text:
Adolf Frederick of Sweden

Adolf (or Adolph) Frederick (Adolf Fredrik; Adolf Friedrich; 14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death in 1771. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin, and Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach. He was an uncle of Catherine the Great and husband to Louisa Ulrika of Prussia.

The first king from the House of Holstein-Gottorp, Adolf Frederick was a weak monarch, installed as first in line to the throne following the parliamentary government's failure to reconquer the Baltic provinces in 1741–1743. Aside from a few attempts, supported by pro-absolutist factions among the nobility, to reclaim the absolute monarchy held by previous monarchs, he remained a mere constitutional figurehead until his death.

His reign saw an extended period of internal peace. However, the finances stagnated following failed mercantilist doctrines pursued by the Hat administration. The Hat administration ended during the 1765–1766 parliament, where the Cap opposition took over the government and enacted reforms towards greater economic liberalism, as well as a Freedom of Press Act. The Freedom of Press Act is unique for the time for its curtailing of all censorship, retaining punitive measures only for libeling the monarch or the Church of Sweden.

Ancestry
Adolf Frederick's father was Christian Augustus (1673–1726) duke and a younger prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, prince-bishop of Lübeck, and administrator, during the Great Northern War, of the duchies of Holstein-Gottorp for his relative Charles Frederick.

His mother, Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach (1682–1755), was a descendant of earlier royal dynasties of Sweden, great-granddaughter of Princess Catherine of Sweden, mother of King Charles X of Sweden. On his mother's side, Adolf Frederick was descended from King Gustav Vasa and Christina Magdalena, a sister of Charles X of Sweden.

Reign
From 1727 to 1750 Prince Adolf Frederick was the prince-bishop of Lübeck. This meant he ruled a fief around and including Eutin. After his first cousin, Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, died in 1739, Adolf Frederick became the administrator of Holstein-Kiel during the minority of the duke's orphan son, Charles Peter Ulrich. Shortly afterward, the young boy was invited to Russia by his maternal aunt, Empress Elizabeth, who soon declared him her heir. He later became known as Peter III of Russia.

In 1743, Adolf Frederick was elected heir to the throne of Sweden by the Hat faction (Swedish: Hattarna). The Hat faction wanted to obtain better conditions at the Treaty of Åbo from Empress Elizabeth. He succeeded to the Swedish throne on 25 March 1751.

During his 20-year reign, Adolf Frederick was little more than a figurehead, the real power being with the Riksdag of the Estates, often distracted by party strife. Twice he endeavored to free himself from the tutelage of the estates. The first occasion was in 1756. Stimulated by his consort Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (sister of Frederick the Great), he tried to regain a portion of the attenuated prerogative through the Coup of 1756 to abolish the rule of the Riksdag of the Estates and reinstate absolute monarchy in Sweden. He nearly lost his throne in consequence. On the second occasion during the December Crisis of 1768, under the guidance of his eldest son, Gustav, he succeeded in overthrowing the "Cap" (Swedish: Mössorna) senate, but was unable to make any use of his victory.

Death
Adolf Frederick died suddenly in Stockholm on 12 February 1771 with symptoms resembling either heart failure or poisoning. Popular stories about his death having resulted from a large meal (consisting of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers, and champagne as well as 14 helpings of his favourite dessert hetvägg of semla pastries and hot milk) are considered propaganda by modern writers.

Following his death, his son Gustav III seized power in 1772 in a military coup d'état, reinstating absolute rule.

Legacy
The King was regarded as dependent on others, a weak ruler, and lacking of any talents as a statesman. However, he was allegedly a good husband, a caring father, and a gentle master to his servants. He was scientifically talented and especially interested in astronomy. He also had talent in military matters and in music. His favourite pastime was woodworking, especially to make snuffboxes, which he reportedly spent a great deal of time doing. His hospitality and friendliness were witnessed by many who deeply mourned him at his death.

Children
By his marriage to Princess Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (which took place on 18 August/29 August 1744 in Drottningholm), he had five children:

 * 1) (Stillborn) (18 February 1745 in Stockholm)
 * 2) Gustav III (1746–1792)
 * 3) Charles XIII (1748–1818)
 * 4) Frederick Adolf (1750–1803)
 * 5) Sofia Albertina (1753–1829)

With Jeanne Du Londel he had one son:

 * 1) Adolf Fredriksson (c. 1734-1771), Captain in the Swedish Army.

With Marguerite Morel he had one son who died as a child:
 * 1) Frederici (c. 1761 - 1771)

Adolf Frederick may have been the father of Lolotte Forssberg by Ulla von Liewen, but this has never been confirmed.

title: Adolf Frederick of Sweden


text:
Underwood-Petersville, Alabama

Underwood-Petersville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lauderdale County, Alabama United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP is 3,247.

Geography
Underwood-Petersville is located at 34.8725°N, -87.69278°W (34.872469, -87.692776).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.9 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,137 people, 1,295 households, and 953 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 520.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,378 housing units at an average density of 228.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.68% White, 4.11% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,295 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,159, and the median income for a family was $45,212. Males had a median income of $35,301 versus $21,129 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,461. About 8.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,247 people, 1,382 households, and 939 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 550 PD/sqmi. There were 1,506 housing units at an average density of 255.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.3% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,382 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,774, and the median income for a family was $47,356. Males had a median income of $46,950 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,534. About 9.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Underwood-Petersville, Alabama


text:
Waterloo, Alabama

Waterloo is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence–Muscle Shoals metropolitan area, known as "The Shoals". As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 203, down from 208 in 2000. The town and surrounding area is served by Waterloo High School and by the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department.

History
The town was incorporated in 1832 on the banks of the Tennessee River. The name most likely commemorates the Battle of Waterloo. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Waterloo was reincorporated in 1903.

In the 1930s, the town was moved to its current location when the Tennessee Valley Authority completed the Pickwick Landing Dam, which impounds Pickwick Lake. Waterloo has lost a large area of land to floods and later the construction of Pickwick Landing Dam.

In 1880, when it first appeared on the U.S. Census, and again from 1910 to 1940, it was the second largest community in Lauderdale County after Florence, reaching its zenith of 524 residents in 1940. It has since lost two-thirds of its population and since 1980, and ranks 8th and smallest of Lauderdale County's incorporated communities with 203 residents.

Geography
Waterloo is located along the north shore of Pickwick Lake, a reservoir along the Tennessee River created by Pickwick Landing Dam approximately 20 mi downstream. Second Creek, which flows from the north, empties into Pickwick Lake at Waterloo, creating a small inlet. The point at which the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee meet is located several miles northwest of Waterloo. County Road 14 connects Waterloo with Florence to the east.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, of which 0.75 sqmi is land and 0.05 sqmi (6.17%) is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 178 people, 68 households, and 43 families residing in the town.

2000 census
In the 2000 US census, there were 208 people, 94 households, and 67 families residing in the town. The population density was 273.1 PD/sqmi. There were 145 housing units at an average density of 190.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.12% White, 1.44% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 94 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,536, and the median income for a family was $31,000. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,167. About 11.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.0% of those 65 or over.

Politics
Waterloo is in:
 * Alabama's 5th congressional district
 * Alabama State House of Representatives district 2
 * Alabama State Senate district 1

Attractions and events

 * Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride, Waterloo, Alabama is the Official End of The Trail. The ride commemorates the final point at which area Cherokee Native Americans were embarked to Oklahoma and the Midwest by the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
 * Waterloo is a stop on the North Alabama Birding Trail. The area is renowned for the nearby bald eagle population.
 * The town is adjacent to the Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area.
 * Two primitive campgrounds managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority are in the city limits. Waterloo is located 11 mi west of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Waterloo has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Notable person

 * Samuel A. Shelton, former U.S. Representative from Missouri

title: Waterloo, Alabama


text:
Courtland, Alabama

Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 609 at the 2010 census, down from 769 in 2000.

