Rainbow City, Alabama

For other places with the same name, see Rainbow City.

Rainbow City, Alabama
City
City of Rainbow City
Location of Rainbow City in Etowah County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°56′38″N 86°3′42″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Etowah
Area
• Total	25.95 sq mi (67.20 km2)
• Land	25.61 sq mi (66.32 km2)
• Water	0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2)
Elevation	568 ft (173 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	9,602
• Estimate  (2019)	9,611
• Density	375.33/sq mi (144.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	35901, 35906
Area code	256
FIPS code	01-63288
GNIS feature ID	0153101
Website	www.rbcalabama.com

Rainbow City is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1950. The population was 9,602 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

This city was named after U.S. Highway 411, called Rainbow Drive, which runs through the middle of the city. Some of the older citizens say it was named after the US 42nd Infantry Division, known as the "Rainbow Division".

As early as 1818, families from the Carolinas and Georgia began to migrate to the area and homestead land near the Coosa River. Hernando de Soto's troops were the first visitors to the area in 1540, and today a bridge stands where the Pensacola Trading Path crossed the Coosa River. A paved highway now traces the trail that was cut from Nashville to Horseshoe Bend by Andrew Jackson on his way to fight the Creek Native Americans in what is now known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

Originally called "Coosa Bend", the area was later called "Morgan's Cross Road". It was located at the intersection of the Gadsden-Ashville Road and Gilbert's Ferry Road. The land was passed from Edmond Jones to his son Clayton, who never married. When he died, the land passed to his sister, Luvica Morgan, who was also the wife of William Morgan.

Knowing the importance of education, John Sheffield Jones, the grandson of Edmond Jones, an original settler, donated $1,000 and the land for the construction of the first John S. Jones Elementary School. Later, John S. Jones burned to the ground and a new elementary school was built and serves the Rainbow City area today.

On Saturday, April 2, 1831, a church was organized at the Harmony Meeting House. Thomas Morgan served as the first pastor. A few years later, the first Baptist association was organized by Rev. John Gilliland. Harmony was one of the first five members in the association. The adjoining cemetery, Old Harmony Cemetery, has been declared a historic landmark. This cemetery has black and white slaves buried in it, Native Americans, single and double interment, and most of the tombstones have poems and writings on them. They say one man is buried crosswise because he lived crosswise with the world.

Education

The city is served by the Etowah County Board of Education. The city has one public elementary school, and shares a middle and high school with neighboring Southside. There is also a private school for the city, Westbrook Christian School. Westbrook is a 3k-12 school.

John S. Jones Elementary

John S. Jones Elementary has been awarded an "A" on the state report card for the last two years. John S. Jones Elementary was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School Award in 2001 and in 2020. John S. Jones is also a CLAS Banner School of Distinction and A Bicentennial School. Students can join various school clubs and activities. The school started a recycling program to promote it throughout the community. The mission of John S. Jones Elementary is to develop competent, respectful, and resourceful students who pursue life-long learning. We will accomplish this by providing a comprehensive, challenging, and diverse curriculum taught by enthusiastic, dedicated professionals in a safe, healthy, child-centered environment. JSJ Commendation

Rainbow Middle School

Rainbow Middle School is the shared middle school for the area of Southside and Rainbow City. It houses grades 6-8. The mission of Rainbow Middle School is to assure the development of successful, caring, responsible students by providing a nurturing learning environment.

Southside High School

Southside is the shared high school for the area of Southside and Rainbow City. It houses grades 9-12. The Southside mascot is a Panther. The mission of Southside High School is to make certain that each student realizes his or her own unique potential. We strive to provide progressive instruction and a broad curriculum to ensure that all students meet state standards and are prepared for future challenges.

Geography

Rainbow City is located in southern Etowah County at 33°56′38″N 86°3′42″W (33.943964, -86.061546). It is bordered to the northeast by Gadsden, the county seat, to the southeast by the Coosa River, across which is the city of Southside, and to the southwest, across Little Canoe Creek, by the town of Steele in St. Clair County.

U.S. Route 411 (Rainbow Drive) is the main road through the city, leading northeast 6 miles (10 km) to the center of Gadsden and southwest 15 miles (24 km) to Ashville. Alabama State Route 77 (Grand Avenue) crosses US 411 in the center of Rainbow City, leading northwest 4 miles (6 km) to Interstate 59 at Exit 181 and south 26 miles (42 km) to Lincoln.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Rainbow City has a total area of 25.6 square miles (66.3 km²), of which 25.4 square miles (65.9 km²) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 0.58%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	1,625		—
1970	3,107		91.2%
1980	6,299		102.7%
1990	7,673		21.8%
2000	8,428		9.8%
2010	9,602		13.9%
2019 (est.)	9,611		0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,428 people, 3,586 households, and 2,517 families residing in the city. The population density was 335.3 people per square mile (129.5/km²). There were 3,824 housing units at an average density of 152.1 per square mile (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.09% White, 3.51% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,586 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,216, and the median income for a family was $50,844. Males had a median income of $38,278 versus $26,483 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,860. About 6.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,602 people, 4,113 households, and 2,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 333.1 people per square mile (128.5/km²). There were 4,534 housing units at an average density of 179.2 per square mile (69.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.4% White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,113 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,236, and the median income for a family was $60,000. Males had a median income of $45,593 versus $32,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,422. About 10.5% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government

The current mayor of Rainbow City is Joe Taylor, who was first elected in 2020.

Notable people

• Brodie Croyle, former Alabama quarterback and retired NFL player
• Patrick Nix, former Auburn quarterback, father of the struggling disappointment Bo Nix, and current high school football coach in Pinson Valley

External links

• Rainbow City official website