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Piedmont, Alabama

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Piedmont
City
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesCalhoun, Cherokee
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council (7 members)
 • MayorBrian Young
Area
 • Total9.8 sq mi (25.3 km2)
 • Land9.8 sq mi (25.3 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
702 ft (214 m)
Population
 (2)
 • Total5,120
 • Density522.4/sq mi (202.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36272
Area code256
FIPS code01-59640
GNIS feature ID0160373
WebsiteCity of Piedmont

Piedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 5,120 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many surrounding communities utilize the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run, Knighten's Crossroads, and Nance's Creek. The current mayor is Brian Young, who was elected in 2008.

History

Founding and Early Growth

The area now known as Piedmont is a community that began in the early 1840s, located at the crossroads of two early post roads. Major Jacob Forney Dailey of North Carolina came to Alabama in 1848 and bought land in present-day Piedmont. Major Dailey named the area Cross Plains, and an official post-office was named Cross Plains, Alabama on September 22, 1851.

In Reconstruction-era Alabama, an incident at Cross Plains affected race relations and the future of the northeast section of the state for generations as a result of the lynching of William Luke, a northern missionary, and several other men in 1870. In that year, the new Northern owned railroad to connect Washington, D.C. and the North with New Orleans was to have its headquarters near the small northeast Alabama town, at Patona. After the Ku Klux Klan activities discussed here,[clarification needed] however, the headquarters was moved, and the town never achieved the dominant position in Calhoun County, with Anniston, founded the next year, achieving that status instead.

Wall Street financier Franklin Delano, uncle of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was president of the railroad at the time. The railroad sponsored a school for African-American children of freedmen and Luke was the teacher. Word spread in the area that Luke was teaching racial equality, and resentment developed against him in the northern Calhoun County area. The railroad was planning to use the graduates as a source of students for Talladega College who might then go on to work for the railroad. A racial fight at the Cross Plains station gave rise to arrests of certain Freedmen, and then of Luke as well. Klansmen then seized the prisoners and murdered them, in the manner generally referred to as "lynching". Congressional hearings followed, with strengthened civil rights laws, but the murderers were never properly punished.[1]

On July 30, 1888, the Postal Department renamed the office Piedmont, which means "Foot of the Mountains".

Recent History

An F4 tornado struck the community on Palm Sunday 1994, killing twenty people at Goshen United Methodist Church, destroying two other area churches mid-service as well as many homes in the town and neighboring communities.

Geography

Piedmont is located at 33°55′34″N 85°36′47″W / 33.92611°N 85.61306°W / 33.92611; -85.61306Template:GR According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25 km2).

Culture

School Sports

The Piedmont City School athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs. Piedmont High School is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, and participates in Class 3A Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, Golf, Volleyball, and Track.They also have a band,Piedmont blue knights marching band class 3A

Football

On December 3, 2009, at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Head Coach Steve Smith led Piedmont to a 35-28 overtime win over the Cordova Blue Devils in the AHSAA 3A State Championship Game.

Wrestling

On February 6, 2009, under head coach Harley Lamey, the Piedmont High School wrestling team won the first state championship in school history. At the AHSAA 1A-4A State Wrestling Championship, the bulldogs had two individual champions, two runners-up, and nine wrestlers that placed. The Bulldogs were 14-0 in dual meets.

Media

Radio

  • WPID 1280 AM
  • WJCK 88.3 FM (Christian)
  • WKLS 105.9 FM (Rock) - Broadcasts Piedmont High School Football Games

Chief Ladiga Trail

Piedmont is home to the Chief Ladiga Trail. The Seaboard/CSX Railroad was converted into a recreational bike and walking trail as non-motorized way to travel, exercise, and relax while enjoying the outdoors. The Chief Ladiga Trail and the Silver Comet Trail stretch nearly 100 miles from Anniston, AL to Atlanta, GA making it the longest paved trail in the United States.

Cheaha Challenge

Hundreds of cyclists from more than 20 states participate in the Cheaha Challenge every year. The "Toughest Ride in the South" is a recreational bicycle ride that starts at Piedmont's Civic Center following the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway and ending at the top of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama's highest point. The Cheaha Challenge was selected as a Top 10 Event in the State of Alabama by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,120 people, 2,221 households, and 1,481 families residing in the city. The population density was 524.9 people per square mile (202.8/km²). There were 2,495 housing units at an average density of 255.8 per square mile (98.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.77% White, 9.38% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 2,221 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,893, and the median income for a family was $32,163. Males had a median income of $27,274 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,220. About 17.8% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Schools

The Piedmont City School District consists of three schools: Piedmont Elementary School, Piedmont Middle School, and Piedmont High School. The Piedmont athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs and the marching band is known as The Piedmont Blue Knights. Piedmont High School competes in the Alabama High School Athletic Association in Class 3A.

One-to-One Laptop Program

Piedmont City Schools implemented the very first One-to-One laptop program in the state of Alabama, giving every student and teacher in grades 4-12 a laptop computer to use at school and home. The system formed a partnership with Jacksonville State University and Apple Inc. to develop a pilot program that will be used as a national model for other school systems.[2]

School System Awards

America's Most Connected Schools - U.S. News & World Report

  • 2011

America's Best Schools[3] - U.S. News & World Report

  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2010

Economy

Employers

  • CVG formerly Bostrom, manufacturer of truck seats for heavy-duty trucks such as Freightliner and Mack Trucks.
  • Garcy, manufacturer of display showcases for retailers such as Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Notable natives and residents

Template:ORList

References

  1. ^ Gene L. Howard, Death at Cross Plains, An Alabama Reconstruction Tragedy, the University of Alabama Press 1984, Tuscaloosa and London
  2. ^ Laura Johnson (2011-09-24) "Apple, JSU team up for teaching in Piedmont ". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 2011-11-11
  3. ^ "Best High Schools Spring Update" (Piedmont High School listing), U.S News & World Report, Eddy Ramirez, May 16, 2008. Retrieved on July 3rd, 2008.

Trevor Stitts greatest rapper recorded to date from the area.

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