Hueytown, Alabama
Hueytown, Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2) |
| • Land | 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 600 ft (183 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 15,364 |
| • Density | 1,324.5/sq mi (510.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 35022-35023 |
| Area code | 205 |
| FIPS code | 01-36448 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0158850 |
Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,364.
Hueytown was the home of the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang. It also made international headlines with the unexplainable "Hueytown Hum," a mysterious noise once believed to be related to an underground coal mine in the area.
Recently, Hueytown has undergone economic growth with the opening of a new shopping center anchored by a Publix Super Market, which opened on April 26, 2006. Although most of this strip mall remains unleased due to its uncapped management fees, a Cingular store, Chic nails, and Xpress Ship are located in this strip mall.
The closing of a predominantly African-American sports park has led to allegations of racism and a boycott by the SCLC.
Geography
Hueytown is located at 33°26′16″N 86°59′51″W / 33.43778°N 86.99750°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (33.437709, -86.997579)Template:GR.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.1 km² (11.6 mi²). 30.1 km² (11.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.17%) is water.
It is considered a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, and is included in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 15,364 people, 6,155 households, and 4,517 families residing in the city. The population density was 510.9/km² (1,323.7/mi²). There were 6,519 housing units at an average density of 216.8/km² (561.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.81% White, 15.49% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,155 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,225, and the median income for a family was $49,380. Males had a median income of $36,087 versus $26,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,735. About 5.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
The Alabama Gang
Hueytown was home to one of the dominant racing groups in NASCAR, the Alabama Gang. The city's main thoroughfare, Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive, takes its name from drivers Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Davey Allison, Clifford Allison and Neil Bonnett. The Alabama Gang also includes racing legend Charles "Red" Farmer. Though not considered a member of The Alabama Gang, Bobby and Donnie's older brother Eddie Allison had an active role in NASCAR for many years and still resides in Hueytown. His son, Jacob, is a radio personality on Birmingham, Alabama station WJOX. He also resides in Hueytown.
Culture
Churches often play a supportive role in this community. In recent years several have experienced dramatic changes. Although Garywood Assembly of God has conducted many large-scale dramatic performances, camp meetings, and revivals in Hueytown over the past quarter-century, it announced in 2004 that it will move its facilities to nearby McCalla. However, growth has caused expansion to Union Hill Baptist Church, which is located in the Rock Creek community, and North Highlands Baptist Church, which has moved into a new facility located off 15th Street Road near the Virginia Mines community.
Other churches have remained in the town's central district. Since 1875, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church [1] has served the community as a family church with a wide variety of ministries and missions, including a local food pantry.
Education
Hueytown's public schools are part of the Jefferson County school system. Schools serving the city include Hueytown High School (two time 5A softball state champs and now a 6A school), Hueytown Middle School (formerly Pittman Middle School), Hueytown Elementary School, and North Highland Elementary School. Two private religious schools, Garywood Christian School and Brooklane Baptist Academy, are located in Hueytown.
The mascot for Hueytown High School is the mighty, fighting golden gopher.
HYT
The abbreviation HYT (HueYTown) has become a popular term of reference for Hueytown among some of the residents.
External links
- Hueytown.com
- Hueytown Information Site - Including tourist information (Driving Maps, Weather etc...).
- OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR THE CITY OF HUEYTOWN
- Hueytown Historical Society
- The History of Hueytown by Mary K. Roberts (1992)
- History of Hueytown by Simon J. Smith (1962)
