Alexander City, Alabama

Alexander City
—  City  —
The Alexander City Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 2000.
Seal
Nickname(s): Alex City, A-Town, AC
Location in Tallapoosa County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 32°55′59″N 85°56′10″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Tallapoosa
Founded	1872
Government
• Mayor	Barbara H. Young
Area
• Total	39.0 sq mi (101 km2)
• Land	38.8 sq mi (100.5 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	705 ft (215 m)
Population (2007)
• Total	14,950
• Density	386.6/sq mi (149.3/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	35010-35011
Area code(s)	256
FIPS code	01-01132
GNIS feature ID	0112981
Website	http://www.alexandercityonline.com

Alexander City, known to locals as "Alex City", is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States, with a population of some 15,000. It is known for Lake Martin with its 750 miles (1,210 km) of wooded shoreline and 44,000 acres (180 km²) of crystal clear water. Lake Martin stands on the Tallapoosa River and offers boating, swimming, fishing, golfing, and camping. Many neighborhoods and luxury homes are located on the lake.

The city was traditionally based around the textile industry, but in recent times its economic base has become more diversified as textile jobs have gone elsewhere.

History

Alexander City was incorporated in 1872 as Youngstown, after its founder James Young. In 1873 the Savannah and Memphis Railroad came to the city. The city was renamed in honor of the railroad's President Edward Porter Alexander, hero of the Battle of Gettysburg for the Confederate States.

On June 13, 1902, at 1 pm, a fire broke out in the Alexander City Machine shop and destroyed much of the town. At the time, Alexander City did not have a water system and all buildings, including the telegraph office, post office and three banks were burned.

Geography

Alexander City is located at 32°55′59″N 85°56′10″W (32.933157, -85.936008).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.0 square miles (101.0 km²), of which 38.8 square miles (100.5 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) (0.44%) is water.

Alexander City is located on U.S. Route 280. Birmingham is 60 miles (97 km) to the north, Auburn is 40 miles (64 km) southeast and Montgomery is 50 miles (80 km) south-southwest of Alexander City.

Demographics

Location of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area in the Montgomery-Alexander City CSA, highlighted in yellow

2000 Census data

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	796		—
1890	679		−14.7%
1900	1,061		56.3%
1910	1,710		61.2%
1920	2,293		34.1%
1930	4,519		97.1%
1940	6,640		46.9%
1950	6,430		−3.2%
1960	13,140		104.4%
1970	12,358		−6.0%
1980	13,807		11.7%
1990	14,917		8.0%
2000	15,008		0.6%
Est. 2007	14,950		−0.4%

Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census.

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,008 people, 6,152 households, and 4,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 386.6 people per square mile (149.3/km²). There were 6,855 housing units at an average density of 176.6 per square mile (68.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.56% White, 28.37% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,152 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,309, and the median income for a family was $38,881. Males had a median income of $30,392 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,305. About 15.0% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Alexander City uses a mayor-council government. The government consists of a mayor who is elected at large. The city council consists of six members who are elected from one of six districts.

Education

• Alexander City Schools

Economy

Russell Corporation, maker of Russell Athletic, Cross Creek, Jerzees, and Country Cottons apparel, was founded in 1902 and is a large employer in the city. The company is headquartered in the city, but has also had an office in Atlanta since 1998. Recently, the number of workers employed by Russell Corporation in Alex City has been steadily declining as more and more production is moved overseas. On April 17, 2006, Russell Corporation was bought by Berkshire Hathaway for an estimated $600 million. Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's company, also owns such companies as Fruit of the Loom and GEICO. The company will continue to operate as Russell Corporation, but its workers and CEO will report to Fruit of the Loom.

Transportation

T.C. Russell Field Airport (KALX), off U.S. Highway 280 adjacent to the Airport Industrial Park, is owned and maintained by the City of Alexander City. KALX does not provide scheduled passenger services. The nearest major airports are Birmingham and Montgomery.

Alexander City has no railway station. The nearest rail passenger services are provided at Anniston, which is served daily by Amtrak's The Crescent to Atlanta, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, and in the other direction to New Orleans.

Alexander City has no scheduled bus service. The nearest point for Greyhound passenger service is Opelika, which has three buses per day to Atlanta.

Media

See also: List of television stations in Alabama and List of radio stations in Alabama

Alexander City is served by the Montgomery-Selma Designated Market Area (DMA). Charter Communications provides cable television service. DirecTV and Dish Network provide direct broadcast satellite television including both local and national channels to area residents.

Notable natives

• Roberta Alison - tennis player
• Joe Forehand - former Chairman of the Board of Accenture
• Terrell Owens - wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Jim Phillips - All-American at Auburn University and NFL All-Pro.
• George Hardy - actor in the cult classic Troll 2.
• Eltoro Freeman – American football linebacker

Gallery

• 

  City Hall in Alexander City

• 

  Alexander City Post Office (ZIP code: 35010)

• 

  Adelia M. Russell Library

• 

  The George C. Wallace Administration Building located on the campus of Central Alabama Community College.

• 

  Benjamin Russell High School

• 

  The old city hall building is now used as the Police Department and Municipal Court.

• 

  Originally built as the city post office, the Charles T. Porch Center is now used as a city community center.

• 

  The Avondale Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 9, 2005.

• 

  Built in 1890, the Reuben Herzfeld House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1995.

• 

  Alexander City First Baptist Church (Established in 1872)

• 

  Alexander City First United Methodist Church (Established in 1872)

External links

• City of Alexander City official site
• Alexander City Chamber of Commerce