Tallassee, Alabama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tallassee, Alabama | |||
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| Nickname: ""Treasure of the Tallapoosa"" | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Alabama | ||
| County | Elmore | ||
| Incorporated | October 24, 1835 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Robert E. Payne | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 10.2 sq mi (26.3 km²) | ||
| - Land | 9.6 sq mi (24.9 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - City | 4,934 | ||
| - Density | 512.2/sq mi (197.8/km²) | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CST (UTC-5) | ||
| Website: http://www.tallassee.al.us | |||
Tallassee is a city in Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,934. It is home to a major hydroelectric power plant at Thurlow Dam.
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[edit] History
[edit] The Creek Wars and Indian Removal
Some historians and archeologists posit that in the late 18th and early 19th centuries this verdant area was the second largest permanent Indian settlement in North America. The Creek Indian ancestors in this area were Mississippian Mound Builders who relied greatly on fishing and riverway trading (c.f. Moundville, Tuscaloosa).
The Tallassee area was also the home of the last great Creek capitol city, Tuckabatchee as well as the Great Council Tree which was destroyed by a high wind in 1929. After a visit by the Shawnee hero, Tecumseh, who urged the Creek to join the Great Confederation, the Creek split into two distinct factions; the White Stick Creek who sided with the federal government and the Red Stick Creek who opposed the settlement of their land by whites (see also Baton Rouge, Indian Territory and Oklahoma). Osceola, who would later become chief of the Seminole Indians in Florida and for whom Florida State University's mascot is named, is believed to have been born in Talisi.
The Creek Wars were marked by mutual raids, scalpings and civilian massacres by both sides. The war reached its bloody climax at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on the banks of the Tallapoosa River when a coalition of federal troops, Alabama militia White Stick Creek and bitter rival Cherokees crushed the outnumbered and outgunned Red Sticks. Then-General Andrew Jackson counted Horsehoe Bend among his politically strategic victories and it helped pave the road for his future policies of Indian Removal. The aftermath of the Creek Wars resulted in the exodus of many Creeks to Indian Territory, while some went into hiding with other resistant Indians in the Southeast, including Seminole, Cherokee, and Osceola peoples. Tulsa, Oklahoma is said to have been named after Talisi, by the Indians relocated from the Tuckabatchee area.
The ancient city of Talisi and neighboring Wetumpka are still home to the remnants of the federally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
[edit] Involvement in the American Civil War
In June 1864, the Confederate army moved the Richmond Carbine Factory from Richmond, Virginia to an old Tallassee cotton mill, which then began manufacturing the carbines. During the course of the American Civil War, the town of Tallassee never became involved with Union forces. However, there was one attempt by the Union Army to destroy the Tallassee Mill. The Tallassee Armory was the only Confederate one not destroyed during the American Civil War.
[edit] Geography
Tallassee is located at (32.539402, -85.893061)GR1. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 km² (10.2 mi²). 24.9 km² (9.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.4 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (5.21%) is water.
Tallassee is located in the densely forested Emerald Mountains, a small southeasternly chain of the Lower Appalachians and is bordered by two major rivers: The Coosa River to the west, and the Tallapoosa in the east. The Tallapoosa River also serves as the dividing line between two counties and towns: the City of Tallassee (Elmore County) and East Tallassee (Tallapoosa County).
 The Hotel Talisi, which features a restaurant with buffet a serving Southern Cuisine. |
 The Roxy Theater was built in the late 1920s. The building was gutted by fire in 1945 and lay in ruins until the current owners of the Hotel Talisi restored it in 1994 as a courtyard cafe and reception area. |
 Inside Roxy Garden |
 A mural on James Street in West Tallassee. |
 The Fitzpatrick Bridge crosses The Tallapoosa River and Thurlow Dam. |
 View of Fitzpatrick Bridge and Thurlow Dam from the Old Mill. |
 Built in 1844, The Tallassee Armory building served as a cotton mill until the American Civil War when it was converted into an armory producing "Tallassee Cavalry Carbines" |
 The Tallassee Armory was the only Confederate armory not destroyed during the Civil War. |
 The Tallapoosa River at Tallassee |
 The Tallapoosa as seen from Fitzpatrick Bridge |
 Downtown West Tallassee |
 Downtown East Tallassee |
 Thurlow Dam |
 Dam in the shadow of Fitzpatrick Bridge |
 The hydroelectric power plant at Thurlow Dam. |
 Thurlow Dam power plant detail |
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 4,934 people, 2,067 households, and 1,343 families residing in the city. The population density was 197.8/km² (512.2/mi²). There were 2,367 housing units at an average density of 94.9/km² (245.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.34% White, 17.61% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,067 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 32.4% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,946, and the median income for a family was $32,015. Males had a median income of $27,313 versus $22,993 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,859. About 16.9% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Media and Communications
[edit] Newspapers
The Tallassee Tribune has been the weekly newspaper publication in Tallassee since 1899. The newspaper started as the Tri-County Weekly in 1899, later renamed to the Tallassee Times, and finally named the Tallassee Tribune in 1912. The paper serves the people in and around the Tallassee area and is published officially every Thursday.
[edit] Radio
There are two AM radio stations that are located in Tallassee:
- WTLS 1300 News/Sports
- WACQ 1130 Oldies
[edit] Education
The Tallassee City School System operates three schools (a high school, middle school, and elementary school). The school system serves about 2,000 students; the majority of families living in the city of Tallassee attend Tallassee City Schools.
[edit] References
- Golden, Virginia Noble [1949]. A History of Tallassee. Mount Vernon Mills.
- Heritage. Retrieved on April 9, 2006.
- Utilities and Communication. Retrieved on April 9, 2006.
- Education. Retrieved on April 9, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Tallassee Community Library
- Tallassee City Schools
- Tallassee Chamber of Commerce
- Tallassee Fire & EMS
- Tallassee Community Hospital
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
