The historic town of West Blocton had its origin with the coal miners of West Alabama, refusing to become a ghost town at the end of the mining era. The early settlement of Blocton was the headquarters for the Cahaba Coal Mining Company and the site of the innovative beehive coke ovens. In addition to the rustic remnants of its colorful history, the community displays great pride in the natural legacy of the extremely rare and exquisitely beautiful Cahaba River Lilly that grows near the Cahaba River. Each year, residents welcome visitors to the Cahaba River Festival to celebrate the largest stand of these aquatic plants in the entire world. The Cahaba River also serves as a premier recreational asset for the community, a favored site for anglers and canoeing enthusiasts. West Blocton is the home of the Bibb County School District's career center, which enjoys an idyllic site on a pine-clad hilltop.