Midland City, Alabama

Midland City, Alabama
Town
Location in Dale County and the state of Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Dale
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Hon. Virgil Marvin Skipper, Sr.
Area
• Total	6.1 sq mi (15.7 km2)
• Land	6.1 sq mi (15.7 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	377 ft (115 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,344
• Density	386/sq mi (148.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	36350
Area code	334
FIPS code	01-48400
GNIS feature ID	0152313

Midland City is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 2,344. It incorporated in 1890. It is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

2013 hostage standoff

Main article: 2013 Alabama bunker hostage crisis

On January 29, 2013, 65-year-old Vietnam War-era veteran Jimmy Lee Dykes climbed aboard a school bus and fatally shot the driver; he then abducted at random a five-year-old boy named Ethan, who was sitting at the closest seat. He took Ethan into an underground bunker, where he held him captive. About a week after the incident, FBI agents were able to storm the bunker, kill Dykes, and rescue Ethan.

Geography

Midland City is located in southeastern Dale County at 31°18′29″N 85°29′26″W (31.307945, -85.490606). It is bordered to the east by the town of Napier Field, to the southeast by the city of Dothan, and to the west by the town of Pinckard. U.S. Route 231 passes through the town, leading northwest 13 miles (21 km) to Ozark, the Dale County seat, and southeast 9 miles (14 km) to the center of Dothan. Alabama State Route 134 passes through the center of Midland City, leading east 10 miles (16 km) to Headland and west 7 miles (11 km) to Newton via Pinckard.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Midland City has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.7 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	304		—
1910	539		77.3%
1920	665		23.4%
1930	755		13.5%
1940	647		−14.3%
1950	784		21.2%
1960	854		8.9%
1970	1,172		37.2%
1980	1,903		62.4%
1990	1,819		−4.4%
2000	1,703		−6.4%
2010	2,344		37.6%
2014 (est.)	2,366		0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,703 people, 707 households, and 477 families residing in the town. The population density was 282.1 people per square mile (108.9/km²). There were 805 housing units at an average density of 133.3 per square mile (51.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.58% White, 25.19% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 707 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,000, and the median income for a family was $24,474. Males had a median income of $26,927 versus $17,174 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,438. About 26.0% of families and 30.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.1% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,344 people, 944 households, and 636 families residing in the town. The population density was 392 people per square mile (150.8/km²). There were 1,014 housing units at an average density of 169 per square mile (65/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.4% White, 23.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 4.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 944 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,591, and the median income for a family was $39,071. Males had a median income of $33,305 versus $23,897 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,283. About 26.7% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Bobby Bright, U.S. congressman from Alabama
• Earl Dewitt Hutto, congressman from Florida from 1979 to 1995

See also

• 2013 Alabama bunker hostage crisis

External links

• City-Data.com
• ePodunk: Profile for Midland City, Alabama, AL