History
A small creek named Big Nance Creek runs through the town. The creek was named for a Cherokee chief who lived in the area when the first European settlers arrived. The current town is reportedly located on the site of the Native American village.

Courtland began as a small settlement known as Ebenezer in the early 1800s. Its early settlers were wealthy planters mostly from Virginia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia. It was presently named for the federal courthouse and land office there. In 1818, a group known as the Courtland Land Company bought the land on which the town is now situated and subdivided it into lots. The town was incorporated on December 13, 1819, by the Alabama territorial legislature

The early roads Gaines Trace and Byler Road went through town.

One of the South's earliest railroads, the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad, was organized at Courtland in 1831, and chartered the following year. The railroad's organizers routed the 50 mi railroad to bypass the dangerous shoals along the Tennessee River to the north. The railroad was absorbed by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in the 1850s, and later became part of the Southern Railway.

In 1835, Courtland physician Jack Shackelford organized a volunteer military unit to fight in the Texas Revolution. Known as the "Red Rovers" for the color of their uniforms, the company was captured by Mexican forces at Coleto in March 1836, and most of its men were killed in the Goliad massacre. Shackelford was among the few survivors.

In 1944 and 1945, during World War II, Courtland was home to the Courtland Army Airfield (Courtland AAF). It was dismantled after the war and given to the city of Courtland, which now operates it as Courtland Airport.

Courtland Historic District
In the early 1990s, more than 100 buildings in Courtland were listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Courtland Historic District. Most of the buildings in the district date from the 1830s through the 1930s, and architectural styles include Federal, Italianate, Victorian, Colonial Revival, and Neoclassical. The Town Square was part of the town's original 1818-1819 plan. Many of the commercial buildings facing the square, especially along College Street and Tennessee Street, were built in the 1890s and early 1900s. The train depot on the south side of the square, now a community center, was built in the late 1880s. The Old Sherrod Hotel, located at the northwest corner of Tennessee Street and Alabama Street, was built around 1930, and provided housing for early Tennessee Valley Authority employees.

The John McMahon House, a Federal-style home built around 1830, is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. Rocky Hill Castle was a forced-labor plantation whose architecturally renowned plantation house was demolished in 1961.

Geography
Courtland is located at 34.66833°N, -87.31083°W (34.668457, -87.310821). The town is concentrated in area along Big Nance Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River, west of Decatur and southeast of Muscle Shoals. The town's municipal boundaries extend northeastward to U.S. Route 72. The town of North Courtland borders Courtland to the north.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 sqmi, of which 2.3 sqmi is land and 0.43% is water.

Demographics
From 1880 until 1910, Courtland was the largest town in Lawrence County, losing the distinction in 1920 to the county seat of Moulton, which has held it to date.

As of the census of 2000, there were 769 people, 316 households, and 210 families residing in the town. The population density was 331.2 PD/sqmi. There were 363 housing units at an average density of 156.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 54.23% White, 40.44% Black or African American, 2.08% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, and 2.86% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 316 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $36,000. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,456. About 18.1% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 32.9% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 583 people, 293 households, and 211 families residing in the city.

Notable people

 * Sam Agee, American football player
 * Thomas Jefferson Foster, two-term member of the Confederate Congress
 * Jack Shackelford, one of the few survivors of the Goliad massacre

title: Courtland, Alabama


text:
Hillsboro, Alabama

Hillsboro is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was incorporated in 1899. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 552, down from its record high of 608 in 2000. Along with North Courtland, it is one of two majority black communities in Lawrence County out of its six populated communities.

History
Hillsboro began in the late 1830s as a small community known as "Gilmersville," which was located east of the current town. The name was inspired by a family of early settlers. When the railroad was constructed through the area in the 1860s, the town shifted to its current location along the tracks. The town developed throughout the latter half of the 19th century as an important refueling stop for trains and a local shipping center. The town's name was eventually changed to "Hillsborough," and the current spelling was adopted in 1891.

Geography
Hillsboro is located at 34.63806°N, -87.18833°W (34.638029, -87.188287). The town is concentrated along County Road 217 (Main Street) just south of the road's railroad crossing, a few miles west of Decatur, and a few miles south of Wheeler Lake. The town's municipal boundaries extend northward to U.S. Route 72.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 407 people, 215 households, and 143 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 608 people, 221 households, and 169 families residing in the town. The population density was 317.2 PD/sqmi. There were 249 housing units at an average density of 129.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 14.64% White, 82.24% Black or African American, 1.81% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 221 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,714, and the median income for a family was $52,000. Males had a median income of $26,979 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,457. About 3.9% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable persons

 * Rudolph M. Clay, former mayor of Gary, Indiana and member of the Indiana Senate
 * Joseph Wheeler, former Confederate Army and U.S. Army major general

title: Hillsboro, Alabama


text:
Moulton, Alabama

Moulton is a city in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Although it incorporated in 1819, along with its rival of Courtland, to compete for the honor of county seat, it did not first appear on the U.S. Census rolls until 1900. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 3,471, its record high. The city has been the county seat of Lawrence County since 1820. It has been the largest community in the county since the 1920 U.S. Census.

History
By the time Alabama became a state in 1819, an inn had been erected at the site of what is now Moulton to serve migrants along the various early paths that passed through the area. Shortly after Alabama achieved statehood, both Moulton and Courtland (to the north) incorporated and competed for the county seat of Lawrence County. Governor Thomas Bibb awarded the seat to Moulton as the most centrally located of the two within the county. The city is named for Lieutenant Michael Moulton, a soldier killed while fighting under General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.

Geography
Moulton is located at 34.48222°N, -87.28556°W (34.482307, -87.285621). The city is concentrated along Alabama State Route 33 southwest of Decatur. Alabama State Route 24 passes through the northern part of the city, and Alabama State Route 157 passes through its eastern section. The William B. Bankhead National Forest lies to the southwest of Moulton.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 sqmi, all land.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Moulton has a humid subtropical climate (abbreviated Cfa).

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,398 people, 1,457 households, and 815 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,471 people, 1,482 households, and 912 families residing in the city. The population density was 552.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,486 housing units at an average density of 251.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 78.2% White, 13.1% Black or African American, 4.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,482 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,639, and the median income for a family was $49,243. Males had a median income of $52,279 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,696. About 8.3% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Media
Moulton is home to one radio station, WALW-LP (97.9 FM)

The county's only newspaper, The Moulton Advertiser, resides in Moulton.

In the 1976 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, "Stay Hungry", the character Newton, played by Roger Mosley, references Moulton as a place where he wishes to move and own a chicken farm. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stay_Hungry

Notable people

 * Jim Blevins, former Head Football Coach at Jacksonville State University from 1965 to 1968.
 * Edward B. Almon, U.S. Representative representing Alabama's 8th congressional district from 1915 to 1933.
 * Lucas Black, actor, notably in Friday Night Lights and Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
 * Mary Lee Cagle, one of the first influential women and pastors in the Church of the Nazarene
 * Kimberley Conrad (born 1963), American model and actress, former Playboy playmate (January 1988) and Playmate of the Year (1989)
 * Asa Hodges, U.S. representative from Arkansas.
 * John Wallace Jones, Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana from 1854 to 1858.
 * Thomas Minott Peters, lawyer and botanist
 * Phillip Roddey, brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War
 * David Stewart, American football offensive tackle; graduated from Lawrence County High School.

title: Moulton, Alabama


text:
North Courtland, Alabama

North Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It incorporated in 1981. At the 2010 census, the population of the town was 632, down from 799 in 2000. Along with Hillsboro, it is one of two majority black communities in Lawrence County out of its six populated communities as of 2010.

Geography
North Courtland is located at 34.67637°N, -87.30791°W.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 sqmi, all land.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 799 people, 330 households and 206 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,535.9 PD/sqmi. There were 366 housing units at an average density of 703.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 2.38% White, 97.50% Black or African American and 0.13% Native American. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 330 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.3% were married couples living together, 28.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.15.

