens before buying—a quirky local attraction that draws customers from surrounding towns each summer.

Restaurants help round out community life. Kelly’s Kitchen stands out as a classic steakhouse-style diner where grilled chicken, country-fried steak, okra and mashed potatoes draw steady lines from 6 a.m. to mid-afternoon on weekdays. Reviewers often mention “great food and service” and homey biscuits drizzled with gravy. At 50 Taters #2, popular lunchtime options include brisket and BBQ platters, jalapeño burgers or shrimp po’ boys, all paired with house-made mashed potatoes and praised sauces.

Local festivals carry forward that communal spirit. Freedom Fest, held the weekend before July 4, draws thousands with its car, truck and motorcycle shows, live bands and fireworks displays that illuminate the night sky. It’s among the larger annual gatherings on Sand Mountain and is often sponsored by the local chamber. The city also celebrates with a 4th Fest at the city park, where local vendors and families gather beneath the summer sky.

The crossroads theme continues in commerce, where Main Street retailers include Scooter’s Coffee, serving espresso, smoothies and pastries, and Rainsville Nutrition, known for protein-packed shakes and nutrient-rich teas just a block away. Nearby Pearls & Plaid Co. draws shoppers into its boutique of women’s apparel, accessories and gifts, highlighting local flair with rotating seasonal collections.. These businesses remain distinct from the local eateries and preserve a variety of shopping options along the central strip that follows the site of Will Rains’s original 1907 store.



As small businesses continue to anchor Main Street’s identity, essential services like Revolutionary Pest Control operate with the same local commitment. We blend regional knowledge with professional-grade expertise to handle everything from termite damage in older downtown structures to seasonal invasions of ants and spiders in residential neighborhoods. Contact us today for an estimate.