text:
Bear Creek, Alabama

Bear Creek is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1907, although the 1910 U.S. Census records indicated 1909. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,047.

Geography
Bear Creek is located in northeastern Marion County at 34.2725°N, -87.70333°W (34.272400, -87.703374). It is 22 mi northeast of Hamilton, the county seat; 9 mi east of Hackleburg; 6 mi northwest of Haleyville; and 18 mi south of Russellville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.8 sqmi, of which 0.13 sqmi, or 0.97%, are water. The town takes its name from Bear Creek, which flows westerly through the south side of town before turning north and joining the Tennessee River at the Mississippi state line. Upper Bear Creek Reservoir is located in the eastern part of the town. It is a TVA flood-control lake that provides a variety of recreational activities.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,053 people, 428 households, and 309 families residing in the town. The population density was 78.0 PD/sqmi. There were 475 housing units at an average density of 35.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 99.15% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 428 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,813, and the median income for a family was $35,341. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $21,786 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,917. About 14.6% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 32.7% of those age 65 or over. Economic prosperity ended over a decade ago when the manufactured housing business boom began to taper in this railroad town.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,070 people, 446 households, and 312 families residing in the town. The population density was 79.3 PD/sqmi. There were 502 housing units at an average density of 37.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.1% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 446 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% 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 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $31,364. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $22,014 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,959. About 20.0% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,047 people, 424 households, and 340 families residing in the town.

Phillips High School
The local high school is Phillips High School, home of the Bears. The original wooden frame school building across the highway from the present location of Phillips School held grades 1-9. This building caught fire around Christmas of 1925. Local churches provided temporary space for the teachers and pupils.

Mrs. John Robert Phillips graciously donated land for a new school on April 16, 1926. Her husband, who died in April 1925, wanted the addition of a high school. The community pulled together with its volunteer labor and donated timber from virgin pines in Bear Creek. Members of the community sacrificed time and money in their participation with the construction of the new Phillips School. Logging was done by wagon and hauled to Veal's sawmill. Brick arrived by rail and was transported by wagon to the site. McKinley Campbell, assisted by his brother, was the contractor for the new facility.

The first graduation was held at Phillips High School in 1929. Agricultural and home economics (aka Family and Consumer Sciences) departments were added in 1935 and housed near the present location of the cafeteria. The football field was located behind the main building, which was later replaced in 1969.

On September 2, 2003, the Phillips football field (James E. Glass Stadium) was named after Coach James E. Glass in honor of the dedication he has given to the football team and school throughout the years. The football field was the first football field in the state of Alabama to be lighted, which took place in the fall of 1933. The original lights brightened the football field until the 2010 season, when a grant for new lights was awarded to both the football and baseball facilities of the school.

Phillips High School has won four state championships in sports. This includes back-to-back state titles in 1985 and 1986 in girls varsity basketball, followed in 2001 by girls volleyball. The She Bear basketball team won the State 1A basketball championship in 2019.

title: Bear Creek, Alabama


text:
Brilliant, Alabama

Brilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 845.

History
In the late part of the 19th century, the discovery of coal led to the development of the Aldridge Mining Company in 1897 (later, in 1906, named the Brilliant Coal Company), which was located adjacent to the town. The Brilliant Coal Company served as a catalyst for growth for the area and provided ample employment for more than 50 years.

The towns of Brilliant and Boston were so closely associated that no attempt was made to separate their history. Eventually, in 1957, with the passage of Act 284 by the Alabama Legislature, Boston was incorporated into the town of Brilliant, and the name "Boston" was dropped. Boston had originally taken its name in honor of Jimmy L. Bostick, one of the first settlers of the town. The name "Brilliant" is derived from the glossy sheen found on the type of high-grade coal that was mined near the town, before the demise of the Brilliant Coal Company in 1953. The coal was said to burn so brilliantly, due to its composition of only 2% ash, 1% sulfur and no clinker.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Brilliant and Boston area was the most densely populated part of Marion County.

By the end of the 1950s the Brilliant Coal Company had shuttered its mining operations; however, several smaller mining operations were in business around the area until the early 1990s.

From 1987 until 2000 the town was home to Brilliant Homes Ltd., a manufacturer of mobile homes. The company was acquired by American Homestar Corporation of League City, Texas, in 1997. The plant was closed on April 15, 2000, due to declining sales throughout the manufactured housing industry. American Homestar Corporation subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy later in 2001.

Employers in the town include a garment manufacturing plant, Tullahoma Industries, which produces garments for the U.S. Army, and Stone Canyon Cabins, which manufactures park model cabins at the site of the old Brilliant Homes plant.

The following is from a August 30, 1957, Winfield Journal article: Boston is Now Brilliant; Act Also Extends Corporate Limits

"'It's official now. The municipality of Boston is no more. As of August 16, Governor James E. Folsom signed into law Act No. 284 which changed the name of the town from Boston to Brilliant and extended the boundary lines to take in approximately 40 more homes and bring the town's population to about 1,000 residents. Mayor Max A. Wood made the announcement earlier this week. In a straw vote election held on last April 23, 1956 citizens voted 120 for to 37 against to change the name of the town and extend the city limits. For many years only a part of the Boston-Brilliant community has been incorporated. Boston was incorporated while the area consisting of Brilliant was not. The town of Boston had its origins sometime in the latter part of the 19th century. Alfred Wates opened the first store and later as the community grew, an early settler named Lee Beauchamp named it Boston for the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and also because the name tied in somewhat with the pioneer Bostick family who settled in the area about the time of the Civil War. Both Boston and Brilliant owe most of their early development and progress to the mines of the Aldredge and Brilliant Coal Companies. Brilliant began with the opening of coal mines around 1897. Mayor Wood said that the increase in population resulting from the extension of the corporate limits would mean more revenue from state sources as well as other advantages.'"

Geography
Brilliant is located in southeastern Marion County at 34.02278°N, -87.7675°W (34.022764, -87.767372). It is bordered to the south by the city of Winfield and to the west by Guin. Interstate 22 passes through the southern part of the town, with access from Exit 30 (State Route 129) and Exit 26 (State Route 44). Hamilton, the Marion county seat, is 18 mi to the northwest.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Brilliant has a total area of 10.6 sqmi, all of it recorded as land. The town is drained by Bostick Creek and Little Clifty Creek, southeast-flowing tributaries of the Little New River, one of the headwaters of the Sipsey River and part of the Tombigbee River watershed.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 762 people, 343 households, and 220 families residing in the town. The population density was 221.7 PD/sqmi. There were 402 housing units at an average density of 116.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 99.61% White, 0.13% Native American, and 0.26% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 343 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,224, and the median income for a family was $27,857. Males had a median income of $28,611 versus $15,703 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,516. About 22.4% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.3% of those under age 18 and 27.0% of those age 65 or over.

Major highways

 * I-22 (AL).svg Interstate 22
 * Alabama 44.svg State Route 44
 * Alabama 129.svg State Route 129

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

title: Brilliant, Alabama


text:
Guin, Alabama

Guin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in December 1889. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,195.

