West Blocton, Alabama
| West Blocton, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location in Bibb County and the state of Alabama | |
| Coordinates: 33°7′7″N 87°7′22″W / 33.11861°N 87.12278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Bibb |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km2) |
| • Land | 4.6 sq mi (11.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 495 ft (151 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,240 |
| • Density | 271/sq mi (104.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 35184 |
| Area code(s) | 205 |
| FIPS code | 01-80928 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0153935 |
| Website |
www |
West Blocton is a town in Bibb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,240.[1]
Geography
West Blocton is located in northern Bibb County at 33°7′7″N 87°7′22″W / 33.11861°N 87.12278°W (33.118733, -87.122875),[2] at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains.
Alabama State Route 5 passes through the town, west of the town center, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Woodstock and south 12 miles (19 km) to Brent and Centreville, the county seat.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), of which 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.52%, is water.[1]
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 892 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,023 | 14.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,070 | 4.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,317 | 23.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,280 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,156 | −9.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,172 | 1.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,147 | −2.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,468 | 28.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,372 | −6.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,240 | −9.6% | |
| Est. 2013 | 1,264 | 1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[3] 2013 Estimate[4] | |||
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,372 people, 532 households, and 389 families residing in the town. The population density was 291.7 people per square mile (112.7/km²). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 127.4 per square mile (49.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.74% White, 19.53% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 532 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,417, and the median income for a family was $38,854. Males had a median income of $31,164 versus $23,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,861. About 14.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable inhabitants
- Mel Allen, broadcaster for the New York Yankees, was raised in West Blocton.
- Sammie Lee Hill, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, was born in West Blocton in 1986. He is a graduate of West Blocton High School and Stillman College.
- Debra Marshall, known from her days with the WCW and WWE, was raised in West Blocton.
- Frank Pratt, former baseball player for the Chicago White Sox. Born in Blocton, a town to the east of West Blocton that no longer exists.
- Mildred Lee Scudder, author of children's books, was born in Blocton on February 19, 1908.
- Colonel James B. Swindal (1917-2006), U.S. Air Force, pilot of Air Force One during the administrations of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; including Texas trip during which Kennedy was assassinated.
Trivia
- West Blocton is known for its historic beehive ovens, built in the late 1880s for coke production.
- A feature-length documentary, West Blocton: Small Town, Big Heart, was made in 2012 by Michael J. Logan, an independent filmmaker whose family is from the town. The film covers the history of West Blocton from its inception in 1884 as a coal mining town until present day.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, West Blocton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): West Blocton town, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ Climate Summary for West Blocton, Alabama
External links
- Town of West Blocton official website
- History of West Blocton, Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities
- West Blocton History Short Notes, West Blocton Bible Methodist Church
- West Blocton Coke Ovens Park
Coordinates: 33°07′07″N 87°07′22″W / 33.118733°N 87.122875°W
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