29.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.3 males.

The median household income was $19,875 and the median family income was $26,250. Males had a median income of $25,938 compared with $21,058 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,776. About 19.8% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 45.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: North Courtland, Alabama


text:
Town Creek, Alabama

Town Creek is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It incorporated in March 1875. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 1 100, down from 1  216 in 2000. Since 1920, it has been the second largest town in Lawrence County after Moulton.

History
Town Creek was established in the first half of the 19th century, and was originally known as "Jonesboro" after an early settler, William Jones. It incorporated in 1875.

Town Creek has one site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Goode-Hall House, to the north of town.

Geography
Town Creek is located at 34.67139°N, -87.40833°W (34.671518, -87.408311). The town is concentrated around the intersection of U.S. Route 72 and State Route 101, southeast of Muscle Shoals and northwest of Decatur. The town of Courtland lies just to the east. State Route 101 connects Town Creek with Wheeler Dam, which spans the Tennessee River several miles to the north.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1 216 people, 514 households, and 355 families in the town. The population density was 451.6 PD/sqmi. There were 563 housing units at an average density of 209.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 60.86% White, 34.21% Black or African American, 1.89% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 1.97% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 3.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 514 households 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 30.2% of households were one person and 13.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.

The median household income was $ 24  583, and the median family income  was $  29  018. Males had a median income of $ 30  000 versus $  20  500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 14  204. About 20.1% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.4% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 1 100 people, 449 households, and 304 families in the town. The population density was 407.4 PD/sqmi. There were 512 housing units at an average density of 189.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 52.4% White, 36.0% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 4.4% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 449 households 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 23.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.4% of households were one person and 10.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median household income was $ 19  120, and the median family income  was $  26  667. Males had a median income of $ 35  875 versus $  26  667 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 12  661. About 32.5% of families and 35.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 36.7% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,052 people, 380 households, and 265 families residing in the city.

Notable people

 * Rilous Carter, vice president of Disney's Epcot
 * John Douglas, former NBA player
 * Chris Goode, former NFL player
 * Kerry Goode, former NFL running back
 * Don Jones, NFL player
 * Antonio Langham, former NFL player
 * Kalvin Pearson, NFL Free Agent
 * Bob Penchion, former NFL player
 * Mack Vickery, Nashville songwriter, singer, musician, and Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee 2003. Born in Town Creek.
 * Ali-Ollie Woodson, former Temptation (born in Detroit, but grew up in Town Creek)

title: Town Creek, Alabama


text:
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama. The population was 76,143 at the 2020 census. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a 2020 population of 193,773, along with the Columbus, GA-AL MSA and Tuskegee, Alabama, comprises the greater Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL CSA, a region home to 563,967 residents as of 2020.

Auburn is a historic college town and is the home of Auburn University. It is Alabama's fastest-growing metropolitan area and the 19th-fastest-growing metro area in the United States as measured since 1990. U.S. News ranked Auburn among its top ten list of best places to live in the United States for the year 2009. The city's unofficial nickname is "The Loveliest Village on the Plains," taken from a line in the poem The Deserted Village by Oliver Goldsmith: "Sweet Auburn! Loveliest village of the plain..."

History
Inhabited in antiquity by the Creek, the land on which Auburn sits was opened to settlement in 1832 with the Treaty of Cusseta. The first settlers arrived in the winter of 1836 from Harris County, Georgia. These settlers, led by Judge John J. Harper, intended to build a town that would be the religious and educational center for the area.

Auburn was incorporated on February 2, 1839, in what was then Macon County, covering an area of 2 sqmi. By that time, Methodist and Baptist churches had been established, and a school had been built and had come into operation. In the mid-1840s, separate academies for boys and girls were established in addition to the primary school. This concentration of educational institutions led to a rapid influx of families from the planter class into Auburn in the 1840s and 1850s. By 1858, of the roughly 1,000 free residents of Auburn, some 500 were students.

In 1856, the state legislature chartered a Methodist college, the East Alabama Male College in Auburn. This college, now Auburn University, opened its doors in 1859, offering a classical and liberal education.

With the advent of the Civil War in 1861, Auburn quickly emptied. All of the schools closed, and most businesses shuttered. Auburn was the site of a hospital for Texan Confederate soldiers, but only saw direct combat with the raids of Rousseau in 1864 and Wilson in 1865.

After the Civil War, Auburn's economy entered a prolonged depression that would last the remainder of the century. Public schools did not reopen until the mid-1870s, and most businesses remained closed. A series of fires in the 1860s and 1870s gutted the downtown area. East Alabama Male College was turned over to the state in 1872, and with funds from the federal Morrill Act was renamed Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College with a new mission as a land grant college. Passage of the Hatch Act in 1887 allowed for expansion of agricultural research facilities on campus.

In 1892, the college became the first four-year college in Alabama to admit women. This, combined with increased interest in scientific agriculture and engineering and new funding from business licenses, allowed the city to start expanding again. By 1910, Auburn's population had returned to its antebellum level. SIAA Conference championships won by the Auburn college's football team brought attention and support to Auburn, and helped fill the city's coffers.

Fortunes were quickly reversed with the collapse of cotton prices in the early 1920s and the subsequent Great Depression a decade later. Due to these events, the state government became unable to fund the college, and—as Auburn's economy was completely derived from the college—residents were forced into a barter economy to support themselves.

Money began to flow into Auburn again with America's entry into World War II. Auburn's campus was turned into a training ground for technical specialists in the armed forces. After the war, Auburn was flooded by soldiers returning to school on the G.I. Bill.

Primarily due to this influx of students, Auburn began a period of growth that lasted through the 1950s and 1960s. A considerable amount of residential and business construction pushed Auburn's growth outside of the original boundaries of the city, leading to a series of large annexations which expanded Auburn to nearly 24 sqmi. Construction of Interstate 85 beginning in 1957 connected Auburn to the major cities of the state. This allowed for Auburn University (renamed in 1960) to schedule more home football games in Auburn rather than in larger cities, creating a strong tourism component in Auburn's economy. Auburn Mall opened as "Village Mall" in 1973.

Growth slowed somewhat in the 1970s, and a series of budget cuts made it clear that Auburn's sole economic reliance on Auburn University put the city in a tenuous position.

Backlash against what was seen as an ineffectual city council led to the election of Jan Dempsey as mayor in 1980 and the removal of the previous city government system in favor of a council-manager system. With a new government in place, the city began aggressively pursuing industry, leading to a nearly 1,200% increase in the number of industrial jobs over the next twenty years. As public satisfaction with the city administration reached record levels, Auburn began very rapid residential growth. A series of reports in the 1980s and 1990s ranking the Auburn public school system among the top in the state and nation convinced thousands of new residents to move to Auburn over the past 25 years. Between 1980 and 2003, Auburn's population grew by 65%, and Auburn's economy expanded by 220%.

The population growth has only accelerated into the 21st century, both organically within the city and through annexation and incorporation of surrounding portions of Lee County. Auburn's population has grown over 77% from 2000 to the latest 2020 decennial census figures. With the continued rapid growth comes issues of urban sprawl and expansions to infrastructure, which have become two of Auburn's primary political issues.

Geography

The city of Auburn lies in western Lee County and is bordered by the city of Opelika to the northeast and by Chambers County to the north. The city stretches south to the Macon County line in the southwest.

Auburn sits on the Fall Line at the juncture of the piedmont plateau and the coastal plain. Portions of Auburn also include the southernmost exposure of rocks indicating the Appalachian orogeny—as such, the last foothill of the Appalachian Mountains lies in Chewacla State Park in southern Auburn. As a result of these three varied physical environments, Auburn has an extremely diverse geology.