History
Guin takes its name from a young country doctor, Dr. Jeremiah ("Jerry") Guin from Tuscaloosa County, who purchased the farm known then as Haley's Trading Post (where is now situate the town of Guin) from a certain John T. Meador in 1870, and who, in turn, had bought the property from a certain Alan Haley, a newcomer to the State, who had built there a country store on the most used road stretching from north to south, in order to accommodate cattle drovers taking their cattle to market in Columbus and Aberdeen, Mississippi. Jeremiah Guin, while looking for a place to make his home, moved the center of interest about a mile east of Haley's Trading Post (now 12th Street N. and 11 Ave. in present-day Guin).

In the early years of its settlement, a saw mill was built and operated in the town, known originally as Kenney Lumber Company (and later known as Brown Lumber Co.), supplying cut timber to the local community.

On April 3, 1974, Guin was devastated by a fast moving F5 tornado during the 1974 Super Outbreak, the second-largest tornado outbreak on record. That storm took twenty-three lives.

On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County since Prohibition to allow the sale of alcohol.

Geography
Guin is located in southern Marion County at 33.97306°N, -87.91667°W (33.973135, -87.916711). U.S. Routes 43 and 278 meet in the center of town, leaving it together to the north, while US 43 leads southeast from the city and US 278 leads southwest. Hamilton, the county seat, is 13 mi to the north, Winfield is 6 mi to the southeast, and Sulligent is 14 mi to the southwest.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Guin has a total area of 15.0 sqmi, all land. Purgatory Creek runs through the southern part of the city, leading west to Beaver Creek, which continues west to the Buttahatchee River, part of the Tombigbee River watershed.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 2,389 people in 1,027 households, including 666 families, in the city. The population density was 191.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,168 housing units at an average density of 93.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.69% White, 11.85% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,027 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.7% of households were one person and 16.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median household income was $26,618 and the median family income was $35,174. Males had a median income of $31,019 versus $21,316 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,690. About 19.2% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 2,376 people in 1,029 households, including 647 families, in the city. The population density was 190.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 89.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.9% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,029 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 15.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% 65 or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median household income was $28,571 and the median family income was $41,375. Males had a median income of $30,670 versus $27,788 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,359. About 17.9% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,195 people, 1,038 households, and 667 families residing in the city.

Education
Guin is a part of the Marion County School system. Marion County High School houses grades 7-12. MCHS is the oldest high school in the county. Guin Elementary School hosts grades K-6.

Athletics
Their mascot is a Red Raider, with their colors being red and white. In 2011, their football team won the AHSAA (Alabama High School Athletics Association) Class 1A Football championship. In 2012, they were the runner up in the AHSAA 1A Championship. Guin also won the Class 1A Football championship in 1971, 1972, and 1973.

Notable people

 * Bud Riley, college football coach, brother of Hayden Riley
 * Hayden Riley, head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball and baseball team
 * Rece Davis, sports television journalist for ESPN/ABC

title: Guin, Alabama


text:
Hackleburg, Alabama

Hackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated on August 23, 1909. At the 2020 census, its population was 1,425, down from 1,516 at the 2010 census.

History
Hackleburg developed in the early 19th century as a stop along Jackson's Military Road. It was named by the early drovers of sheep who passed through the region while en route to market in Tuscumbia, and whose sheep encountered a thorny plant growing in abundance in that area and known locally by the name hack burrs (often corrupted to "hack berries") and which same plants were often fatal to sheep, besides being destructive to their wool. A post office opened in the town in 1885.

Hackleburg incorporated in 1909 following the construction of a branch line of the Illinois Central Railroad through the area. Hackleburg marks the highest point (some 931 feet above sea level) along the route connecting Miami, Florida with Chicago, Illinois.

2011 tornado
On April 27, 2011, Hackleburg suffered catastrophic damage when it was hit by an EF5 tornado – part of the 2011 Super Outbreak. Eighteen Hackleburg residents died in the storm. On May 2, the Red Cross declared the city 75 percent destroyed. Many people rebuilt here, although 2017 population estimates showed a slight decline from 2010.

Geography
Hackleburg is located in northern Marion County at 34.27139°N, -87.83083°W. U.S. Route 43 and Alabama State Route 172 intersect in the center of town. US 43 connects the town with Russellville 18 mi to the north and Hamilton, the Marion county seat, 14 mi to the southwest.

Dismals Canyon, a National Natural Landmark, is located 4 mi northeast of Hackleburg. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.3 sqmi, of which 0.01 sqmi, or 0.07%, are water. The town center is on the Tennessee Valley Divide (watershed), with half of the town draining north toward Bear Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River, and half draining south to tributaries of Clifty Creek, part of the Tombigbee River basin.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 1,527 people, 657 households, and 444 families in the town. The population density was 99.7 PD/sqmi. There were 737 housing units at an average density of 48.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 99.21% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 657 households 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 29.5% of households were one person and 16.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median household income was $26,075 and the median family income was $30,938. Males had a median income of $26,542 versus $20,739 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,239. About 10.8% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 25.8% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 1,516 people, 656 households, and 433 families in the town. The population density was 99.8 PD/sqmi. There were 769 housing units at an average density of 50.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 656 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 17.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The age distribution was 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% 65 or older. The median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median household income was $29,350 and the median family income was $34,375. Males had a median income of $27,426 versus $24,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,584. About 27.4% of families and 31.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.3% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,425 people, 536 households, and 344 families residing in the town.

Education
Hackleburg is a part of the Marion County Schools district.

Hackleburg Elementary and High School's mascot is the Panther, and the school colors are Black and Gold. The schools were among the many buildings destroyed by the tornado of April 27, 2011.

The Marion County Board of Education initiated construction of a $25 million total K-12 academic complex in Hackleburg. It opened for the 2015–2016 school year.

Athletics
The 2003 and the 2004 Hackleburg High School baseball teams finished as runners-up in the Alabama High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament. The 2007 Hackleburg High School baseball team won the 1A State Championship in the Alabama High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament. It marked the first state championship in the school's history. In December 2009 the High School football team became 1A State runners-up in the AHSAA football championship losing to the Brantley Bulldogs.

Notable people

 * Sonny James, Country Music Hall of Fame singer
 * Charles Moore, civil rights photojournalist
 * Gary Palmer, congressman

title: Hackleburg, Alabama


text:
Haleyville, Alabama

Haleyville is a city in Winston and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It incorporated on February 28, 1889. Most of the city is located in Winston County, with a small portion of the western limits entering Marion County. Haleyville was originally named "Davis Cross Roads", having been established at the crossroads of Byler Road and the Illinois Central Railroad. At the 2020 census the population was 4,361, up from 4,173 at the 2010 census.

History
The first Guthrie's restaurant was opened by Hal Guthrie in Haleyville in 1965.

On February 16, 1968, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system in the nation went into service in Haleyville.

On June 1, 2010, Haleyville citizens voted to become the first city in Winston County since Prohibition to allow the sale of alcohol.

The city has one site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the former Feldman's Department Store, and is the closest city to another site, Archeological Site No. 1WI50.

