Attalla, Alabama

Attalla is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,048.[4]

Not to be confused with Atala (disambiguation).
Attalla
City
Downtown Attalla
Downtown Attalla
Motto: 
"Gateway to Northeast Alabama"[1]
Location of Attalla in Etowah County, Alabama.
Location of Attalla in Etowah County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°0′35″N 86°5′54″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyEtowah
Area
[2]
 • Total7.00 sq mi (18.13 km2)
 • Land7.00 sq mi (18.13 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[3]
558 ft (170 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,827
 • Density832.55/sq mi (321.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35954
Area code256
FIPS code01-03028
GNIS feature ID2403130[3]
Websitewww.attallacity.com

History
The U.S. Post Office in Attalla was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1983.

The town occupies the site of an Indian village which was of considerable importance during the Creek War. It was in Attalla that David Brown, a Cherokee assisted by the Rev. D. S. Butterick, prepared the Cherokee Spelling Book.

Attalla was not founded until 1870, on land donated by W. C. Hammond, a plantation owner. It was incorporated as a city government on February 5, 1872. The town was officially named "Attalla" in 1893, from the Cherokee language word meaning "mountain".[5] Attalla was prosperous until the railroads that it depended on went into bankruptcy.

Attalla is the site of the first hydroelectric dam to provide electricity for a city, constructed in 1887.[6]

20th century to present

William Lewis Moore, a U.S. postman and white civil rights activist, was murdered here on April 23, 1963, as he tried to walk from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to deliver his letter in support of civil rights to Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett. The suspected murderer, Floyd Simpson, was never charged with the crime.[7]

Geography

Attalla is in Etowah County at 34°0′35″N 86°5′54″W (34.009818, -86.098413).[8] It is bordered to the east by the city of Gadsden, the county seat, and at its southernmost point by Rainbow City.

Interstate 59 runs along the eastern edge of the city, with access from Exits 181 and 183. U.S. Route 11 passes through the center of town as Third Street and runs generally parallel to I-59, leading northeast 36 miles (58 km) to Fort Payne and southwest 58 miles (93 km) to Birmingham. U.S. Routes 278 and 431 also pass through the center of Attalla, leading east 5 miles (8 km) to downtown Gadsden. US 431 runs north 20 miles (32 km) to Albertville, while US 278 leads west 47 miles (76 km) to Cullman. Alabama State Route 77 passes through the southern section of Attalla, leading north 3 miles (5 km) to US 431 and southeast 6 miles (10 km) to Rainbow City.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2), all of it land.[4] Big Wills Creek, a tributary of the Coosa River, flows southeasterly through the city. The southern end of Lookout Mountain rises to the east overlooking the city.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880351—
18901,254257.3%
19001,69234.9%
19102,51348.5%
19203,46237.8%
19304,58532.4%
19404,8856.5%
19507,53754.3%
19608,2579.6%
19707,510−9.0%
19807,7373.0%
19906,859−11.3%
20006,592−3.9%
20106,048−8.3%
20205,827−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 6,795 people, 2,672 households, and 1,976 families living in the city. The population density was 988.0 inhabitants per square mile (381.5/km2). There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of 436.7 per square mile (168.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.42% White, 13.5% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 2,620 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median household income was $27,444 and the median family income was $39,549. Males had a median income of $30,605 versus $19,693 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,727. About 16.4% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 6,048 people, 2,442 households, and 1,627 families living in the city. The population density was 983.9 inhabitants per square mile (379.9/km2). There were 2,841 housing units at an average density of 424 per square mile (164/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.5% White, 12.7% Black or African American, .4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 4.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] Of the 2,442 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.8% of households were one person and 13.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.07.

The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median household income was $32,426 and the median family income was $35,934. Males had a median income of $33,428 versus $25,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,457. About 13.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
Attalla racial composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,337 74.43%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 774 13.28%
Native American 13 0.22%
Asian 33 0.57%
Other/Mixed 333 5.71%
Hispanic or Latino 337 5.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,827 people, 2,151 households, and 1,364 families residing in the city.

Attalla Precinct/Division (1880-1970)

The Attalla Beat (Etowah County 17th Beat) first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census. In 1890, "beat" was changed to "precinct." In 1960, the precinct was changed to "census division" as part of a general reorganization of counties.[13] In 1980, Attalla census division was consolidated with Gadsden census division.

Education

The Attalla City School System is the public school district. As of 2006 it has some 1,823 students.[14]

The district includes the following schools:

  • Attalla Elementary School (Grades Pk-5)
  • Etowah Middle School (Grades 6–8)
  • Etowah High School (Grades 9-12)

The system formerly had Alma Hinson Junior High School. In 1962 the editor of The Etowah News Journal described the school as having a "nothing short of excellent" curricula and "a bright exception" to problems in other schools in the system.[15]

Notable people
  • 4th Street, Attalla
    4th Street, Attalla
  • Bank of Attalla
    Bank of Attalla
  • Historic Alabama Power Company sign, Attalla
    Historic Alabama Power Company sign, Attalla
  • 5th Avenue, Attalla
    5th Avenue, Attalla
  • 5th Avenue, Attalla
    5th Avenue, Attalla
  • Country Music Opera House, Attalla
    Country Music Opera House, Attalla
  • First United Methodist Church, Attalla
    First United Methodist Church, Attalla
  • Seven Cedars, Attalla
    Seven Cedars, Attalla
  • Houses on 5th Avenue, Attalla
    Houses on 5th Avenue, Attalla
  • Walker's Drug Store building, Attalla
    Walker's Drug Store building, Attalla
  • Old Attalla Elementary School
    Old Attalla Elementary School

References

Notes

    References
    1. City of Attalla official website
    2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
    3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Attalla, Alabama
    4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Attalla city, Alabama". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
    5. "The Names Stayed". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. August 29, 1990. p. 64. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
    6. "Historic Attalla Alabama". City of Attalla. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
    7. "A Postman's 1963 Walk For Justice, Cut Short On An Alabama Road". National Public Radio. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
    8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
    9. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
    10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
    11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
    13. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf, 1960 AL Census
    14. Attalla City Schools
    15. "Hinson Junior High: A Bright Exception". The Etowah News-Journal. Vol. 12, no. 28. Attalla, Alabama. November 22, 1962. p. 1. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.

    34.009818°N 86.098413°W / 34.009818; -86.098413

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