Andalusia, Alabama
| Andalusia | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 31°18′N 86°29′W / 31.300°N 86.483°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Covington |
| Settled | 1841 |
| Incorporated | 1884 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor/City Council |
| • Mayor | Earl Johnson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.97 sq mi (49.1 km2) |
| • Land | 18.87 sq mi (48.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 348 ft (106 m) |
| Population (2007)[1] | |
| • Total | 8,705 |
| • Density | 465.9/sq mi (179.9/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 36420 |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-01708 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0133361 |
| Website | http://www.cityofandalusia.com/ |
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.[2] According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705.[1]
Andalusia is the location of the annual World Championship Domino Tournament.[3]
Contents |
History [edit]
Andalusia was first settled in 1841 after flooding of the Conecuh River and the surrounding lowlands forced citizens to move to higher ground. The county seat was moved from Montezuma to Andalusia in 1844. The new town was originally called "New Site" but was known as Andalusia by the time a post office was established in 1846.[4] Andalusia was incorporated as a town in 1884.[5]
Jess Dixon, an inventor from Andalusia, received widespread attention in 1941 after building a helicopter-car (see photo).[6]
In 1944, country singers Hank Williams and Audrey Sheppard were married in a Texaco Station in Andalusia by a justice of the peace. The marriage was declared illegal, since Sheppard's divorce from her previous husband did not comply with the legally required sixty-day trial reconciliation.[7]
Sgt. Charles "Bubba" Bailey of the Andalusia Police Department was featured on the Australian TV show Hamish & Andy in 2009. The comedy duo drove across the United States in the "Abravan Lincoln" during their "Caravan of Courage" tour, performing a skit with Sgt. Bailey in Andalusia.[8]
The Avant House is one of seven sites in Andalusia listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography [edit]
Andalusia is located at 31°18′N 86°29′W / 31.300°N 86.483°W (31.309, -86.479)[9]. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.0 square miles (49 km2) of which 18.9 square miles (49 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.47%) is water.[10] Andalusia is served by the Andalusia-Opp Airport, located approximately five miles east of the central business district.
Demographics [edit]
2000 Census data [edit]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 8,794 people, 3,707 households, and 2,376 families residing in the city.[2] The population density was 465.9 inhabitants per square mile (179.9 /km2). There were 4,279 housing units at an average density of 226.7 per square mile (87.5 /km2).[10] The racial makeup of the city was 73.93% White, 24.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]
There were 3,707 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.[2]
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.[2]
The median income for a household in the city was $26,856, and the median income for a family was $37,091. Males had a median income of $29,406 versus $20,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,292. About 15.7% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.[2]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 596 |
|
|
| 1890 | 270 | −54.7% | |
| 1900 | 551 | 104.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,480 | 350.1% | |
| 1920 | 4,023 | 62.2% | |
| 1930 | 5,154 | 28.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,886 | 33.6% | |
| 1950 | 9,162 | 33.1% | |
| 1960 | 10,263 | 12.0% | |
| 1970 | 10,092 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 10,415 | 3.2% | |
| 1990 | 9,269 | −11.0% | |
| 2000 | 8,794 | −5.1% | |
| Est. 2007 | 8,705 | ||
Media [edit]
- Newspaper
- Andalusia Star-News (daily)
Education [edit]
Primary and secondary public education is provided by Andalusia City Schools, which consists of Andalusia Elementary School, Andalusia Middle School, and Andalusia High School. Students can continue their studies at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.
Notable people [edit]
- William Harold Albritton III - U.S. district court judge.
- Dempsey J. Barron - President of the Florida Senate from 1975–1976.
- Erica Boyer - pornographic actress; daughter of Alabama Assistant Attorney General Joseph 'Joe Breck' Breckenridge Gantt.[12][13]
- Charles Brooks - editorial cartoonist.
- Cecil O. De Loach, Jr. - California grape-grower and winemaker.
- Quinton Dial - defensive tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
- Irwin Gunsalus - assistant secretary general at the United Nations.
- Seth Hammett - Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.
- Robert Horry - one of only two players to have won the National Basketball Association championship with three different teams.
- Nico Johnson - one of two members of the University of Alabama's football team to start in their National Championship victories in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
- Alexa Jones - Miss Alabama 2005 and Miss America 2006 (second runner-up).[14]
- T. D. Little - member of Alabama Senate and House of Representatives.
- Lamar Morris - country music singer.
- Frank J. Tipler - mathematical physicist and cosmologist; author of books and papers about a mechanism for the resurrection of the dead.
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Alabama". United States Census Bureau. 2008-07-10. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fact Sheet- Andalusia city, Alabama". American Fast Facts. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "World Championship Domino Tournament". Andalusia Rotary Club. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Hoskins Morton, Patricia (December 10, 2009). "Covington County". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Owen, Thomas McAdory; Marie Bankhead Owen (1921). History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 1. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 716.
- ^ "This Helicopter-Car Flies Over Traffic!". Mechanix Illustrated. Nov. 1941.
- ^ Lipsitz, George (1994). "Rainbow at Midnight: Labor and Culture in the 1940's". University of Illinois.
- ^ Nelson, Stephanie (Nov. 13, 2009). "Bubba Becomes (More) Famous". Andalusia Star-News.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ a b "Geographic Comparison Table- Alabama". American Fast Facts. United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Amanda Margaret "Mandy" Jensen (1956–2009)". The News Harald.
- ^ Stanton, Mary (1998). "From Selma to Sorrow: The Life and Death of Viola Liuzzo". University of Georgia Press.
- ^ "Alexa Jones: Miss Alabama". Country Music Television.
External links [edit]
- Andalusia City Schools
- Covington County Schools Web site
- Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce
- Andalusia Star-News Web site
Coordinates: 31°18′32″N 86°28′44″W / 31.309°N 86.479°W
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