Geography
Haleyville is located in northwestern Winston County and northeastern Marion County at 34.23°N, -87.61889°W (34.230131, -87.618978). It is 6 mi east of Bear Creek, 14 mi north of Lynn, 19 mi northwest of Double Springs, the Winston county seat, and 25 mi northeast of Hamilton, the Marion county seat.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 sqmi, of which 0.05 sqmi, or 0.60%, are water. The city sits on the Tennessee Valley Divide, with the north half of the town draining into tributaries of the Tennessee River, the southwest quarter draining to tributaries of the Tombigbee River, and the southeast quarter draining to tributaries of the Black Warrior River.

Northwest Alabama is in the foothills of the southwest end of the Appalachian Mountains, so Haleyville is hilly. The soil there, made of sand and clay combined, is very sensitive to water, so there are many creeks and little valleys. This is especially noticeable at the city lake, which is surrounded by hills.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 4,182 people, 1,815 households, and 1,148 families living in the city. The population density was 563.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,061 housing units, at an average density of 277.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.81% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 2.68% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 3.11% of the population were Latino of any race. Of the 1,815 households 26.6% had children under the age of 52 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.0% of households were one person and 17.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median household income was $24,907 and the median family income was $33,875. Males had a median income of $27,028 versus $18,312 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,139. About 18.9% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 4,173 people, 1,783 households, and 1,114 families living in the city. The population density was 563.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,073 housing units at an average density of 280.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 6.0% of the population were Latino of any race. Of the 1,783 households 26.9% had children under the age of 52 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.9% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% 65 or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median household income was $23,191 and the median family income was $35,463. Males had a median income of $35,292 versus $20,789 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,636. About 29.8% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.6% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,361 people, 1,536 households, and 989 families residing in the city.

Education
The Haleyville City School System operates three places of public education: Haleyville Elementary School, Haleyville Middle School, and Haleyville High School. Also within the system lies the Haleyville Center of Technology, a career and vocational training center.

Haleyville High School's mascot is the lion, and the school colors are red and white.

The system is the home of the Haleyville High School Band, which has won several national championships. Its last notable victory came under the direction of Ken Williams (director from 1990 to 2007), during a national competition held 2003 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, in Dallas, TX. The band received all superior ratings and was crowned Grand Champion of the competition.

In October 2014, Haleyville High School was awarded the Safe School Initiative Award of Excellence. In April 2017 Haleyville Elementary School received the Charlotte F. Lockhart Award for Excellence in Literacy Education.

Athletics
The 2008 Roaring Lions finished third in the state in cross country. The 2009 Roaring Lions boys team also finished third in the state in cross country. The Haleyville Boys Golf team qualified for the state championship tournament in 2005 (seventh place), 2006 (sixth place), 2007 (fourth place), 2008 (sixth place), 2010 (sixth place), 2011 (fourth place), 2015 (fourth place), and 2017 (third place). The Haleyville Lions Baseball team reached the state finals two years in a row coming in second (2008) and State Champions (2009). The Lady Lions Softball team won a Championship in their second year and won back-to-back State Championships in 2012 and 2013.

City council
The city's elected representatives are as follows.
 * Mayor - Ken Sunseri (2008–present)
 * Place 1 - Julie "Boo" Brooks (2020–present)
 * Place 2 - Drew Thrasher (2008–present)
 * Place 3 - Bud Wilson (2008–present)
 * Place 4 - Jonathan Bennett (2008–present)
 * Place 5 - Brian Berry (2020–present)

Notable people

 * Robert Aderholt, congressman from Alabama's 4th congressional district
 * Pat Buttram, actor, retired to Haleyville
 * Frank Minis Johnson Jr., federal judge
 * Rebekah Mason, former aide and current romantic partner to former Governor Robert Bentley
 * Ben Smith, former professional football player

title: Haleyville, Alabama


text:
Hamilton, Alabama

Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1896 and since 1980 has been the county's largest city, surpassing Winfield. It was previously the largest town in 1910. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,042.

History
Hamilton was founded in the early 19th century by settlers who moved to the Alabama Territory from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas. It is built upon lands that once served as "hunting grounds" for the Chickasaw people. The city was first called "Toll Gate", but its name later changed in honor of one of its distinguished citizens, Captain Albert James Hamilton (known as A.J. Hamilton), who had represented Marion County in the state legislature in the sessions of 1869, 1874 and 1875. Captain Hamilton donated forty acres of his land to the town. The same forty acres were then divided into lots and sold to help defray the cost of building the courthouse. The Toll Gate community was elected in 1881 to be the next county seat, and by 1883 the Marion County courthouse in Pikeville had ceased to be functional. When the courthouse was moved from Pikeville to Toll Gate, the town's name was then changed from Toll Gate to Hamilton. On March 30, 1887, the newly built county courthouse was destroyed by fire. It was again rebuilt with wood, but replaced in 1901 with native sandstone.

During the Civil War, Union forces passed through the town in search of goods and horses. A detachment of Wilson's Cavalry destroyed by fire the plantation belonging to the Helvingstons on the Military Ford, south of Toll Gate (Hamilton).

Geography
Hamilton is located west of the center of Marion County, in the valley of the Buttahatchee River. Interstate 22 passes around the southern and western sides of the city, with access from Exits 7, 11, 14, and 16. I-22 leads west 45 mi to Tupelo, Mississippi, and southeast 89 mi to Birmingham. U.S. Routes 43 and 278 pass through Hamilton. US 43 leads north 53 mi to Florence, while US 278 leads east 74 mi to Cullman. The two highways join at the center of Hamilton and lead south together 13 mi to Guin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hamilton has a total area of 38.1 sqmi, of which 0.01 sqmi, 0.04%, are water. The Buttahatchee River, a tributary of the Tombigbee River, flows northeast to southwest through the city, east of downtown.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hamilton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Hamilton was 109 F on August 16, 2007, while the coldest temperature recorded was -19 F on January 30, 1966.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 6,786 people, 2,695 households, and 1,800 families living in the city. The population density was 188.0 PD/sqmi. There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of 84.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.41% White, 7.59% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,695 households 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.6% of households were one person and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was 19.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.

The median household income was $27,489 and the median family income was $34,485. Males had a median income of $26,362 versus $18,681 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,505. About 12.0% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 6,885 people, 2,717 households, and 1,793 families living in the city. The population density was 190.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,096 housing units at an average density of 85.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White, 7.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,717 households 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.9% of households were one person and 13.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83.

The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% 65 or older. The median age was 43.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.2 males.

The median household income was $31,297 and the median family income was $42,361. Males had a median income of $31,112 versus $30,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,442. About 12.1% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.1% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,042 people, 2,684 households, and 1,695 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture
Several cemeteries in Hamilton still celebrate annual Decoration Days in the spring and summer.

Artifacts

 * Indian Mounds site

Festivals

 * Jerry Brown Arts Festival (held annually the first weekend in March)
 * Buttahatchee River Fall Fest (held annually in October)
 * Hamilton's Hometown Christmas (held annually in December)

Parades

 * Homecoming parade (sponsored by Hamilton High School each fall)
 * Hamilton Christmas parade (held annually in December)

Parks and recreation

 * E.T. Sims Jr. Recreation Center, park, and playground
 * Key Branch Nature Trail and Aggieland Disc Golf course
 * Splash Pad playground

Education
Hamilton is a part of the Marion County School District. Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton Middle School, and Hamilton High School serve the Hamilton area.

