Cherokee is a town in west Colbert County, Alabama, United States. Located near the Tennessee River, it is part of the Florence–Muscle Shoals metropolitan area, known as "The Shoals". As of the 2020 census, Cherokee had a population of 970.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code35616

Area code256

Living in Cherokee

Housing in Cherokee

$145K▲ 2.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Cherokee home is worth about $145,000, up 2.7% in a year, 40% below the Alabama typical home.

Only 4 sales in April 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Cherokee

—

Not graded

Cherokee has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent4

Property20

Reported in 202524

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Cherokee

Health Grade D

Healthier than 9% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Alabama

11worse than AL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care all close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.2%More adults with COPDAL 8% · worse 5.5%More adults who have had a strokeAL 4.1% · worse 9.6%More adults with heart diseaseAL 7.3% · worse

Care nearby

Tishomingo Health ServicesIuka · 14.1 mi · ER

Family Health Care Clinic, Inc. --FlorenceFlorence · 16.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Cherokee · CMS · HRSAHealth in Cherokee →

Schools in Cherokee

All Cherokee schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Cherokee’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 61% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictColbert CountySchools2

Cherokee Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–6 · 226 students Cherokee High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 206 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AL. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from CherokeeWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Cherokee.Meet them →