The southwest and west regions of the city on the plateau are marked by rolling plains and savannahs, with the undeveloped portion primarily being used for cattle grazing and ranching. South of this region sits the coastal plain, with sandy soil and pine forest. Parts of north Auburn have much more rugged topographies, with thick forests in high hills and deep hollows of the type common to parts of eastern Tennessee. The region surrounded by Chewacla Park in the south of the city contains sharp peaks and sudden drops of elevation as the 1.05 billion-year-old rock of the Appalachians meets the coastal plain.

Auburn sits near the divide between the Chattahoochee and Tallapoosa River watersheds, though the vast majority of the city resides in the latter. Auburn is drained by three main creek systems: in the south, by the Chewacla/Opintlocco Creek system; in the north, by the Saugahatchee Creek system; and in the extreme northern reaches of Auburn by Sandy Creek. The dividing line between the Chewacla and Saugahatchee watersheds roughly follows railroad line east–west through the center of town.

Auburn is located at 32.59778°N, -85.48083°W (32.597684, −85.480823) and according to the United States Census Bureau in 2000, the city has a total area of 39.6 sqmi, of which, 39.1 sqmi of it is land and 0.4 sqmi of it (1.11%) is water. The elevation of Auburn at City Hall is 709 ft above sea level; though due to Auburn's diverse topography, elevation ranges from 386 ft above sea level where Chewacla Creek crosses Sand Hill Road to 845 ft above sea level in northern Auburn near the Chambers County line.

Climate
Typical of the Deep South, Auburn has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), marked by mild winters, early springs, long, hot, muggy summers, and warm autumns. Due to its position near the Gulf of Mexico, the city receives a significant amount of rainfall—on average, 52.6 in per year—though there is a distinct dry season in the late summer and early fall. Severe storm activity – thunderstorms producing damaging winds and/or large hail – is common from the late winter through early summer. There is the risk of tornadoes. Owing to its proximity to the Gulf, Auburn is also subject to fringe effects from tropical storms and hurricanes in the summer and fall. Hurricanes Opal in 1995 and Ivan in 2004 are among two of the most notable tropical systems to affect the Auburn area in recent memory, bringing torrential rains and high winds.

Winters are typically mild, with an average 0.7 in of snowfall, though more than three-fourths of all seasons do not have any measurable snow. Most days have 50 °F+ highs, and from December to February, an average total of 10–11 days of 70 °F+ highs, while it rarely stays below freezing all day. However, the city straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7B and 8A, and there are an average of 5.6 nights with sub-20 °F lows. On the other end, summers are long, hot, and humid, with 57 days of 90 °F+ highs. Although the actual air temperature reaching 100 °F is uncommon (1.2 days annually), high humidity can push daytime heat indices over that mark.

The record high for Auburn is 103 °F, set on July 15, 1980 (needs updating), and August 10, 1980, while the record low was -7 °F, set on February 13, 1899, and January 21, 1985.

Demographics
Auburn first appeared on the 1870 U.S. Census as an incorporated town. See precinct below.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 76,143 people, 26,156 households, and 13,269 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 53,380 people, 22,111 households, and 9,939 families residing in the city. The population density was 919.3 PD/sqmi. There were 20,043 housing units at an average density of 512.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White, 16.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.3% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,111 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.2% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 38.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 14.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,857, and the median income for a family was $72,771. Males had a median income of $51,644 versus $36,898 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,656. About 9.2% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over. The reason for this enormous inequality between households and families is due to the large number of students living in the area.

Auburn Precinct/Division (1870–1970)
The Auburn Beat (Lee County 2nd Beat) first appeared on the 1870 U.S. Census. In 1890, "beat" was changed to "precinct." In 1870, 1930 and 1940 when racial demographics were reported, it showed a Black majority. In 1960, the precinct was changed to "census division" as part of a general reorganization of counties. The city boundaries and that of the census division were contiguous by that census. In 1980, the census divisions of Auburn and Opelika, along with parts of Loachapoka-Roxana, Opelika Rural-Pepperell were consolidated into the new division of Auburn-Opelika.

Auburn-Opelika Census Division (1980–)
The Auburn-Opelika Census Division was created in 1980 by the merger of Auburn and Opelika census divisions and parts of Loachapoka-Roxana, Opelika Rural-Pepperell divisions.

Law and government

Auburn has a council-manager government led by an eight-member city council, a mayor, and an appointed city manager.

The city council acts as a legislative body of the city, passing laws and regulations and appointing citizens to the city's various boards, including the Auburn City Board of Education. Each member of the city council is elected for a four-year term from one of eight geographic wards.

Members of the current Auburn City Council are:
 * Ward 1 – Connie Fitch Taylor
 * Ward 2 – Kelley Griswold
 * Ward 3 – Beth Witten (Mayor Pro Tem)
 * Ward 4 – Tyler Adams
 * Ward 5 – Sonny Moreman
 * Ward 6 – Bob Parsons
 * Ward 7 – Max Coblentz
 * Ward 8 – Tommy Dawson

The mayor of Auburn is elected in the city at-large to a four-year term. The duties of the mayor are, per State Code: 1) ceremonial, 2) to serve as the Governor's contact in the event of an emergency and 3) to conduct Council meetings, and to be the tie breaking vote for the city council legislative body. The Mayor has no administrative duties, as the City Manager serves as the CEO. As such, the position of mayor in Auburn is primarily symbolic. The current mayor of Auburn is Ron Anders, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

The day-to-day operations of Auburn are run by the City Manager. The City Manager is appointed by and serves at the leisure of the City Council. The City Manager is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of all department heads, advises the council on policy matters, and creates and administers the city budget. The current City Manager of Auburn is Megan McGowen Crouch.

The United States Postal Service operates a post office at 300 Opelika Road, Auburn, Alabama.

Economy

Auburn's economy is centered on Auburn University and providing university-affiliated services. Auburn University employs 4,300 people, which is roughly one-quarter of the city's total workforce. In addition, 2,400 Auburnites are employed by the federal and state government in positions which are generally connected with the university. Some 8,500 are employed in service sector jobs.

Auburn's industrial base is built around mid-sized, high tech manufacturing and research firms. Auburn has one industrial park and four technology parks where main areas of industrial focus are on the manufacture of small engines, automotive wheels, fuel cells, plastic injection technology, and vehicle armor. The 156 acre Auburn Research Park opened in September 2008 and will be anchored by a firm which specializes in research in high-resolution, dark field optical microscopy. The Research Park includes several buildings housing research in many different specialties, including the MRI Research Center which features both a 3 Tesla and a 7 Tesla MRI scanner. Overall, the manufacturing sector accounts for some 5,000 jobs in Auburn.

Auburn is located between the Kia and Hyundai automobile manufacturing facilities with the Kia Motors manufacturing plant about 35 mi east on I-85 and the Hyundai Motors manufacturing plant about 55 mi west on I-85/I-65.

Public safety
The Public Safety Department has five divisions: Police, Fire, Communications, Codes Enforcement, and Administration. The department provides all law enforcement, public safety services, and emergency 911 response and dispatch services for the City of Auburn and the campus of Auburn University. Construction activities in the city are monitored and inspected by the Codes Enforcement Division. Ambulance services are provided via a contract with East Alabama Medical Center.

Education
Auburn, as a college town, is largely driven by the influence of education. Auburn has one post-secondary school, Auburn University, which has an enrollment of 31,526 as of 2021–2022. Auburn University is a land-grant university and a sea and space grant university with traditionally strong programs in business, engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. The university is largely focused on undergraduate education, with a graduate program of 5,000. Auburn University is a research institution, with primary areas of research focus including wireless engineering, molecular biosciences, transportation, aquaculture, and forest sustainability.