Hamilton has a branch campus of Bevill State Community College.

Media
Hamilton's local newspaper, The Journal Record, has a second office in Winfield, Alabama.

Hamilton is home to two local television stations: WMTY TV 46 (cable channel 5 ), and TV8-WATVC.

Infrastructure
Marion County – Rankin Fite Airport is located in Hamilton.

Notable people

 * Bookie Bolin, former NFL player
 * Jerry Brown, folk artist and traditional potter
 * Roger Brown, artist
 * Clay Dyer, professional bass fisherman
 * Rankin Fite, Alabama State Legislature (Senate & House of Representatives)
 * Rex Frederick, first head coach of the University of South Alabama men's basketball team
 * John Dabney Terrell Sr., planter and legislator
 * Karen Wheaton, Christian music artist, minister, founder of The Ramp

title: Hamilton, Alabama


text:
Albertville, Alabama

Albertville is a city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 22,386 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city in Marshall County.

History
The area which today includes Albertville was inhabited by the indigenous Cherokee, until their removal to Oklahoma in the 1830s. It was near the territory of the Creek nation, and several major trails which afforded communication (or military action) between the two nations crossed the area. It is believed to have been crossed by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto during his expeditions in 1540.

During the American Civil War, the area around Albertville was the scene of several mid-level clashes between Union and Confederate forces.

The first non-indigenous settlement in what is today Albertville began in the 1850s. It was named for Thomas A. Albert, an early settler who moved from Georgia and was a town leader until his death in 1876. The city was incorporated in 1891. A post office was established in 1910.

At about 4:10 p.m. on April 24, 1908, the city was virtually wiped out by a tornado that became commonly called "The Great Cyclone", or "The Cyclone of 1908". The storm is believed to have killed 35 people across northeastern Alabama, including 15 in Albertville. Relief was largely delivered by railroad, particularly from the nearby city of Gadsden. Trains from Gadsden transported doctors, nurses, and the Queen City Guards, the Alabama militia company based in Gadsden. The commander of the latter, future Gadsden mayor and Col. R.A. Mitchell, reported in a dispatch to Governor B.B. Comer:

"... The destruction of property here is, I think, unprecedented in the history of the state. I have never seen anything like it, so complete and absolute as to leave little of worth in the path of the storm through town. On viewing the wreckage, covering easily forty acres or more in the heart of town, it appears incredible that any living being could have escaped the fury of the storm and death ..."

In 1893, the Alabama Legislature passed an act for the erection of an agricultural college in each of the state's congressional districts. After some competition, Albertville was awarded the school for the Seventh District. This is the school that evolved into today's Albertville High School, whose sports teams are still known as the "Aggies".

In 1910, Albertville had a population of 1,544, becoming the largest community in Marshall County.

Before the New Deal, when the Tennessee Valley Authority built Guntersville Dam, flooding on the Tennessee River would frequently leave the county courthouse in Guntersville inaccessible for residents of Albertville and other areas atop Sand Mountain. In 1919, the Alabama Legislature responded by requiring the erection of a courthouse at Albertville, in which cases arising in that part of the county would be heard.

In 1950, Albertville had a population of 5,397, and reclaimed the title (from Guntersville) of the largest city in the county, and has held the distinction ever since.

On June 1, 2009, the city council voted to establish English as the town's official language. Albertville’s Hispanic demographic pluraity strongly protested this decision in a series of demonstrations near the mayor’s office.

On April 24, 2010, an EF-3 tornado ripped through downtown Albertville. The storm resulted in no deaths. The high school was severely damaged, nearly every home had some type of damage, and many were destroyed beyond repair.

Geography
Albertville is located in southeastern Marshall County, and is bordered to the southeast by the city of Boaz and to the northwest by the city of Guntersville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.037 sqmi, of which 26.937 sqmi is land and 0.100 sqmi, is water.

The city sits at an elevation of 1060 ft atop Sand Mountain, a plateau that in this area is about 15 mi wide. The Tennessee Valley Divide passes through the southern part of the city. The majority of the city drains north to Short Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River, while the southern part drains to Slab Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. The current slogan of Albertville is "The Heart of Sand Mountain", which can be seen on the welcome sign coming into the city.

City of Albertville
Albertville first appeared as an incorporated town on the 1910 U.S. Census. It was also the same name as its precinct/census division, which preceded it in reporting on the census since 1880 (See Albertville Precinct below).

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 22,386 people, 7,671 households, and 5,487 families residing in the city. There were 8,111 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,160 people in 7,497 households, including 5,270 families, in the city. The population density was 813.8 PD/sqmi. There were 8,128 housing units at an average density of 312.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 75.9% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 18.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 27.9% of the population are Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, of the 7,497 households 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 24.6% of households were one person and 11.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.27.

The age distribution was 28.2% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% 65 or older. The median age was 32.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median household income was $35,843 and the median family income was $41,862. Males had a median income of $30,164 versus $25,700 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,839. About 15.8% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 17,247 people in 6,566 households, including 4,615 families, in the city. The population density was 664.6 PD/sqmi. There were 7,090 housing units at an average density of 273.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.15% White, 2.05% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 9.78% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 16.08% of the population are Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000 Of the 6,566 households 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 25.9% of households were one person and 12.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median household income was $31,893 and the median family income was $38,508. Males had a median income of $30,076 versus $20,275 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,336. About 14.1% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.

Albertville Precinct/Division (1880–1970); Albertville-Boaz Division (1980–)
Albertville, the 4th Beat/Precinct of Marshall County, first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census. In 1960, Albertville precinct was changed to census division as part of a general reorganization of counties. In 1980, Albertville and Boaz Census Divisions were merged to become the Albertville-Boaz Census Division.

Economy
Albertville is home to the Mueller Company, which produces fire hydrants, thus Albertville holds the title of "Fire Hydrant Capital of the World." To commemorate the one millionth fire hydrant, a chrome fire hydrant was placed outside the Albertville Chamber of Commerce.

Albertville is also home to poultry plants operated by Wayne Farms, Pilgrim's Pride, and Tyson Foods.

Mitchell Grocery Corporation, located in Albertville, is a wholesale grocery distribution center serving more than 200 independent supermarkets in the Southeast.

In April 2012, Newman Technology, broke ground on an auto parts manufacturing facility in Albertville. This plant will build component parts for Honda, Acura and Toyota and was expected to begin operating in early 2013. Newman was established in 1987 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sankei Giken Kogyo Co. of Japan. It is a supplier of fabricated and value-added assemblies to the automotive and recreational vehicle markets with facilities current in Mansfield, Ohio, and Aiken, S.C.

Government

Members of the city council (2023) include:

Education
Public schools are overseen by Albertville City Schools. There are six schools in the city:
 * Albertville Kindergarten and Pre-K - Kindergarten
 * Albertville Primary School- 1st and 2nd grades
 * Albertville Elementary School- 3rd and 4th grades
 * Albertville Intermediate School - 5th and 6th grades
 * Albertville Middle School- 7th and 8th grades
 * Albertville High School - 9th through 12th grades

Transportation

 * U.S. Highway 431
 * Alabama Highway 75
 * Alabama State Route 205
 * Thomas J. Brumlik Field (Albertville Regional Airport)
 * Alabama and Tennessee River Railway

Healthcare

 * Marshall Medical Center South, a 150-bed facility, serves the region.

