Centreville, Alabama

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Coordinates: 32°57′0″N 87°8′4″W / 32.95, -87.13444
Centreville, Alabama
Location in Bibb County and the state of Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Bibb
Area
- Total	9.7 sq mi (25.2 km²)
- Land	9.5 sq mi (24.7 km²)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
Elevation	253 ft (77 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,466
- Density	254.2/sq mi (97.9/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	35042
Area code(s)	205
FIPS code	01-13672
GNIS feature ID	0159359

Centreville is a city in Bibb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,466. The city is the county seat of Bibb County.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Notable residents
4 Lynching
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Centreville is located at 32°57'0.000" North, 87°8'4.949" West (32.950000, -87.134708)^[1].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km²), of which, 9.5 square miles (24.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.75%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,466 people, 953 households, and 684 families residing in the city. The population density was 258.5 people per square mile (99.8/km²). There were 1,064 housing units at an average density of 111.6/sq mi (43.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.95% White, 23.03% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 953 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,842, and the median income for a family was $43,309. Males had a median income of $32,250 versus $21,654 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,449. About 14.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable residents

Fresco Thompson, born in Centreville, major league baseball player^[3]

Centreville, Alabama

[edit] Lynching

1910-10-12:

A White woman by the name of Mrs. Crow gave birth to a child of “doubtful color” that was thought by many to be the product of a relationship between Mrs. Crow and an African American, and she was accused of having such a relationship. At first she vigorously denied it, but then – under intense peer pressure – she confessed as to baby’s origin, but claimed that she had been raped. When asked if she knew who raped her, Mrs. Crow gave them the name of Grant Richardson, an African American who lived near the Braehead Slope Mine Camp, which is northeast of Centerville, and about five Miles from what today is West Blocton, Alabama, but was then known as Blocton, Alabama.

The miners and other local residents were so incensed at the affair that they decided to apply “Summary Vengeance” to Mr. Richardson as soon as they knew that the Sheriff had apprehended him.

Deputy Sheriff Cam Riley soon apprehended Mr. Richardson, and was returning him to the jail at Centerville for processing and trial, but they were waylaid enroute by a lynch mob who relieved Deputy Riley of Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson was lined up, and shot in a fusillade by the mob.

Chief Deputy Sherriff Charles Oakley investigated the scene as soon as word of the incident reached him, but – other than the body, the shells, and the blood, there was very little of what was recognized as evidence in 1910 to be found, much less witnesses. A Coroner’s Inquest was held as soon as a special Coroner was appointed, but there is no known result of that inquest. This was the first recorded Lynching to take place in Bibb County, Alabama.

It is unknown if charges of either filing false charges resulting in a Murder or Miscegenation were filed against Mrs. Crow, but it is known by those aware of Mr. Richardson that he had lived in Blocton, Alabama for a number of years with a fair reputation prior to the incident.^[4].