Auburn is also home to several research centers, including the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Auburn's public school system includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one junior high school, and one high school. Auburn's school system has repeatedly been ranked among the top public school systems in the state and nation. Auburn City Schools has been ranked among the top 100 school districts in the United States by Parenting magazine and as the best educational value in the Southeast by The Wall Street Journal. Auburn's Early Education Center has specialized programs for autism education, has been recognized as a national Blue Ribbon school, and is an Intel and Scholastic School of Distinction. Wrights Mill Road Elementary School was recognized as a national Blue Ribbon school in 2009, while Auburn Junior High School is recognized nationally for its 21st Century Laptop Learning Initiative, which places laptops in the hands of students in grades 8 and 9. Auburn High School has strong International Baccalaureate, widely offered Advanced Placement, and renowned music programs, and was ranked in 2006 by Newsweek as the top non-magnet public high school in Alabama, and one of the top 30 in the United States. Auburn has the Auburn Public Library.

The Auburn City Schools public school system is currently served by one high school for the entire city, a 350,000 square-foot, $72 million facility that opened in 2017 and houses students in 10th through 12th grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the student population at Auburn High is the most of any high school in the state of Alabama. After the completion of the new high school facility, the old Auburn High School site was converted into a Junior High School, serving students in 8th and 9th grade. The old Auburn Junior High School became East Samford School, a 7th grade academy, while Drake Middle School hosts all 6th graders in the city school system. Elementary school zones are in pairs throughout the city; one school in the zone houses kindergarten through 2nd grade, while the other school serves grades 3 through 5. While official construction plans have yet to materialize, a second high school is in the Auburn City Schools facilities master plan, slated to open in the mid-2020s.

Transportation
Auburn is located in the southeastern part of Alabama and is accessible by Interstate 85, US 29, and US 280. The city also has a general aviation airport, the Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO) (formerly Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport), which is 2 mi east of downtown Auburn. The major commercial airports closest to Auburn are the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (Atlanta) and the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) (Birmingham). Each of these airports is within 2 hours driving distance from Auburn and together they offer air service to most of the world's major airports. There are also two regional airports close to Auburn: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) (Montgomery) and the Columbus Metropolitan Airport (CSG) (Columbus). Until 1971, neighboring Opelika saw daily passenger train service on the City of Miami.

There is daily ground transportation between Auburn and the Atlanta airport. Tiger Taxi, Eagle Town Taxi, Spirit Town Taxi all provide both local taxi service and flat-rate transportation service to other cities. Auburn University provides the Tiger Transit bus system, which runs near the campus and to area apartment complexes part of the year. Lee-Russell Public Transit (LRPT) offers Dial-A-Ride services in Lee and Russell counties. Hail-a-ride apps available: Gata Hub.

There are few sidewalks and no city bus system in Auburn. It is a heavily car-dependent community. It has received an award for being a bike friendly town from the League of American Bicyclists. The Auburn Bike Committee posts a list of bike rides and events.

Arts, culture, and recreation

Auburn is the home to the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The Smith Museum maintains a collection of primarily 19th- and 20th-century American and European art. The museum's exhibits include the Advancing American Art Collection, consisting of 36 works by mid-20th-century American artists including Jacob Lawrence, Ben Shahn, and Georgia O'Keeffe, a collection of engravings by naturalist John James Audubon, and works by Dalí, Chagall, Renoir, Picasso, and Matisse. Major sculptural works at the museum include a collection of Tibetan bronzes, Jean Woodham's Spinoff, and Dale Chihuly's Amber Luster Chandelier.

Also in Auburn is the Telfair Peet Theatre, which performs a series of plays and musicals each year. The Auburn Community Orchestra, as well as the bands of Auburn University and the Auburn High School Honors Band perform dozens of yearly concerts, including a series of outdoor concerts in the fall at Kiesel Park. Other musical series in Auburn include that of the Auburn Knights Orchestra, a big band jazz orchestra, and the Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series. The theatre is rumoured to be haunted by a ghost named Sydney, who the theatre department appeases before every performance with an offering of orange and blue M&M's.

Auburn is also home to Auburn Area Community Theater (AACT), a community-based organization that puts on three productions a year, including a spring children's show. All performances are rehearsed and performed at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center.

There are a number of dance schools in the city that give classes in a variety of dance styles, such as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, and even Irish dancing, which is supported by the Drake School of Irish Dance.

Recreational opportunities in Auburn include 16 parks, highlighted by Chewacla State Park, a 700 acre park in the Appalachian foothills, Kiesel Park, a 200 acre "passive" park with numerous trails, and the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. The Donald E. Davis Arboretum showcases 150 different tree species native to Alabama and the Southeast. Auburn is also ringed by miles of multi-use trails and several lakes.

Sports
Auburn has no professional sports teams, but nonetheless has a vibrant sports culture due to the presence of Auburn University's NCAA Division I athletic squads. Auburn University football in particular is a major force in Auburn's culture and economy. When Auburn University has home football games in the fall, the city often sees over 100,000 visitors, and the yearly economic impact is measured at nearly $100 million. While other sports do not attract as many tourists to Auburn, the university's 17 varsity sports offer citizens a variety of other opportunities for viewing competition at virtually the highest level.

Home football games particularly change the face of Auburn for several weekends a year. Tens of thousands of fans flood the campus hours—sometimes days—before the game to tailgate, creating a festival-like atmosphere throughout the weekend. Football games in Auburn are played in 87,451 seat Jordan–Hare Stadium, which sits on the main campus, just a few blocks from downtown.

Basketball is played at 9,600-seat Neville Arena, while baseball games are held at 4,096-seat Plainsman Park, which was named the top collegiate ballpark in the nation by Baseball America in 2003. One of Auburn's most competitive sports is the swimming program, which has won seven of the last nine NCAA national championships including the last five straight and 11 consecutive SEC men's championships. Also, the women's program have won five NCAA national titles and four SEC championships. The teams compete at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center. More Olympic swimmers have come from Auburn's swimming program than any other university swimming program.

The Auburn Metro Area is home to 146 holes of golf at six courses, and has played host to several professional and amateur golf tournaments. Auburn Links was rated as one of the top three new courses in the nation when it opened in 1996, and the Robert Trent Jones-designed Grand National course in the Auburn metro is often cited as one of the top public courses in the nation. Because of this, in 2005, the Auburn Metro Area was ranked number 1 in the United States for golf by Golf Digest.

Media
Auburn is served by the Columbus, Georgia Television Designated Market Area (DMA). Some Montgomery, Alabama stations are carried on cable systems and WSFA is designated by the FCC as a significantly viewed station for the area. Charter Communications and W.O.W. (Wide Open West) provide cable television service. DirecTV and Dish Network provide direct broadcast satellite television including both local and national channels. The On-Campus television station, Eagle Eye TV, is broadcast twenty-four hours a day for residents living on-campus and the immediate surrounding areas.

Radio stations WEGL and WAUD are licensed to Auburn and broadcast from the city. Radio station WKKR is licensed to Auburn and broadcasts from nearby Opelika.

Newspapers serving the city include The Opelika-Auburn News, The Auburn Villager, and The Auburn Plainsman.

Notable people
Auburn has had many notable citizens in its 170-year history, including Nobel Prize winners such as Frederick C. Robbins and George F. Smoot, world-class architects including Paul Rudolph and Samuel "Sambo" Mockbee, artists, governors, generals and admirals, and professional athletes. Robert Gibbs, the 28th White House Press Secretary and the first Press Secretary for President Barack Obama, is a graduate of Auburn High School.

Nearby cities/communities

 * Opelika, Alabama
 * Loachapoka, Alabama
 * Waverly, Alabama
 * Beauregard, Alabama
 * Beulah, Alabama
 * Gold Hill, Alabama
 * Bee Hive, Alabama
 * The Bottle, Alabama
 * Notasulga, Alabama
 * Tuskegee, Alabama

title: Auburn, Alabama


text:
Loachapoka, Alabama

Loachapoka is a town in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is located less than 1/2 mile west of Auburn and approximately 5 mi west of Auburn University, in west-central Lee County. The population was 180 as of the 2010 Census. It is part of the Auburn metropolitan area.