Notable people

 * Edward Earl Carnes, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
 * Rusty Greer, professional baseball player with the Texas Rangers
 * Charley Hannah, former professional football offensive guard and defensive end
 * John Hannah, professional football offensive lineman; elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Glenn Hearn, former mayor of Huntsville, Alabama, FBI Special Agent, Alabama State Legislator
 * Angela Little, model, actress, and Playboy Playmate of the Month
 * Ola L. Mize, United States Army officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War
 * Charley Pell, former head football coach at Clemson University and the University of Florida
 * Susan Story, utility executive
 * Bobby Thomason, first professional football quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in a single game

In popular culture
When the 1992 Winter Olympics were held in Albertville, France, the citizens of its heteronymic counterpart in Alabama took full advantage of the opportunity to put their town on display. Mock winter games were held in this subtropical city, and one New Orleans radio station offered listeners a chance to win a trip to "the Albertville games" in Alabama.

In 2008, Albertville was featured in an episode in the fifth season of the A&E television documentary series Intervention titled "Meth Mountain". Among the featured Albertville residents was Dr. Mary Holley, an obstetrician whose methamphetamine-addicted brother committed suicide, and who founded the anti-methamphetamine group "Mothers Against Methamphetamine".

Albertville was featured in two episodes of the radio show and podcast This American Life. The episodes focused on the influx of Latino immigrants in the town's chicken plants and the impact this had on the community.

title: Albertville, Alabama


text:
Douglas, Alabama

Douglas is a town in Marshall County, Alabama, United States. Douglas, a part of the Huntsville–Decatur Combined Statistical Area, had a population of 761 as of the 2020 census. The town incorporated in 1978.

History
Douglas was first settled in the mid-19th century. Its first school was built in 1898, followed by Douglas Academy in 1909.

Geography
Douglas is located in southern Marshall County at 34.17167°N, -86.32°W (34.171631, -86.319967). The town is concentrated around the intersection of State Route 75 and State Route 168, 9 mi southwest of Albertville, 11 mi west of Boaz, and 6 mi northeast of Snead. Guntersville Lake lies 15 mi to the north.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Douglas has a total area of 8.8 km2, of which 0.02 sqkm, or 0.24%, are water. Douglas sits at 940 ft above sea level atop the southwest end of Sand Mountain, within the watershed of the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, which passes 5 mi to the southwest of the town.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 530 people, 213 households and 158 families residing in the town. The population density was 171.0 PD/sqmi. There were 231 housing units at an average density of 74.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.79% White, 0.57% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 213 households, of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

Age distribution was 27.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median household income was $33,594, and the median family income was $36,000. Males had a median income of $32,143 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,410. About 8.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: Douglas, Alabama


text:
Grant, Alabama

Grant is a town in Marshall County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Grant was 1,039, up from 896 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The town was incorporated on November 15, 1945, with Delbert Hodges serving as the first mayor.

History
Grant was settled in the late 1830s, and a post office was established in 1887. The town was named in honor of General Ulysses S. Grant, as many residents in the area had supported the Union during the American Civil War.

In 1924, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) established the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant as part of a program to build schools in areas that lacked access to public education. The school, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still serves K-12 students, and remains the only K-12 school owned and operated by the DAR.

Geography
Grant is located in northeastern Marshall County at an elevation of 1240 ft on the plateau of Gunters Mountain. The town is concentrated along County Road 5 (Cathedral Caverns Highway, signed as Main Street in Grant) near the northern edge of Gunters Mountain, though the town includes corridors along CR 5 southward across the mountain to the shore of Guntersville Lake, and eastward along Baker Mountain Road to the edge of the mountain. Grant is 13 mi north of Guntersville, 18 mi southwest of Scottsboro, and 30 mi southeast of Huntsville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Grant has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, of which 10961 sqm, or 0.22%, are water. A historic cave, Cathedral Caverns, lies 5 mi north of Grant near Kennamer Cove.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 665 people, 279 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density was 375.8 PD/sqmi. There were 306 housing units at an average density of 172.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 0.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 279 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 27.2% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90. The Alabama median age was 39.

In the town the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,188, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $35,795 versus $29,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,014. About 6.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,039 people, 375 households, and 286 families residing in the town.

Notable people

 * Vernon Derrick, fiddle and mandolin player for Hank Williams Jr's Bama Band in the 1980s

title: Grant, Alabama


text:
Guntersville, Alabama

Guntersville (previously known as Gunter's Ferry and later Gunter's Landing) is a city and the county seat of Marshall County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,553. Guntersville is located in a HUBZone as identified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

History
Guntersville was founded by John Gunter (1765–1835), the great-grandfather of American humorist Will Rogers. Gunter's own great-great-grandfather, of Welsh-English descent, had emigrated to the New World in 1644. Gunter was the wealthy owner of a salt mine in the early 19th century. In order to obtain more land to mine, Gunter struck a deal with the Cherokee tribe that inhabited the area to use in his household as servants. As part of the deal, Gunter married the daughter (Ghe-No-He-Li, aka Katy and Cathrine) of the tribe's chief (Chief Bushyhead of the Paint Clan) and agreed to give salt to the tribe. A town sprung up next to the mine and was named after Gunter. The town of Guntersville puts on a festival every July to celebrate Will Rogers, which involves many activities which were of interest to Rogers.

Initially incorporated as "Gunter's Landing" in 1848, it won the contest to become county seat from Warrenton (which had been the seat since 1841). It formally changed its name to Guntersville in 1854.

The United States Navy began operating a fleet of gunboats on the Tennessee River in late 1864. Confederate troops mounted a spirited defense of the river from Guntersville. In January 1865, the USS General Grant attempted to destroy the town in retaliation.

For much of the 20th century, the economy of Guntersville revolved around cotton processing, especially with the Saratoga Victory Mill.

Geography
Guntersville is located in central Marshall County at 34.34833°N, -86.29444°W (34.348197, −86.294523). U.S. Route 431 (Gunter Avenue and Blount Avenue) is the main road through the city, leading northwest 37 mi to Huntsville, and southeast 10 mi to Albertville. Gadsden is 36 mi to the southeast via US 431.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Guntersville has a total area of 110.6 km2, of which 66.4 km2 are land and 44.2 km2, or 40.0%, are water. Guntersville is located at the southernmost point of the Tennessee River on Lake Guntersville, formed by the Guntersville Dam (built by the Tennessee Valley Authority). Geologically, the lake occupies a southern extension of the Sequatchie Valley, which continues south as Browns Valley.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 7,395 people, 3,061 households and 1,971 families living in the city. The population density was 312.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,518 housing units at an average density of 148.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 88.17% White, 8.53% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 2.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,061 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 32.4% were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.

Age distribution was 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median household income was $29,882, and the median family income was $39,464. Males had a median income of $36,175 versus $20,480 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,503. About 11.2% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 8,197 people, 3,388 households and 2,167 families living in the city. The population density was 347.3 PD/sqmi. There were 3,872 housing units at an average density of 152.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% White, 7.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,388 households, of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. Of all households, 31.8% were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.

