Attalla, Alabama
Attalla, Alabama | |
---|---|
City | |
Downtown Attalla | |
Motto: "Gateway to Northeast Alabama"[1] | |
Location in Etowah County and the state of Alabama | |
Coordinates: 34°0′35″N 86°5′54″W / 34.00972°N 86.09833°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama |
County | Etowah |
Area | |
• Total | 7.0 sq mi (18.1 km2) |
• Land | 7.0 sq mi (18.1 km2) |
• Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 6,048 |
• Density | 866/sq mi (334.5/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP code | 35954 |
Area code(s) | 256 |
FIPS code | 01-03028 |
GNIS feature ID | 0157880 |
Website |
www |
Attalla is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,048.[2]
History
The town occupies the site of an Indian village which was of considerable importance during the Creek War. It was in Attalla that David Brown, a Cherokee, assisted by the Rev. D. S. Butterick, prepared the Cherokee Spelling Book.
Attalla was incorporated as a city government on February 5, 1872, and was founded in 1870 on land donated by W. C. Hammond, a plantation owner. The town was officially named "Attalla" in 1893, from the Cherokee language word meaning "mountain".[3] Attalla was prosperous until the railroads that it depended on went into bankruptcy.
Attalla is the site of the first hydroelectric dam to provide electricity for a city, constructed in 1887.[4]
Geography
Attalla is located southwest of the center of Etowah County at 34°0′35″N 86°5′54″W / 34.00972°N 86.09833°W (34.009818, -86.098413).[5] It is bordered to the east by the city of Gadsden, the county seat, and at its southernmost point by Rainbow City.
Interstate 59 runs along the eastern edge of the city, with access from Exits 181 and 183. U.S. Route 11 passes through the center of town as Third Street and runs generally parallel to I-59, leading northeast 36 miles (58 km) to Fort Payne and southwest 58 miles (93 km) to Birmingham. U.S. Routes 278 and 431 also pass through the center of Attalla, leading east 5 miles (8 km) to downtown Gadsden. US 431 runs north 20 miles (32 km) to Albertville, while US 278 leads west 47 miles (76 km) to Cullman. Alabama State Route 77 passes through the southern section of Attalla, leading north 3 miles (5 km) to US 431 and southeast 6 miles (10 km) to Rainbow City.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2), all of it land.[2] Big Wills Creek, a tributary of the Coosa River, flows southeasterly through the city. The southern end of Lookout Mountain rises to the east overlooking the city.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 351 | — | |
1890 | 1,254 | 257.3% | |
1900 | 1,692 | 34.9% | |
1910 | 2,513 | 48.5% | |
1920 | 3,462 | 37.8% | |
1930 | 4,585 | 32.4% | |
1940 | 4,885 | 6.5% | |
1950 | 7,537 | 54.3% | |
1960 | 8,257 | 9.6% | |
1970 | 7,510 | −9.0% | |
1980 | 7,737 | 3.0% | |
1990 | 6,859 | −11.3% | |
2000 | 6,592 | −3.9% | |
2010 | 6,048 | −8.3% | |
Est. 2014 | 5,940 | [6] | −1.8% |
U.S. Decennial Census[7] |
2000 Census data
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 6,795 people, 2,672 households, and 1,976 families residing in the city. The population density was 988.0 people per square mile (381.6/km2). There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of 436.7 per square mile (168.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.42% White, 13.5% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,620 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,444, and the median income for a family was $39,549. Males had a median income of $30,605 versus $19,693 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,727. About 16.4% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 6,048 people, 2,442 households, and 1,627 families residing in the city. The population density was 983.9 people per square mile (381/km2). There were 2,841 housing units at an average density of 424 per square mile (164.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.5% White, 12.7% Black or African American, .4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 4.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,442 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% 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 2.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,426, and the median income for a family was $35,934. Males had a median income of $33,428 versus $25,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,457. About 13.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Attalla City School System is the public school district. As of 2006 it has some 1,823 students.[10]
The district includes the following schools:
- Attalla Elementary School (Grades Pk-5)
- Etowah Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Etowah High School (Grades 9-12)
Notable people
- Gerald William Barrax, poet and educator
- Betty Kelly (born September 16, 1944), member of Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas
- Larry Means, member of the Alabama Senate
- Patrick Nix (born April 7, 1972), former Auburn University quarterback
- Tyrone Nix (born September 30, 1972), defensive coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels
- B. L. Noojin, athlete, educator, and politician
- Albert Staton, basketball and football player for Georgia Institute of Technology
- Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (born April 21, 1982), Tampa Bay Buccaneers player
References
- ↑ City of Attalla official website
- 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Attalla city, Alabama". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "The Names Stayed". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. August 29, 1990. p. 64. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ↑ "Historic Attalla Alabama". City of Attalla. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
- ↑ Attalla City Schools
External links
Coordinates: 34°00′35″N 86°05′54″W / 34.009818°N 86.098413°W
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