It is located in the Murphree Valley at the base of Altoona Mountain.

Straight Mountain is a small, narrow ridge which runs nearly through the center of the town.

Alabama State Route 132 (Main Street) leads southwest 10 miles (16 km) to Oneonta, the Blount County seat, and northeast towards Gadsden via U.S. Route 278.

29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

In 1960, it was changed to the Altoona Census Division as part of a general reorganization of counties.

[11] The census division only includes the Etowah County portion of the town of Altoona.

The Blount County portion is in the Clarence Census Division.