Age distribution was 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median household income was $38,094, and the median family income was $57,610. Males had a median income of $39,063 versus $31,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,468. About 16.9% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.9% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,553 people, 3,312 households, and 2,179 families residing in the city.

Recreation
Guntersville sits on the shore of 69100 acre Guntersville Lake, the biggest lake in Alabama. The lake is maintained and managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The 2014 and 2020 Bassmaster Classic were held on Guntersville Lake.

Government
The current mayor is Leigh Dollar, the daughter of a previous mayor, and the first female to hold mayor's office in Guntersville.

Education
Guntersville has one school system in the town which is made up of four schools; Guntersville Elementary School (Kindergarten-2nd grade), Cherokee Elementary School (3rd–5th grade), Guntersville Middle School (6th–8th grade), and Guntersville High School (9th–12th grade). In 2006 Guntersville High School won the 4A football state championship, which is the only football state championship recorded by a school in Marshall County, Alabama.

Culture
Guntersville was the last place in which Ricky Nelson ever performed as a singer. His last performance was at PJ's Alley in Guntersville on Monday, December 30, 1985. His private plane departed Guntersville the next day, New Year's Eve, and crashed near DeKalb, Texas.

In Hunting Mister Heartbreak: A Discovery of America, the British author Jonathan Raban becomes a temporary resident of the city, to which he takes a liking in his conservative persona as John Rayburn. He is aware, however, that were his real views known the people of Guntersville might have been less welcoming. "Scratch John Rayburn, and he'd confess my own thoughts on politics, books, religion − thoughts that wouldn't wash in Guntersville."

Notable people

 * Don Fuell, former Canadian Football League quarterback
 * "Mississippi" Bill Harris, entrepreneur
 * Jon Jefferson, documentary filmmaker and author
 * M. E. Lazarus, American individualist anarchist
 * Jeffrey McLaughlin, former member of the Alabama Legislature from the 27th district
 * Jeanette Scissum, NASA sunspot predictor
 * Willard Scissum, former offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins and coach at Savannah State University
 * Joe Starnes, congressman from 1935 to 1945
 * Conrad Thompson, podcast host
 * Pat Upton, former lead singer and songwriter with Spiral Starecase
 * John Allan Wyeth, surgeon, soldier and author

title: Guntersville, Alabama


text:
Union Grove, Alabama

Union Grove is a town in Marshall County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 67, down from 77 at the 2010 census.

In the Civil War the Union troops camped there for some time after passing through Parches Cove. It became known thereafter as Union Grove.

Geography
Union Grove is located in western Marshall County at 34.4°N, -86.44611°W (34.400088, -86.446049). It is 7 mi northeast of Arab and 5 mi southwest of Guntersville Dam on the Tennessee River. Union Grove sits at an elevation of 1040 ft above sea level on the relatively flat top of Brindley Mountain, near the southwest end of the Appalachian Plateau. Electricity service in Union Grove is provided through Arab Electric Cooperative, which comes through the Tennessee Valley Authority.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 sqmi, of which 0.01 sqmi, or 1.77%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 94 people, 38 households, and 28 families residing in the town. The population density was 165.5 PD/sqmi. There were 41 housing units at an average density of 72.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.87% White, 1.06% Native American and 1.06% Asian.

There were 38 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $32,292 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,467. There were 15.4% of families and 9.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 20.0% of those over 64.

Education
Union Grove is served by the Marshall County School System. Most of its school age children go to Brindlee Mountain Primary from kindergarten through the 2nd grade, Brindlee Mountain Elementary from the 3rd through the 5th grade, then Brindlee Mountain Middle School from 6th to 8th and the Brindlee Mountain High School from the 9th through 12th grades.

title: Union Grove, Alabama


text:
Bayou La Batre, Alabama

Bayou La Batre ( or ) is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,204, down from 2,558 at the 2010 census.

Bayou La Batre is a fishing village with a seafood-processing harbor for fishing boats and shrimp boats. The local chamber of commerce has described the city as the "Seafood Capitol of Alabama" for packaging seafood from hundreds of fishing boats.

Bayou La Batre was founded in 1786, when French-born Joseph Bouzage (or Bosarge) [1733-1795] was awarded a 1259 acre Spanish land grant on the West Bank of the bayou (see history below). The modern city of Bayou La Batre was incorporated in 1955.

On August 29, 2005, the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, which produced the largest storm surge ever recorded in the area, reaching nearly 16 ft and pushing many shrimp boats and the cargo ship M/V Caribbean Clipper onto shore.

History

As part of the French settlement of the Gulf Coast, the bayou was originally called "Riviere D'Erbane" and acquired the present name from the French-maintained battery of artillery on the west bank ("bayou of the battery"). Bayou La Batre was the first permanent settlement on the south Mobile County mainland and was founded in 1786, when Joseph Bouzage (Bosarge) [1733-95] moved into the area and was awarded a 1259 acre Spanish land grant on the bayou's west bank.

Born in Poitiers, France, Joseph Bouzage came to the Gulf Coast circa 1760, married Catherine Louise Baudreau (Boudreau) on June 5, 1762, and was the father of seven children, including one son, Jean Baptiste.

Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, with a local storm surge of nearly 16 ft and higher waves that engulfed Bayou La Batre and pushed over 23 shrimp boats and the cargo ship M/V Caribbean Clipper onto shore. The captain rode out Katrina on the 179 ft cargo ship, owned by Caribbean Shipping Inc., and the ship was returned to sea six months later, using a large crane.

On September 7, the Hurricane Katrina Update for libraries affected by the storm indicated that the Bayou La Batre Public Library (then known as Mose Hudson Tapia Public Library) had been destroyed.

Students from the Alba Middle School documented the destruction through a series of photos that were exhibited at various venues in Alabama and the Chicago, Illinois region. Some of these were published in a book titled Eyes of the Storm: A Community Survives after Katrina (ISBN 978-0-9789362-0-4).

Immediately following the hurricane a group of high school students from Sierra High School in Truckee, California adopted the city of Bayou La Batre. They sent roughly $15,000, supplies, and 15 students to help rebuild homes. Students gathered donations, sold raffle tickets, and filled their school's gym with supplies from bedding and clothes to basic household items. The school also set up a pen pal program with the students of the nearby school in Bayou La Batre. In October 2005, seven weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Bayou La Batre was adopted by the city of Santa Monica, California (see: "Santa Monica Pier") to assist in clean-up activities. The Santa Monica City Council approved loaning Bayou La Batre 18 vehicles, including six pickups, two trucks with large cranes, utility vehicles with smaller cranes, a dump truck, street sweepers, a riding lawnmower, and six chainsaws. The equipment was used to help remove debris and fishing boats from downtown.

Shipbuilding
Bayou La Batre is a center for shipbuilding. The shipyards are owned and operated mainly by local families such as Gazzier Marine Services, Metal Shark (formerly Horizon Shipbuilding), Steiner Ship Yard, Rodriguez Boat Builders, Master Boat Builders, Williams Fabrication, and Landry Boat Works.