The name "Loachapoka" means "turtle killing place" in Muskogee, with locha meaning "turtle" and poga meaning "killing place". In literature, Lochapoka was the destination of the colonists in James H. Street's 1940 novel Oh, Promised Land.

Loachapoka is the location of the first Rosenwald School.

Government
Loachapoka is governed by a mayor and five town council members. However, in the most recent municipal election (2016), no incumbents submitted the qualifying paperwork to run for re-election. Therefore, the only citizen that did qualify for the ballot became mayor-elect, as per state law, and this was confirmed by the AL Director of Elections. When the mayor-elect brought the issue to light, several town, county and state officials worked together in a poorly hatched plan to improperly disqualify the only candidate to follow the law for qualification, as referenced in several newspaper articles and audio recordings of town hall meetings. The corruption portrayed in this series of events reflects a pattern of politics in Alabama that has been commonplace for many years, as reported in the Harvard Political Review.

History
Loachapoka was a Creek Indian town for some decades prior to white settlement. In the last census prior to the Native removal to Oklahoma, Loachapoka was found to have a population of 564. Upon settlement by Euro-Americans, Loachapoka—temporarily renamed Ball's Fork—became the regional trade center, a position that was reinforced in 1845 when it became the easternmost point on the railroad to Montgomery. Loachapoka's influence peaked in the early 1870s, when its population reached nearly 1,300. Within a few years, a collapse of trade due to the Panic of 1873 and additional rail lines in the area sent Loachapoka into economic decline. Loachapoka roughly stabilized as a small farming community by the mid-20th century, and by the early 2000s (decade) had become a small-town suburb of Auburn. The mayor of Loachapoka is Zach Holmes.

Culture
Loachapoka was home to two fall festivals, both held on the same day each fall—the annual Syrup Sopping Day [to the south of Highway 14] and the Lee County Historical Fair [at Pioneer Park, to the north of Highway 14.] Many fairgoers were not aware that they were actually attending two celebrations of area history. The Syrup Sop featured the making of syrup in traditional methods from sorghum and ribbon cane. The Historical Fair featured life in the 1850s in east central Alabama. The two festivals were combined into one named Pioneer Day. Combined, the two events attract more than 20,000 people to Loachapoka annually. Loachapoaka is the hometown of country music singer Freddie Hart.

The Lee County Historical Society Museum is located in an 1845 general store in the Loachapoka historic district, located at "Pioneer Park," a six and-a-half-acre park of nine buildings and five gardens reminiscent of the 1850s in east central Alabama.

Geography
Loachapoka is located at 32.60472°N, -85.59694°W (32.604844, -85.596890).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
Loachapoka has appeared sporadically on census records. It first appeared as a separate community on the 1880 U.S. Census and again in 1890. It did not appear in 1900–1920, although one source said it did incorporate in 1910 with 359 residents, but this is not corroborated by the census of that year. In 1930, it appeared again, citing it had been incorporated in 1926. However, it failed to appear again in 1940, presumably losing its charter during the 1930s. It did not reincorporate again until 1974.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 165 people, 69 households, and 46 families residing in the town. The population density was 140.2 PD/sqmi. There were 77 housing units at an average density of 65.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 61.21% Black or African American, 38.18% White, and 0.61% Asian. Additionally, 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 69 households, out of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $33,571. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $28,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,477. About 9.5% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Freddie Hart, country music singer and songwriter

title: Loachapoka, Alabama


text:
Notasulga, Alabama

Notasulga is a town in Macon and Lee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 914. The portion in Lee County is part of the Auburn Metropolitan Area. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, it incorporated in 1893. Author Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga in 1891. The town name comes from the Creek words noti sulgi, which means "many teeth".

Geography
Notasulga is located in northern Macon County at 32.56083°N, -85.6675°W (32.560821, -85.667631). The town extends northeast into the western part of Lee County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.6 km2, of which 36.2 km2 are land and 0.4 km2, or 1.09%, are water. The center of town is on a height of land, draining north to Sougahatchee Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the Tallapoosa River, and south to Red Creek, a tributary of Uphapee Creek, which also flows west to the Tallapoosa.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 916 people, 393 households, and 260 families residing in the town. The population density was 65.9 PD/sqmi. There were 446 housing units at an average density of 32.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 66.27% White, 32.42% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.55% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 393 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,307, and the median income for a family was $34,479. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $18,684 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,115. About 10.7% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Notasulga elects a mayor and five city council members every four years.

2017 Mayor and Council:
 * Mayor - Tommy Miller
 * Council District 1 - Cecil R. Langford, Jr.
 * Council District 2 - Denise Pilato
 * Council District 3 - Cline Carmack
 * Council District 4 - Scott Barnhart
 * Council District 5 - Robin Collins
 * Police Chief - Erik Richardson
 * Fire Chief - Michael Whitman
 * Utilities Superintendent - Tony McCarty

Notable people

 * Valerie Boyd, journalist, author and cultural critic
 * Pat Dye, former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at East Carolina University (1974–1979), the University of Wyoming (1980), and Auburn University (1981–1992) compiling a career college football record of 153–62–5. He served as the athletic director at Auburn from 1981 to 1991 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2005.
 * John K. Hodnette, electrical engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation who was awarded the IEEE Edison Medal in 1957
 * Zora Neale Hurston, anthropologist, novelist
 * J. Ed Livingston, jurist and the twenty-third Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1951 through 1971
 * Gerald Robinson, former National Football League defensive end who played from 1986 to 1994 for the Minnesota Vikings, the San Diego Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. He attended the Auburn University, is the all-time sack leader at Auburn University.

title: Notasulga, Alabama


text:
Opelika, Alabama

Opelika (pronounced ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Opelika is 30,995, an increase of 17.1 percent from the 2010 Census where the population was 26,477. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 150,933, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents.

History
The Opelika area was first settled in 1832 after the Treaty of Cusseta was signed by the U.S. government and the Creek Nation. This treaty placed the land, and all other Creek territories east of the Mississippi River, under the possession of the United States government. Though the territory now belonged to the U.S., Opelika kept its Creek name, which translates to "large swamp".

Two decades after settlement, Opelika was chartered as a town on February 9, 1854, thanks to its rapid growth. This growth was due to the Montgomery & West Point Railroad Company's rail lines, which traversed the town and served as major means of transportation for unprocessed cotton between the northern and southern territories.

Opelika later received a new charter in 1870, and its rapid growth continued. The town nearly doubled in size between 1870 and 1900.

Opelika's downtown was packed with saloons catering to railroad workers and other men. Frequent gunfire in the street by intoxicated patrons resulted in railroads directing their passengers to duck beneath the windows when their trains passed through the town.

In 1882, two factions claimed to rule the city government, one known as the "Bar room" headed by Mayor Dunbar, a saloon keeper, and another known as the "Citizens". In a riot in late November–December of that year, a dozen men were wounded. In the end, a few were killed. The Citizens had claimed control of the city via the elections, but Dunbar refused to give up. After continued violence, the state legislature revoked the city's charter and the governor sent in the militia to restore order. The legislature appointed five commissioners to manage the city, a situation that continued until 1899. That year, the legislature restored the city's charter.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,995 people, 11,866 households, and 7,199 families residing in the city.

2010 census
According to 2009 Census estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $35,243, and the median income for a family was $47,864.

The per capita income for the city is $18,023. Residents with income under poverty levels are 23.1% of the population, while 31.1% of children in the area are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.9% are 65 or older.

Economy

Opelika's economy continues to grow at a healthy, diversified pace, and since 2004, has experienced revitalization in many segments of the economy, including commercial, residential and industrial activity. Over the last 20 years, since 2005, the city announced new industry investments and existing industry expansions totaling more than $2.6 billion and the creation of over 4,700 additional jobs.

