Gilbertown, Alabama

Gilbertown, Alabama
—  Town  —
Location in Choctaw County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Alabama
County Choctaw
Area
 • Total 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Land 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 131 ft (40 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 187
 • Density 233.8/sq mi (89/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 36908
Area code(s) 251
FIPS code 01-29704
GNIS feature ID 0118942

Gilbertown is a town in Choctaw County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 187.

Contents

Geography

Gilbertown is located at 31°52'36.034" North, 88°19'15.265" West (31.876676, -88.320907)[1].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 187 people, 90 households, and 54 families residing in the town. The population density was 232.9 people per square mile (90.3/km²). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 138.3 per square mile (53.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.63% White, 10.70% Black or African American, 1.07% Native American, and 1.60% from two or more races.

There were 90 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the town the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,492. About 15.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.4% of those sixty five or over.

Local events include the Choctaw County Heritage Festival, which takes place usually between May 30 and June 3. Gilbertown is the site of the first producing oil well in Alabama.

1st Oil Well in Alabama

The permit to drill the 1st Oil, the A. R. Jackson Well No. 1, was granted to the Hunt Oil Company on January 2, 1944, near Gilbertown. Drilling started January 10, 1944 and struck in chalk of the Selma Group approximately one month later at 2,580 feet.[3]

References

External links