The downtown Northport ZIP code is 35476. Tuscaloosa County’s address data lists every address point on Main Avenue and Park Street, the two streets at the center of historic downtown Northport, with the postal city Northport and ZIP code 35476. The key downtown addresses checked, including the Kentuck Art Center at 503 Main Avenue and the Northport Visitor Center & Heritage Museum at 1991 Park Street, also fall inside Northport city limits in that data. A few address points along 30th Avenue, at the district’s edge, carry 35473 instead, so check any single address before relying on it.
This guide covers the streets, history, arts institutions and civic buildings of the walkable downtown area on the north bank of the Black Warrior River. For every landmark across the whole 35476 ZIP, including the airport-area parks and riverfront sports fields, see the separate guide to historic places and landmarks in 35476.
Downtown Northport ZIP code and street layout
Downtown Northport is organized on a grid of numbered avenues and streets. Main Avenue is the central commercial street. The Northport Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1980, covers about 20 blocks bounded roughly by 25th, 26th, 28th and 30th Avenues and Main, 5th and 6th Streets.
Visit Tuscaloosa describes the district’s brick streets, lampposts, murals, local shops and a wooden train trestle. Park Street, a short walk from Main Avenue, holds the city’s heritage museum and community center.
A second National Register district sits just to the east. The East Northport Historic District, listed March 26, 2004, is bounded roughly by 20th Street, 8th Avenue, Rice Mine Road and Bridge Avenue. This guide does not assign it a ZIP code, because its full boundary was not checked against address data.
| Place | Type | Address | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentuck Art Center (main campus) | Arts center, galleries, studios | 503 Main Ave, Northport | 35476 |
| James Shirley House (Shirley-Christian Home) | Historic house (NRHP 1972) | 512 Main Ave, Northport | 35476 |
| Northport Visitor Center & Heritage Museum | Museum, visitor center | 1991 Park St, Northport | 35476 |
| Northport Community Center | Civic and senior center | 2001 Park St, Northport | 35476 |
| Wilson-Clements House | Historic house (NRHP 1985) | 1802 20th Ave, Northport | 35476 |
| Kentuck Park | PARA park | 3401 5th St, Northport (PARA listing) | 35476 |
ZIPs come from Tuscaloosa County’s 911 address points, except Kentuck Park, which uses the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority (PARA) listing.
How the river crossing created downtown Northport
The Encyclopedia of Alabama traces the town to settlement around 1813 at an easy crossing of the Black Warrior River. By 1816 the area was called Kentuck or Canetuck, probably for stands of river cane. It became known as North Port for its spot on the north bank, and the name Northport became official in 1832, when a post office and ferry opened. The town incorporated in 1871.
James Shirley built the first bridge across the river in the 1830s along with the town’s first brick buildings. On December 25, 1882, a King iron bowstring bridge opened between Northport and Tuscaloosa. One restored span now stands at Van de Graaff Arboretum & Historic Bridge Park, outside the downtown grid but still in 35476. Rail service reached Northport in 1901.
Today the Hugh R. Thomas Bridge, opened in 1974, carries U.S. 43/AL-69 across the river between downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport, where the road continues as Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard. The Black Warrior River landmarks guide covers all the crossings, and the downtown Tuscaloosa ZIP code guide covers the other end of the bridge.
Kentuck: the art center, the festival and the satellite galleries
Kentuck is downtown Northport’s best-known institution, but its name now covers several locations, and they are easy to mix up.
- Kentuck Art Center (main campus), 503 Main Ave, Northport 35476. According to Kentuck’s visit page, the campus at Main Avenue and 5th Street uses five repurposed buildings for artist studios, galleries, classrooms, a gallery shop and offices. Check that page for current hours.
- Kentuck at Queen City, 1901 Jack Warner Pkwy, Tuscaloosa 35401. This location is in the historic Queen City Pool and Poolhouse across the river and holds Kentuck’s Permanent Collection.
- Kentuck’s Gallery at Hotel Indigo, 111 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa 35401. A satellite gallery inside a hotel.
- Kentuck Festival of the Arts (annual event). The festival began in 1971 as the Northport Heritage Festival, marking the centennial of incorporation, and was held at Kentuck Park in Northport through 2023. Since 2024 it has been held at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa, and in September 2025 Kentuck and the City of Tuscaloosa signed a long-term agreement to keep it there. Sources disagree on that park’s ZIP code (35404 or 35405).
So a “Kentuck” address does not always use the downtown Northport ZIP code. Only the main campus is in 35476. The Encyclopedia of Alabama also notes a monthly Art Night when downtown galleries open after hours. Check Kentuck for current dates.