Currently, Opelika's largest employer is East Alabama Health, which employes more than 3,700 employees.

Companies located in Opelika, or planning to locate here include:

Hanwha Advanced Materials
 * Golden State Foods.
 * Hanwha Cimarron.
 * Niagara Bottling.
 * Pharmavite.
 * Cumberland Plastic Solutions.
 * Dinan Engineering.
 * Car Tech.
 * Yongsan Automotive USA.
 * West Fraser
 * Miele
 * Walmart Distribution Center
 * JoAnn Stores Distribution Center
 * HL Mando
 * Daewon America
 * SM America
 * KOAM
 * Ecoplastic

In addition to industrial growth, the City of Opelika has seen a significant increase in the development of both single-family and multi-family housing as well as many new retail/commercial offerings already open or soon to open:
 * Botanic
 * Texas Roadhouse
 * Walk-On’s
 * QuikTrip
 * Golf Suites
 * Starbucks
 * Publix
 * Burlington
 * Del Taco
 * Element Hotels
 * Flying Biscuit

Arts and culture
In 2021, the city opened the Opelika Public Library. It is the only public library in the city.

Parks and recreation

Spring Villa Park, a 350 acre park in Opelika, features picnic and play areas, nature trails, and camping. Spring Villa, an antebellum house located in the park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2019, the city opened the Opelika Pickleball Facility, featuring 24 regulation courts.

In 2009, the City of Opelika built the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatics Center, a $32 million facility.

The RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, is located in Opelika, and has hosted national championships.

Government

Opelika is governed by a mayor-council government, with a mayor and a five-member city council. The chief executive official of the city of Opelika is the mayor. The mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term. The mayor has complete executive power in the city, and can appoint and dismiss department heads at will.

The mayor of Opelika is Gary Fuller. Council members include: • Eddie Smith - Ward 4 (president)

• Erica Baker-Norris - Ward 2 (president pro-tem)

• George Allen - Ward 1

• Tim Aja - Ward 3

• Todd Rauch - Ward 5

In 2007, the city council designated Opelika as a City of Character, to recognize, emphasize and enforce 49 character traits throughout the community, and to mandate character training.

Education

Opelika City Schools is the public school system of Opelika. The Opelika City School System consists of eight schools. There are three primary schools serving grades Kindergarten – 2, three intermediate schools serving grades 3–5, one middle school (grades 6–8), and one high school, Opelika High School (grades 9–12).

A campus of Southern Union State Community College—a public, two-year college—is located Opelika.

Media
Opelika is included in the Columbus, Georgia market according to Nielsen. The Opelika-Auburn News is a city newspaper.

The movie Norma Rae (1979) was filmed in Opelika.

Transportation
• U.S. Route 29

• U.S. Route 280

• U.S. Route 431

• Alabama State Route 14

• Alabama State Route 51

• Interstate 85

The last passenger train service was the Illinois Central Railroad's City of Miami (Chicago - Miami), having its final run in 1971. The Illinois Central's Seminole (Chicago - Jacksonville) served Opelika until 1969. Amtrak service is proposed under the American Jobs Plan.

title: Opelika, Alabama


text:
Phenix City, Alabama

Phenix City is a city in Lee and Russell counties in the U.S. state of Alabama, and the county seat of Russell County. As of the 2020 Census, the population of the city was 38,817.

Phenix City lies immediately west across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia and observes Eastern Time on a de facto basis (in contrast to the rest of Alabama, which observes Central Time) due to Phenix City's strong economic ties to Columbus. Most of Phenix City is included in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the remainder is in Lee County and therefore included in the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The entire city is part of the Columbus-Auburn-Opelika Combined Statistical Area.

In 2007, BusinessWeek named Phenix City the nation's No. 1 Best Affordable Suburb to raise a family. It is home to Chattahoochee Valley Community College, a public, two-year college with an acceptance rate of 100%. Troy University has a satellite campus in Phenix City.

As of 2023, the mayor is Eddie N. Lowe, the city's first black mayor elected by the public. The city manager, who holds the task of organizational matters, is Wallace Hunter.

Geography
Phenix City is located at 32.47278°N, -85.02°W (32.472822, −85.020121). It is the easternmost settlement in the state of Alabama as well as the Central Time Zone, but it and some other nearby areas unofficially observe Eastern Time, as these areas are part of the metropolitan area of the considerably larger city of Columbus, Georgia, which is in the Eastern Time Zone and adjacent to the city across the Chattahoochee River to the east.

Several major highways run through Phenix City, namely U.S. Routes 80, 280, and 431. U.S. Route 80 runs through the northern and western parts of the city, leading west 44 mi to Tuskegee and northeast to Columbus, Georgia. U.S. 280 runs through the western part of the city from northwest to southeast, leading northwest 27 mi to Opelika and southeast into Columbus. U.S. 431 runs north to south to the west of the city, concurrent with US 280, which it follows to Opelika, and leads south 47 mi to Eufaula.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.8 sqmi, of which 24.6 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi (0.61%) is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Phenix City has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

History

What some claim was the last battle of the American Civil War, the Battle of Columbus, took place here on April 16, 1865, in Phenix City, then known as Girard. Union General James Wilson was met with Confederate opposition as he crossed the Chattahoochee River in an attempt to destroy the military industry of Columbus, Georgia.

Today's Phenix City initially began as two towns bordering each other on the North and South. On the south side was Girard, in Russell County, and the town of Brownville, on the north side, which was entirely within Lee County. Because a community in Tuscaloosa County already claimed the name of Brownville, the post office insisted on the name of "Lively". To compound the confusion, the nearby railroad depot was called Knight's Station. Because residents preferred Brownville, on the 1880 U.S. Census, it was listed as both Brownville and Lively. It was formally incorporated by the legislature on February 23, 1883.

Within the decade, the name would be changed to Phenix (or Phenix City), although some misspellings had it as "Phoenix". It was not clear if it was named for Phenix Mills in nearby Columbus, Georgia or for the fabled bird. It appeared as Phenix City on the 1890 U.S. census and was incorporated as such on February 19, 1897, by the state legislature. The city's official website displays the mythical phoenix, while the city's seal also depicts a phoenix burning up in its nest. The 'Our Community/History' page confirms the uncertainty behind the name: "Although no definitive source reveals why this name was chosen."

On August 9, 1923, Russell County's neighboring Girard (which made up most of current downtown Phenix City) and Lee County's Phenix City formally merged, keeping the name of Phenix City. Because the consolidated city still remained divided into two counties, in 1932, the Lee County portion was moved entirely into Russell County (also cited for the redraw was to account for population shifts involved in the Auburn University opening and expansion). Lee County received the rural segment at Marvyn as compensation, which was formerly in Russell County's northwest corner.

In 1926, the Russell County portion of Phenix City was designated the second county seat (the seat from 1868 had been at rural Seale). In 1934/35, Phenix City then became the sole county seat.

Phenix City was notorious during the 1940s and 1950s for being a haven for organized crime, prostitution, and gambling. Many of its customers came from the United States Army training center at Fort Benning, Georgia. The leaders of the crime syndicate in Phenix City were Jimmie Matthews and Hoyt Shepherd. Albert Patterson, from Phenix City, was elected to become attorney general of Alabama on a platform of reforming the city, but was shot and killed in 1954 outside his office on 5th Ave, north of 14th Street. As a result, the city had a negative reputation, and many people still associate this legacy with Phenix City. The Tragedy and the Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama by Margaret Ann Barnes chronicles these events, which led the small town to be known as "Sin City, USA". The bordertown was the subject of an acclaimed film, The Phenix City Story, made in 1955.

In 1955, it won the All-America City Award from the National Municipal League.

Despite the city having been entirely annexed into Russell County in 1932, the growth of the city has spread northward back into Lee County, where it first appeared on 1980 U.S. Census records. , nearly 4,200 residents (out of almost 33,000) reside in the Lee County portion.