People from all over the world including the United States, South America, and Africa have boats built in Bayou La Batre frequently. In 2005, Steiner Ship Yard was asked by Walt Disney Studios to build a pirate ship, the Black Pearl; the pitch-black ship was actually a huge wooden prop built on top of a modern 96-foot-long steel utility boat. Crews sailed the ship out of the bayou to the Caribbean for the filming of sequels to Disney's 2003 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl".

Another ship, the FV Cornelia Marie from the Deadliest Catch series, was built in Bayou La Batre in 1989.

Geography
Bayou La Batre is located in southern Mobile County at 30.40333°N, -88.24806°W (30.403253, -88.248117). The waterway Bayou La Batre passes through the center of the city and leads southwest 2 mi to Portersville Bay, an arm of Mississippi Sound in the Gulf of Mexico.

The city is 27 mi by road south-southwest of Mobile and 12 mi east of the Mississippi border. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 sqmi,of which 7.5 sqmi are land and 0.1 sqmi, or 1.87%, are water.

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, Bayou La Batre has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,204 people, 837 households, and 638 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the 2010 Census, Bayou La Batre had a population of 2,558. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 60.3% white, 12.3% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 22.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, 3.2% from two or more races and 2.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,313 people, 769 households, and 599 families residing in the city. The population density was 573.9 /mi2. There were 845 housing units at an average density of 209.7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 52.44% White, 10.25% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 33.29% Asian, 0.43% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The large Asian population is attributable to a large influx of Vietnamese American shrimpers as immigrants following the Vietnam War as well as Cambodian and Laotian refugees and their children. Bayou la Batre was a popular destination for such immigrants because it fostered and continues to foster a similar shrimping industry to that of Vietnam.

There were 769 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01, and the average family size was 3.40.

The age distribution was 29.9% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,539, and the median income for a family was $27,580. Males had a median income of $22,847 versus $14,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,928. About 22.9% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Bayou La Batre is served by the Mobile County Public School System. The city includes Booth (formerly Alba) Elementary School, Alba Middle School, and Alma Bryant High School, where all the high school students attend. Additionally, a small number of city residents' children attend Dixon Elementary in Irvington.

Both Alma Bryant and Booth Elementary are located on the northernmost edge of the city. Bryant, built in 1998, slightly delayed by Hurricane Georges, and Booth, built in 2006, delayed by Hurricane Katrina, are located on Hurricane Boulevard. Both schools' students were (in part) located in what is now Alba Middle School further south in Bayou La Batre. Alba High School first combined with Grand Bay High School in 1998 in the newly built, centrally located Alma Bryant High School, located on 16th Section land (land dedicated for school purposes). Alba Middle (which was in great part located in portable classrooms and was a part of the high School campus, as was Grand Bay Middle) took over the high school building, greatly relieving overcrowding. Similarly, the Alba Elementary Campus which shared land with the middle school, while being mostly autonomous, also became part of Alba Middle School. Alba and Grand Bay Middle are the focal point of bus routes for all school buses for Bryant High, those buses shared in grades 6-12 as a cost-saving effort to avoid overlapping routes for the separate schools.

In December 2007, a new library was opened to serve the area's Asian-American community. The library is located on Wintzell Avenue in the Bayou La Batre office of Boat People SOS, a national group that assists Vietnamese-Americans. The Mobile County Commission gave $2,500. The library will be used as a place where elderly immigrants can master computer skills, children can practice their Vietnamese after school, and day laborers can surf the Web after work.

Film and book references
Bayou La Batre is mentioned in the 1994 film Forrest Gump and in Winston Groom's book of the same name on which the movie is based as the home of Forrest's army buddy Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue, and later as the home of Forrest Gump himself during his time as a shrimp boat captain. Shrimping scenes in the film were filmed in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, primarily in the communities of Beaufort and Port Royal.

In April 2005, Disney Studios launched a secretly built pirate ship, the Black Pearl, out of Bayou La Batre for filming sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Bayou La Batre's seafood industry also serves as a centerpiece for the History channel's reality documentary series Big Shrimpin'.

Notable people

 * Regina Benjamin, former United States Surgeon General
 * Antwan Odom, American football player, NFL, Cincinnati Bengals

title: Bayou La Batre, Alabama


text:
Chickasaw, Alabama

Chickasaw is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 6,457, up from 6,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area.

Company town
In the early 20th century before the city now standing was incorporated, the present site of Chickasaw was a company town, wholly owned by Chickasaw Shipyard and developed for its workers. The property was bought by Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation in 1940. It expanded with the defense buildup during World War II.

It attempted to restrict the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses, the subject of a case that reached the Supreme Court of the United States, Marsh v. Alabama, 326 U.S. 501 (1946). The court ruled that although the Chickasaw Shipyard Village was privately owned, because it functioned as a town open to the public, the right conferred on residents and visitors by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution cannot be abridged.

In 1946 the village was purchased by Leedy Investment Company. It renovated housing and offered it for sale to renters. Some former residents returned to the village and bought houses. It suffered from downturns in shipbuilding, which caused the loss of jobs.

Residents worked to have the village documented, and in 2004 the Chickasaw Shipyard Village Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Chickasaw is located in eastern Mobile County at 30.76499°N, -88.08371°W. It is bordered to the east by the city of Mobile, to the south and west by Prichard, and to the north by Saraland. U.S. Route 43 (Telegraph Road and North Craft Highway) is the main road through Chickasaw, leading south 5 mi to downtown Mobile and north 60 mi to Jackson. Interstate 65 passes through the west side of Chickasaw, with access from Exit 10 (West Lee Street). I-65 leads south into Mobile and northeast 162 mi to Montgomery.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Chickasaw has a total area of 4.56 sqmi, of which 4.21 sqmi are land and 0.35 sqmi, or 7.70%, are water. Chickasaw Creek, a tidal arm of the Mobile River, forms the northeast border of the city. The Port of Chickasaw is in the eastern part of the city, on Chickasaw Creek.

Demographics
The city had its peak of population in 1960, when the shipyard was still operating at high capacity. Decline in shipyard jobs has resulted in a decline in overall population since then.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,364 people, 2,747 households, and 1,747 families living in the city. The population density was 1,436.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 674.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 88.89% White, 8.12% Black or African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,747 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population dispersal was 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,036, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $29,074 versus $21,181 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,190. About 13.0% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,106 people, 2,430 households, and 1,612 families living in the city. The population density was 1,387,7 /mi2. There were 2,879 housing units at an average density of 654.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 63.0% White, 33.6% Black or African American, .8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 2.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,430 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population dispersal was 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,061, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $35,300 versus $25,369 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,105. About 18.9% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over. The median home price was an estimated $83,800 in 2010. The rent burden was 47.9%.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,457 people, 2,134 households, and 1,246 families residing in the city.

Education
Chickasaw's public schools are within the Chickasaw City Schools district. The city voted in 2012 to form its own school system with Satsuma, Alabama, leaving that operated by Mobile County School Board.

History of schools
Chickasaw's public schools were previously operated by the Mobile County Public School System. Hamilton Elementary School was within the Chickasaw city limits and serves Chickasaw residents. In addition two magnet schools, the elementary Chickasaw School of Mathematics and Science and the Clark School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (high school), were in the city. Residents zoned to Hamilton are also zoned to Chastang Middle School.