Heritage and civic buildings on Park Street
Northport Visitor Center & Heritage Museum
The museum at 1991 Park Street occupies the Palmer House, a Victorian home built in 1907 and originally on Tanyard Street, now 10th Street. It was donated to the city in 1998, restored and dedicated in 2001 to A.H. Bean. Alabama Historical Commission grants funded more work, and it reopened as the Visitor Center & Heritage Museum in April 2025, operated by the City of Northport.
Northport Community Center
Next door, the Northport Community Center at 2001 Park Street dates to about 1953. The city rededicated it in April 2024, and a Focus 50+ senior activity center opened there that year. The Encyclopedia of Alabama says the 1830 Umbria Schoolhouse was moved to Community Center Park from Sawyerville in 2006 and is believed to be Alabama’s oldest school structure.
Historic houses
The James Shirley House at 512 Main Avenue was listed on the National Register in 1972. Sources disagree on its construction date: the Encyclopedia of Alabama gives 1825, while the City of Northport’s visitor page says the 1840s. The Wilson-Clements House at 1802 20th Avenue was listed in 1985. Neither is listed as open to the public, so view them from the street.
Riverfront and outdoor space near downtown
Kentuck Park, which PARA lists at 3401 5th Street, has tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, picnic shelters and restrooms. It was the festival grounds for more than 50 years but is no longer the festival site.
The Richard L. Platt Memorial Levee Trail runs along the north bank from a west trailhead beside Kentuck Park, with parking on 30th Street, toward Rice Mine Road. Sources give its length as anywhere from about 2 to 2.5 miles. The City of Northport maintains it.
Schools and services near downtown Northport
Several Tuscaloosa County School System campuses have 35476 addresses, including Collins-Riverside Intermediate at 1400 3rd Street, Echols Middle at 2701 Echols Avenue and the Lloyd Wood Education Center at 2300 26th Avenue. Being close to downtown does not decide attendance. TCSS zones by address. The directory of schools located in 35476 lists all five campuses with official links.
Northport City Hall is at 3500 McFarland Boulevard, away from the historic grid, and hosts a Tuscaloosa Public Library book-vending kiosk. Northport has no library branch. No Tuscaloosa Transit Authority bus route currently serves Northport, so plan to drive, bike or walk.
Practical notes for using a downtown Northport address
- Write “Northport, AL 35476” for Main Avenue and Park Street addresses, and confirm the ZIP+4 with the USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
- Near 30th Avenue, check each address, because county data shows both 35476 and 35473 there.
- For permits, zoning or historic-district rules, contact the City of Northport through northportal.gov.
- The Northport ZIP code guide compares all three codes, and the 35476 ZIP code guide covers the rest of this one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the downtown Northport ZIP code?
35476. Main Avenue and Park Street addresses, including Kentuck Art Center and the heritage museum, use it.
Is the Kentuck Festival still in downtown Northport?
No. The festival moved to Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa in 2024. Kentuck Art Center remains at 503 Main Avenue in Northport.
Is downtown Northport part of Tuscaloosa?
No. Northport is a separate city with its own mayor and council. Downtown Northport is across the Black Warrior River from downtown Tuscaloosa.
Facts in this guide were checked against the sources below on October 10, 2026. Addresses, programs and boundaries can change; confirm with the official source before relying on them.
Sources
- Tuscaloosa City and County Unified Address Points (county 911 address data) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- City of Northport — official website (accessed October 10, 2026)
- City of Northport — Visitors (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Kentuck — Visit (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority — Kentuck Park (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County School System — school directory (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa Public Library — Locations and hours (accessed October 10, 2026)
- USPS — ZIP Code Lookup (accessed October 10, 2026)
- National Park Service — Northport Historic District (NRHP 80000736) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- National Park Service — East Northport Historic District (NRHP 04000238) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Encyclopedia of Alabama — Northport (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Encyclopedia of Alabama — Kentuck Art Center and Festival of the Arts (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Experience Northport (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Northport Heritage Museum (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa Thread — Northport Heritage Museum opening (accessed October 10, 2026)
- WBRC — Northport rededicates community center (accessed October 10, 2026)
- WBRC — Kentuck Festival and City of Tuscaloosa sign long-term agreement (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Wikipedia — National Register listings in Tuscaloosa County (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Wikipedia — Hugh R. Thomas Bridge (accessed October 10, 2026)
- TrailLink — Richard L. Platt Memorial Levee Trail (accessed October 10, 2026)
- GreatRuns — Northport Levee (accessed October 10, 2026)
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