Religion
Phenix City is home to many Christian churches. The denominations include:
 * Protestantism
 * Baptist
 * Southern Baptist Convention
 * United Methodist Church and other Methodist denominations
 * Seventh-day Adventist
 * Roman Catholicism
 * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,265 people, 11,517 households, and 7,566 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,149.1 PD/sqmi. There were 13,250 housing units at an average density of 538.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 52.94% White, 44.97% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,517 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,720, and the median income for a family was $33,740. Males had a median income of $28,906 versus $21,348 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,619. About 18.8% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 32,822 people, 13,243 households, and 8,623 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,334.2 PD/sqmi. There were 15,198 housing units at an average density of 617.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 48.7% White, 46.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 4.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,243 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 23.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,120, and the median income for a family was $39,417. Males had a median income of $36,827 versus $27,001 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,883. About 20.3% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.7% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 38,816 people, 14,716 households, and 9,170 families residing in the city.

Time zone
Unlike the rest of Alabama which lies in the Central Time Zone, Phenix City's proximity to the larger city of neighboring Columbus, Georgia, located in the Eastern Time Zone, and its strong economic links leads Phenix City (including its municipal government) and localities within a 10 – radius (such as Smiths Station) to observe Eastern Time on a de facto basis.

Media
There are three radio stations licensed in Phenix City: WHTY (1460 AM), WURY-LP (97.1 FM), & WGSY (100.1 FM).

Sister cities

 * 🇫🇷 Colomiers, France
 * 🇨🇿 Kamenice, Czech Republic
 * 🇸🇪 Västerås, Sweden

In popular culture

 * The character "Maggot" from E.M. Nathanson's novel The Dirty Dozen was from Phenix City.
 * The 1955 film The Phenix City Story (directed by Phil Karlson) is a biographical film noir focusing on the rampant crime and corruption in the city (then called "the wickedest city in the United States") and the 1954 murder of newly nominated Alabama Attorney General candidate Albert Patterson.
 * Ska saxophonist Rolando Alphonso of the Skatalites had a 1960s hit titled "Phenix City"
 * The town gained attention in 1999 when Phenix City National Little League advanced to the final of the Little League World Series.
 * The city is mentioned in the film Driving Miss Daisy.
 * The city is mentioned in the book The Silence of the Lambs in Chapter 12.
 * The city is mentioned as a former bootlegging city by the character played by Robert Mitchum in the film Thunder Road.
 * The 2008 novel Wicked City by Ace Atkins is set in Phenix City.
 * The city is mentioned once in the Riley Green song, "Georgia Time".
 * The 466th episode of The Dollop examines the history of the city.

Notable people

 * Jo Jo Benson, R&B singer
 * Hugh A. Bentley, helped reform Phenix City in the 1950s
 * Simeon Castille, former NFL cornerback
 * Wally Chambers, former NFL defensive tackle
 * Rodney Cooper, basketball player
 * Harvey Glance, track-and-field star in 1976 Summer Olympics and 1979 Pan-Am Games
 * Aidan Gould, child actor
 * Nolan Gould, child actor
 * Bishop Harris, former head coach of North Carolina Central University football team
 * Freddie Hart, country singer who wrote and recorded "Phenix City"; section of 13th Street named Freddie Hart Parkway in his honor
 * Tim Hudson, Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Billy Jackson, former NFL running back
 * Van Jakes, former NFL cornerback
 * James Joseph, former NFL running back
 * Kasey Kiker, Major League Baseball player
 * Boise Kimber, American Baptist minister and civil rights activist
 * Ed King, former NFL offensive guard
 * Herm Lee, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Eddie Lowe, former Canadian Football League linebacker and current mayor of Phenix City
 * Woodrow Lowe, former NFL player, College Football Hall of Fame member
 * Triandos Luke, former NFL wide receiver
 * Joe Meriweather, former NBA player
 * John Malcolm Patterson, Governor of Alabama from 1959 to 1963
 * Colby Rasmus, Major League Baseball outfielder
 * David Ray, former NFL placekicker
 * Tommie Robinson, football coach
 * Jimmie Spheeris, singer-songwriter
 * Rob Spivery, former basketball player and current head basketball coach at Southern University
 * Rufus Stokes, inventor
 * Ucambre Williams, football player
 * Bruce Stephens, former NFL wide receiver

title: Phenix City, Alabama


text:
Smiths Station, Alabama

Smiths Station is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area. At the time of the 2000 census, it was still a census-designated place (CDP), and its population was 6,756. The area that incorporated as Smiths Station in 2001 was much smaller than the CDP, and contained a population of 4,926 by the 2010 census. Smiths Station, known to locals as "Smiths", is a bedroom community of Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama. Smiths Station High School has an enrollment of over 1,800 students and is the 11th-largest high school in the state.

History
Smiths Station was first settled in 1738. The Central of Georgia Railway was extended through the community from Columbus, Georgia to Opelika, Alabama in 1845. The depot was named for Broadus Smith, a prominent early settler who lived near the city's current location.

Local legend contends that around 1960, local Jon Ergan grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community.

Smiths Station was officially incorporated on June 22, 2001, and is Alabama's second newest city next to Center Point.

On November 3, 2023, the city's mayor, Bubba Copeland, died by suicide after being publicly outed by reporter Craig Monger of conservative news website 1819 News for cross-dressing and adopting a transgender persona online.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 6.740 sqmi, of which 6.713 sqmi is land and 0.027 sqmi is water.

The city is located in the southeastern part of Lee County, adjacent to Phenix City, which it borders to the southeast. U.S. Routes 280 and 431 run through the eastern part of the city, leading northwest 19 mi (31 km) to Opelika and southeast 8 mi (13 km) to Phenix City. Numerous county and local roads also run through the city as well, leading to more rural areas in Lee County.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Smiths Station has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

On March 3, 2019, an EF4 tornado ripped through Smiths Station at high-end EF2 strength. Major damage occurred to homes, businesses and trees in the area.

Demographics
From 1990–2001, the community was listed as Smiths CDP in the U.S. Census; the precipitous drop in population from 2000–2010 was due to just a segment of the CDP's incorporation as the city of Smiths Station. The remainder of the former CDP was disbanded as a separate entity for the 2010 census.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 21,756 people, 7,806 households, and 6,252 families in the CDP. The population density was 305.7 PD/sqmi. There were 8,437 housing units at an average density of 118.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.79% White, 12.67% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,806 households 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.5% of households were one person and 4.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income was $43,977 and the median family income was $47,765. Males had a median income of $32,246 versus $23,707 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,608. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 4,926 people in 1,913 households, including 1,407 families, in the city. There were 8,437 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 80.3% White, 15.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,913 households 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.9% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median household income was $47,969 and the median family income was $54,698. Males had a median income of $38,294 versus $25,394 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,678. About 7.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,384 people, 2,151 households, and 1,566 families residing in the city.

Education
Smiths Station forms a part of the Lee County School District.

Smiths Station High School is the city's only high school. Its school colors are black, white, and teal with a secondary use of silver; sports teams are called the Panthers. The school's "cheer squads" are award-winning and appear at all football and basketball games. In the past, the football team had more success, with the third-most Alabama state championship game appearances. The "Panther Spirit Marching Band" has been invited to march for the Queen of the United Kingdom and has performed in the Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band holds three Grand Championship awards and numerous best-in-class awards. The track-and-field team has been nationally ranked several times and have numerous alumni throughout the nation competing at the DI, DII, and professional levels.

Time zone
Although Alabama is legally in the Central Time Zone, Smiths Station's proximity to the larger cities of Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia causes areas within a 10-15 mile radius of Phenix City (including Smiths Station) to observe Eastern Time on a de facto basis.

Notable people

 * Conway Twitty, a country music singer born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in 1933, attended Smiths Station High School, where he played high school baseball.

title: Smiths Station, Alabama