| Lowndesboro, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lowndesboro, built in 1856. | |
| Location in Lowndes County and the state of Alabama | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Lowndes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) |
| • Land | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 404 ft (123 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 140 |
| • Density | 175/sq mi (66.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 36752 |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-44536 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0163936 |
Lowndesboro is a town in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 140. It is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Originally known as McGill's Hill, the community began attracting settlers following the conclusion of the Creek War. In 1832, the residents changed the name to Lowndesboro in honor of U.S. Congressman William Lowndes, the son of Rawlins Lowndes, an early South Carolina governor.[1]
With its proximity to the Alabama River, the community had grown into a prosperous town by the 1830s. Many wealthy planters settled in the area, leaving a legacy of historic mid-19th century architecture that largely survived intact into the modern era. A brief skirmish was fought at Lowndesboro in April 1865 between a group of Confederate cavalry and advance troops of the Union Army during Wilson's Raid. Federal troops occupied the town after driving off the Confederate force, with very little destruction noted from the occupation.[1]
Like many small Southern communities with an economy based on cotton production and trade, Lowndesboro declined rapidly in the post-war years. At least partially attributed to this decline was the survival of much of the pre-war architecture into the 20th century, making it a unique assemblage of 19th century architecture.[1] Today much of the town is included in the Lowndesboro Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2] The Dicksonia Plantation ruins are also a notable place of interest.[3]
On March 25, 1965, civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo was shot to death during a high-speed chase by Ku Klux Klan members on U.S. Route 80, while driving to Montgomery to pick up a group of demonstrators waiting to return to Selma after the Selma-to-Montgomery march. The Klansmen spotted the white Liuzzo and her black passenger, Leroy Moton, at a stoplight in Selma, catching up to the pair about two miles (3 km) west of Lowndesboro.[4]
Lowndesboro is located at (32.273118, -86.609915)[5].
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.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 140 people, 58 households, and 40 families residing in the town. The population density was 176.0 people per square mile (67.6/km²). There were 62 housing units at an average density of 77.9 per square mile (29.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.43% White, 25.00% Black or African American, 1.43% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 3.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 58 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $41,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,101. There were 16.0% of families and 29.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including 39.4% of under eighteens and 38.6% of those over 64.
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