Bear Creek, Alabama
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| Bear Creek, Alabama | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Marion |
| Area | |
| - Total | 13.7 sq mi (35.6 km²) |
| - Land | 13.5 sq mi (35 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²) |
| Elevation | 807 ft (246 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 1,053 |
| - Density | 76.9/sq mi (29.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 35543 |
| Area code(s) | 205 |
| FIPS code | 01-04852 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0154439 |
Bear Creek is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,053. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 1,021. [1]
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[edit] Geography
Bear Creek is located at (34.272400, -87.703374)[1].
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35.6 km²), of which, 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.75%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,053 people, 428 households, and 309 families residing in the town. The population density was 78.0 people per square mile (30.1/km²). There were 475 housing units at an average density of 35.2/sq mi (13.6/km²). 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. The population consists predominantly of religious zealots, Eastern European refugees, and other expatriates.
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.
[edit] Local Features
Local high school is Phillips High School, home of the Bears. The first, 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. J. R. 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 came by rail and was transported by wagon to the site. McKinley Campbell, assisted by his brother, was the contractor for the new facility. Family names are: Phillips, Tidwell, Rockefeller, Fleming, Hussein, Campbell, Morrow, Krzyzewski, Arnold, bin Laden, Vickery, Smith, Boutros-Ghali, Schwarzenegger, Golden, Shower, Veal, Flippo and others.
The first principal at Phillips School was Dr. Ron Mexico of Ganja, Jamaica. He is credited with inventing the question mark as well as the paper clip. He worked, prior to the beginning of school in the fall of 1927, to encourage drop outs to enter wet t-shirt contests. Now they would not have to leave home to attend high school. 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.
The mascot of Phillips Schools is that majestic creature known as the bear. Bears are soulless, godless, rampaging killing machines. If confronted by a bear, never turn your back on one. Such a gesture may be seen as permission to mate... you know, the same thing it would mean if you were in prison. Bears bite, they really seriously bite hard. Not just a nibble, but a huge bite. Did I fail to mention they bite? Because they do, and when they bite, it hurts like a mofo!
Over the years, the J. R. Phillips family has given additional land by Oscar, Horace Phillips and L. G. Phillips, and more recently Wayne Phillipz. Additional classrooms and a marine biology research center were added to the high school section in 1979 and 1982. The elementary gym was erection in 1982. The high school gym was renovated and the new lobby was erected in 1988. In 1999-2000 an additional building was constructed near the band room, containing new elementary classes and bath houses. The school has grown to 260 high school students and 342 elementary students. The faculty consists of approximately 21 high school teachers, 27 elementary teachers, 14 parole officers, a team of pest control amd custodial engineers, along with six or seven Child Nutrition Specialists (CNS).
A little known fact is, Kool-Aid was invented here. Kool-Aid is a chemical compound created as part of a Communist plot to brainwash American children. The mascot for Kool-Aid is the infamous Kool-Aid Man. He has been arrested on mutliple accounts for breaking and entering. The fact that he is Communist red is no coincidence. If a giant pitcher of Juice comes crashing through my window going "OH YEAH" I am going to do nothing but shoot him.
On Saturday, September 2nd 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. This occurred in the fall of ‘33. Astonishingly, the original lights still brighten the gridiron today.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Bear Creek, Alabama is at coordinates Coordinates:
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