Headland, Alabama

Headland
City
This statue of a World War I doughboy, with his arm outstretched, honors all of Headland's military dead. It stands at the center of Headland Public Square.
Location of Headland in Henry County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 31°21′12″N 85°20′23″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Henry
Government
• Mayor	Ray Marler
Area
• Total	30.34 sq mi (78.58 km2)
• Land	30.33 sq mi (78.56 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	385 ft (117 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,510
• Estimate  (2019)	4,712
• Density	155.35/sq mi (59.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	36345
Area code	334
FIPS code	01-33856
GNIS feature ID	0119910
Website	www.headlandalabama.org

Headland is the largest city in Henry County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama's metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 4,510 up from 3,523 at the 2000 census. Ray Marler is the current mayor.

History

James Joshua Head (1839–1927) founded Headland in 1871 as "Head's Land". He patented land, plotted the town and built his home. The post office opened, as "Headland", on October 10, 1871.

The Headland Public Square was laid off in 1871 by J.J. Head with a vision for a branch courthouse. Henry County voters decided in the 1879 and 1885 courthouse site elections not to locate a courthouse on the public square. Henry has been Alabama's only county with three courthouses at the same time.

J.J. Head sold Headland to Hosey C. Powell in 1879, who sold to Dr. Wyatt S. Oates in 1880. J.J. Head moved to Tampa, Florida, in 1883 and later established Lake Magdalene, Florida.

Headland incorporated in 1884 with 26 white and 4 black petitioners. The railroad was built in 1893 along with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Depot. The depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1980. It has since been disassembled.

Headland's "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue was the first public statue in Henry County. It was erected on the square in 1926 as a tribute to the town's military dead. The square was paved in 1935.

As of the 1960 U.S. Census, Headland had grown into Henry County's largest city, narrowly edging out Abbeville, which had been the largest since Dothan was removed into Houston County in 1903. Headland lost that distinction to Abbeville again in 1970, but regained it in 1980 and has since solidified its hold. In 2000, it broke Dothan's then-Henry County 1900 record of 3,275 residents with 3,523 and added nearly 1,000 more by 2010.

Geography

Headland is located in the southwest corner of Henry County at 31°21′12″N 85°20′23″W (31.353410, -85.339793). It is bordered to the south by the city of Dothan and town of Kinsey in Houston County and to the west by Dale County.

U.S. Route 431, a four-lane highway, passes through the east side of Headland, leading south 10 miles (16 km) to the center of Dothan and north 18 miles (29 km) to Abbeville. Alabama State Route 134 runs through the center of Headland, leading east 16 miles (26 km) to Columbia next to the Georgia line, and west 10 miles (16 km) to Midland City.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Headland has a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.5 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.03%, are water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	602		—
1910	1,090		81.1%
1920	1,252		14.9%
1930	1,811		44.6%
1940	2,052		13.3%
1950	2,091		1.9%
1960	2,650		26.7%
1970	2,545		−4.0%
1980	3,327		30.7%
1990	3,266		−1.8%
2000	3,523		7.9%
2010	4,510		28.0%
2019 (est.)	4,712		4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,523 people, 1,423 households, and 1,027 families residing in the city. The population density was 219.7 people per square mile (84.9/km²). There were 1,516 housing units at an average density of 94.6 per square mile (36.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.53% White, 31.28% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,423 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% 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 2.94.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,388, and the median income for a family was $42,150. Males had a median income of $33,500 versus $20,165 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,069. About 10.6% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,510 people, 1,799 households, and 1,291 families residing in the city. The population density was 281.9 people per square mile (108.7/km²). There were 1,949 housing units at an average density of 121.8 per square mile (47.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.1% White, 27.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,799 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.3% 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 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,813, and the median income for a family was $50,120. Males had a median income of $37,025 versus $30,734 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,304. About 13.6% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Headland is a part of the Henry County Public Schools system. It operates Headland Elementary School (K-5), Headland Middle School (6-9) and Headland High School (10-12).

Sports

Headland was home to the Headland Dixie Runners, a minor league baseball team in the Alabama State League/Alabama–Florida League from 1950 to 1952.

Headland was also the home to the 2016 Dixie Youth Baseball World Champions.

Notable people

• M. Watt Espy, death penalty historian
• W. Thomas West, former major general in the U.S. Air Force
• Charles Woods, businessman and political candidate
• Miss Alabama USA, Pamela Flowers, Miss Headland 1973, Miss Alabama USA 1975, 1st runner up to Miss USA, Miss Photogenic
• Miss Alabama USA, Keisha Walding, Miss Headland 2000, Miss Alabama USA 2008

Photo gallery

• 
  Headland City Hall (erected 1930)
• 
  Blanche R. Solomon Memorial Library
• 
  The First Baptist Church of Headland was first organized in 1837.

External links

• Headland, Alabama Chamber of Commerce