Mentone, Alabama

Mentone, Alabama
Town

Location in DeKalb County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 34°34′20″N 85°34′49″W / 34.57222°N 85.58028°W
Country United States
State Alabama
County DeKalb
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Rob Hammond
Area
 • Total 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km2)
 • Land 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,736 ft (529 m)
Population (2009)
 • Total 486
 • Density 96/sq mi (37/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 35984
Area code(s) 256
FIPS code 01-48064
GNIS feature ID 0150377
Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel, built into a boulder, is located in Mentone, Alabama.

Mentone is a town in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2009 census the population was 486. Mentone has the highest elevation of any incorporated town in Alabama, narrowly over Hytop.

Overview

Mentone is home to many private summer camps, including Camp Desoto for girls, Camp Riverview for girls, Camp Laney for boys, Alpine Camp for boys, Camp Skyline Ranch for girls, Lookout Mountain Camp for boys, and others. The town is also well known as a center for arts and crafts, with numerous shops and several great restaurants. During the summer, the population more than doubles. During the winter, it is famous for being the only place with snow skiing in Alabama, at Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort.

In April 2003, it was the town nearest the epicenter of a magnitude 4.6 earthquake. The surprise quake alarmed residents in the dark hours of the morning and was felt across several states, but caused no injuries and only minor damage even in the town. Mentone is in the ridge and valley region of the far southwestern Appalachian Mountains, an area that generally goes several decades between significant earthquakes, and has never had a major one in recorded history.

Geography

Mentone is located at 34°34′20″N 85°34′49″W / 34.57222°N 85.58028°W (34.572360, -85.580283).[1]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km2), of which, 4.7 square miles (12 km2) of it is land and 0.21% is water.

The elevation is 1,708 feet (521 m) or 521 meters above mean sea level.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1940154—
195024156.5%
19602503.7%
197040762.8%
198047617.0%
1990474−0.4%
2000451−4.9%
2010360−20.2%
Est. 20133641.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[2]
2013 Estimate[3]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 451 people, 201 households, and 127 families residing in the town. The population density was 95.8 people per square mile (37.0/km²). There were 350 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile (28.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.34% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, and 2.88% from two or more races. 0.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 201 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,625, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $27,411 versus $17,656 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,561. About 13.5% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

The town is also the vacation home to renowned jazz trumpeter Ken Watters, and his wife Pam.

Climate

Climate data for Valley Head, AL, 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1893-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26)		 80
(27)		 90
(32)		 92
(33)		 100
(38)		 104
(40)		 106
(41)		 105
(41)		 104
(40)		 98
(37)		 90
(32)		 78
(26)		 106
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 49.3
(9.6)		 53.8
(12.1)		 62.1
(16.7)		 70.7
(21.5)		 78.2
(25.7)		 85.3
(29.6)		 88.5
(31.4)		 88.2
(31.2)		 82.5
(28.1)		 72.7
(22.6)		 64.4
(18)		 51.6
(10.9)		 70.61
(21.45)
Average low °F (°C) 27.5
(−2.5)		 30.2
(−1)		 36.4
(2.4)		 43.5
(6.4)		 53.5
(11.9)		 62.4
(16.9)		 66.6
(19.2)		 65.9
(18.8)		 58.6
(14.8)		 46.2
(7.9)		 37.3
(2.9)		 30.0
(−1.1)		 46.51
(8.05)
Record low °F (°C) −15
(−26)		 −17
(−27)		 2
(−17)		 19
(−7)		 29
(−2)		 35
(2)		 45
(7)		 45
(7)		 29
(−2)		 19
(−7)		 −2
(−19)		 −8
(−22)		 −17
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.44
(138.2)		 5.53
(140.5)		 5.04
(128)		 4.54
(115.3)		 4.65
(118.1)		 4.13
(104.9)		 5.22
(132.6)		 3.52
(89.4)		 4.42
(112.3)		 3.43
(87.1)		 4.99
(126.7)		 4.06
(103.1)		 54.97
(1,396.2)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.8
(4.6)		 1.3
(3.3)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0.4
(1)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.5)		 0.9
(2.3)		 5.9
(15)
Avg. precipitation days 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 10 9 8 11 12 132
Source:

References

  1. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

Coordinates: 34°34′20″N 85°34′49″W / 34.57236°N 85.580283°W