Several years prior to 2009, officials of Chickasaw, Satsuma, and Saraland contemplated forming the "Delta School District." Around 2009 Chickasaw officials considered a plan to secede from the Mobile County school system, after Mobile County officials considered closing the Chickasaw magnets, which together have a combined total of 14% Chickasaw residents. The remainder of the students came from other locations, including the unincorporated area of Grand Bay. Mobile County considered moving the magnets to Shaw High School in western Mobile.

Chickasaw did separate from the Mobile County school system, effective in 2013, with the understanding that the elementary Chickasaw School of Mathematics and Science would be relocated from Chickasaw within four years. While it remained, the residents of Chickasaw were required to pay $2,200 per year per child in order to attend the school, as they were no longer part of the county system. In January 2013 the Mobile County school board decided to move the elementary Mathematics and Science school to the former Howard Elementary School near Downtown Mobile.

Notable person

 * Ray Sawyer of the band Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show was born in Chickasaw in 1937.

title: Chickasaw, Alabama


text:
Citronelle, Alabama

Citronelle is a city on the northern border of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,946. It is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area and is about 34 mi north of Mobile.

History
The area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. By the time of European contact, the historic Choctaw and Creek people hunted in the area.

The first known European explorers of this area were French in the 18th century. They learned that the land had healing herbs and mineral springs. The area was settled in 1811 and established as a jurisdiction (incorporated) in 1892. The name "Citronelle" is French and is derived from the citronella plant. In the late 19th century, the town became a popular resort destination because of the climate, herbs, and healing waters. Many hotels were built to accommodate the surge of visitors.

On May 4, 1865, one of the last significant Confederate armies was surrendered by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor under the "Surrender Oak". This was the third in the series of five major surrenders of armies that ended the war. The two previous surrenders occurred at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee and US General Ulysses S. Grant; and the second and largest at Bennett Place near Durham, North Carolina between US General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston.

A living history/reenactment of the surrender occurs each year in Citronelle. The historic "Surrender Oak" no longer stands, as it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1902.

In 1955, oil was discovered in the area. Today Citronelle is known as the oil capital of Alabama.

Geology
Citronelle developed on what is known as the Citronelle Dome, a salt dome formation that is still rising, as shown by the radial drainage of streams away from the center. In 1955 oil was discovered in this geologic structure at a greater depth than had previously been considered as feasible. The Citronelle Dome was developed as among the first of many "deep" oil fields. The discovery well yielded oil from the Glen Rose Formation at a depth of 10879 ft.

"Citronelle Dome is a giant salt-cored anticline in the eastern Mississippi Interior Salt Basin of southwest Alabama. The dome forms an elliptical structural closure containing multiple opportunities for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and saline reservoir CO2 sequestration. Citronelle Oil Field, located on the crest of the dome, has produced more than 169 e6oilbbl of 42-46° American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity oil from the Lower Cretaceous Donovan Sand."

Geography
Citronelle is located in northern Mobile County at 31.09265°N, -88.24431°W. The northern border of the city is at the Washington County line. U.S. Route 45 runs from north to south through the city, to the west of the downtown area. Via US 45, downtown Mobile is 34 mi to the south, and State Line, Mississippi is 30 mi to the northwest.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Citronelle has a total area of 26.1 sqmi, of which 25.8 sqmi are land and 0.3 sqmi, or 1.06%, are water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,946 people, 1,412 households, and 1,021 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of 2010 Citronelle had a population of 3,905. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 70.7% white, 20.2% black or African American, 4.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.5% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or more races and 2.6% Hispanic or Latino from any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,659 people, 1,318 households, and 1,009 families residing in the city. The population density was 149.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,441 housing units at an average density of 59.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 76.96% White, 18.61% Black or African American, 2.76% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,318 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,739, and the median income for a family was $39,922. Males had a median income of $32,200 versus $19,702 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,455. About 12.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The city is served by the Mobile County Public School System and has the following public schools: McDavid-Jones Elementary School (K-5), Lott Middle School (6-8), and Citronelle High School (9-12).

Notable people

 * Bama Rowell, former professional baseball player, was born and raised here. Living in Citronelle throughout his adult life, he played for the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies.

title: Citronelle, Alabama


text:
Creola, Alabama

Creola is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. Incorporated in 1978, the city had a population of 1,936 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area.

History
In 2013 the governments of Creola and Saraland were taking steps in a possible merger.

Geography
Creola is located in northeastern Mobile County at 30.89556°N, -88.01472°W (30.895465, -88.014760). It is bordered to the west by the city of Saraland and to the southwest by the city of Satsuma. The eastern border of the city is the Mobile River, which forms the Baldwin County line. U.S. Route 43 passes through the community, leading south 14 mi to Mobile and north the same distance to Mount Vernon. Interstate 65 crosses Creola as well, with access from Exit 19 (U.S. 43) and Exit 22 (Sailor Road). I-65 leads south to Mobile and northeast 153 mi to Montgomery.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Creola has a total area of 16.7 sqmi, of which 15.7 sqmi are land and 1.0 sqmi, or 5.84%, are water.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,002 people, 718 households, and 567 families residing in the town. The population density was 137.1 PD/sqmi. There were 796 housing units at an average density of 54.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 86.36% White, 9.89% Black or African American, 1.45% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 718 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,517, and the median income for a family was $38,942. Males had a median income of $35,658 versus $19,911 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,956. About 14.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,926 people, 692 households, and 519 families residing in the town. The population density was 131.9 PD/sqmi. There were 775 housing units at an average density of 53.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 84.7% White, 9.8% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 692 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,786, and the median income for a family was $48,009. Males had a median income of $45,729 versus $36,902 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,202. About 14.7% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,936 people, 585 households, and 447 families residing in the city.

Education
Mobile County Public School System operates public schools. Students are zoned to North Mobile County K-8 School, previously North Mobile County Middle School, near Axis CDP. Creola students go to Citronelle High School in Citronelle.

History of schools
On September 7, 2010, North Mobile County Middle School opened, replacing the role of Adams Middle School in Saraland, because residents outside of Saraland are no longer zoned to Adams Middle. This rezoning affected residents in Creola, who were newly assigned to North Mobile County.

Prior to the 2012 split of the City of Satsuma from the Mobile County system, Creola was zoned to Satsuma schools, including Satsuma High School. In 2011 Renee Busbee of the Mobile Press-Register said that residents of Creola may be rezoned to Blount, Citronelle, and/or Vigor high schools.

Ultimately Creola, without an elementary school after the departure of Satsuma schools, was rezoned to North Mobile County, converted into a K-8, and Citronelle High. Any Creola residents wishing to send their children to Satsuma schools would be required to pay tuition. about 100 students residing in Creola attended Satsuma schools.

Due to the distance to Citronelle High (the distance by bus is about 30 minutes), several area parents wanted an annexation to the City of Satsuma and/or a partnership with the Satsuma school system. In 2013 a member of the Creola city council, Tonya Moss, stated that the city has "a bond with Satsuma" and that most of the council's members had graduated from Satsuma High. By 2013 there were discussions regarding a possible educational partnership between representatives of the two cities, in which the Creola city government would pay the City of Satsuma instead of Mobile County to educate its children.

Transportation
Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines.

title: Creola, Alabama