On March 12th, Citizens Baptist Hospital held a celebration to commemorate its 50th year serving Talladega area patients.

Tracing its history, the first hospital was founded in the 1920s by a group of physicians. The present location opened in 1970 thanks to a group of citizens who banded together, obtained federal grants and collected money from local residents and businesses.

The hospital is an economic catalyst for Talladega with more than 250 employees and nearly 300 additional indirect jobs. With approximately $16.2 million in salaries and benefits, the hospital provides an estimated $70 million in total economic impact - a substantial figure for a town with just over 15,000 residents.