Greenville, Alabama

Greenville is a city and the county seat of Butler County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,374. Greenville is known as the Camellia City, wherein originated the movement to change the official Alabama state flower from the goldenrod to the camellia with legislative sponsors LaMont Glass and H.B. Taylor.[2]

Greenville
City
Butler County Courthouse in Greenville
Butler County Courthouse in Greenville
Nickname: 
Camellia City
Location of Greenville in Butler County, Alabama.
Location of Greenville in Butler County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 31°49′52″N 86°37′39″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyButler
Founded1819
Government
 • TypeMayor/Council
 • MayorDexter McLendon
Area
[1]
 • Total21.53 sq mi (55.76 km2)
 • Land21.35 sq mi (55.31 km2)
 • Water0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
Elevation
440 ft (134 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,374
 • Density345.32/sq mi (133.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36037
Area code334
FIPS code01-31912
GNIS feature ID0119376
Websitegreenvilleal.gov

History

Greenville was first settled in 1819. Its original name was Buttsville,[3] but after becoming the county seat in 1822, its name was changed to Greenville, in remembrance of the former locale in South Carolina of many of the original settlers.[4][5] The first county seat was at Fort Dale, a fortification that was named for Sam Dale, who fought to defend the area during the Creek War. The site of Fort Dale lies on the north of the city near the Fort Dale Cemetery, along what is now Alabama Highway 185.

The namesake of the county, Captain William Butler, was killed during the Creek War. He is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery, which is across from the oldest church in Butler County, the First United Methodist Church of Greenville.

During World War II, a satellite camp for German prisoners was based in Greenville.[6]

Geography

Interstate 65 and U.S. Route 31 pass through the city. Montgomery, the state capital, is 44 miles (71 km) northeast, the closest city to Greenville with a population above 50,000.[7]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.8 km2), of which 21.4 square miles (55.3 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2), or 0.82%, is water.[8]

Climate

The city of Greenville has a humid subtropical climate, with an average high temperature of 77.3 °F (25.2 °C) and an average low temperature of 53.8 °F (12.1 °C). The city averages 4.80 inches (122 mm) of precipitation per month.[9]

Climate data for Greenville, Alabama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 86
(30)		 89
(32)		 96
(36)		 100
(38)		 108
(42)		 106
(41)		 105
(41)		 103
(39)		 100
(38)		 91
(33)		 86
(30)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 59
(15)		 64
(18)		 72
(22)		 78
(26)		 85
(29)		 90
(32)		 92
(33)		 92
(33)		 87
(31)		 79
(26)		 69
(21)		 61
(16)		 77
(25)
Average low °F (°C) 37
(3)		 40
(4)		 46
(8)		 52
(11)		 60
(16)		 67
(19)		 70
(21)		 69
(21)		 65
(18)		 54
(12)		 46
(8)		 39
(4)		 54
(12)
Record low °F (°C) −1
(−18)		 9
(−13)		 15
(−9)		 28
(−2)		 38
(3)		 48
(9)		 56
(13)		 50
(10)		 38
(3)		 29
(−2)		 11
(−12)		 5
(−15)		 −1
(−18)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.97
(152)		 5.08
(129)		 6.75
(171)		 4.19
(106)		 4.12
(105)		 4.88
(124)		 5.51
(140)		 4.30
(109)		 4.56
(116)		 2.69
(68)		 4.67
(119)		 4.90
(124)		 57.62
(1,463)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0
(0)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.4
(1.0)
Source: [10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,856—
18802,471−13.5%
18902,80613.6%
19003,16212.7%
19103,3776.8%
19203,4712.8%
19303,98514.8%
19405,07527.4%
19506,73132.6%
19606,8942.4%
19708,03316.5%
19807,807−2.8%
19907,492−4.0%
20007,228−3.5%
20108,13512.5%
20207,374−9.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2020 census
Greenville Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White 2,624 35.58%
Black or African American 4,292 58.2%
Native American 8 0.11%
Asian 118 1.6%
Pacific Islander 2 0.03%
Other/Mixed 197 2.67%
Hispanic or Latino 133 1.8%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 7,374 people, 2,356 households, and 1,496 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 8,135 people, 3,332 households, and 2,126 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 55.5% Black or African American, 41.7% White, 0.0% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the city, 27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.6% were 18 to 24, 25.0% were 25 to 44, 24.4% were 45 to 64, and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

There were 3,332 households. Of those, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,664, and the median income for a family was $31,107. Males had a median income of $33,716 versus $24,928 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,649. About 20.3% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.1% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Prior to the Civil War, cotton farming was the main occupation in Butler County. Due to this, slave trade was very prominent in the surrounding areas such as the Alabama riverboat in Montgomery which paraded new slaves through the streets of downtown Montgomery. During the 1850s, the Mobile and Ohio Railroad constructed a line through Greenville, enabling it to became the center of commerce between Montgomery and south Alabama. During the late nineteenth century, the construction of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad through Greenville contributed further to Greenville's prosperity. In 1900, Gulf Red Cedar Company and Factory in Greenville was a bucket manufacturer in Greenville.

As of 2009, Greenville had a diverse industrial manufacturing base of companies in the textile, wood products, automobile, and other industries. Major employers included Hwashin American Corporation, Hysco America Corporation, CorStone Industry, and Connector Manufacturing.[14]

Arts and culture

The Ritz Theatre in Greenville hosts community events, plays,[15] and an annuall musical revue called "Puttin' on the Ritz".[16]

Each September, the city hosts the Butler County Fair, which includes the "Old Time Farm Day" featuring tractor races, blacksmithing and quilting demonstrations.[17]

Parks and recreation

Cambrian Ridge is a golf course in Greenville. Sherling Lake Park and Campground has 41 campsites and surrounds two lakes east of the golf course.

Government

The local government of Greenville is run by the Mayor and City Council. The city council consists of five members each elected from single member districts. The city is located in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District and is currently represented by U.S. Representative Barry Moore.[18]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Public education is provided by the Butler County Board of Education.[19]

  • High School: Greenville High School
  • Middle School: Greenville Middle School
  • Elementary School: W.O. Parmer Elementary and Greenville Elementary School

Private schools in Greenville include Fort Dale Academy[20] and Camellia City Christian School.

Post-secondary education
  • Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, member of the Alabama Community College System awards two-year associate degrees and professional certificates.[21]

Media

Radio stations
  • WGYV 1380 AM (Talk)
  • WKXN 95.7 FM (Urban Contemporary)
  • WQZX 94.3 FM

Newspaper

Weekly newspapers include The Greenville Standard,[22] and Greenville Advocate.[23]

Media filmed in Greenville

Residents were featured in the premiere episode of My Kind of Town (2005).

The movie Honeydripper (2007), was filmed in locations around Greenville in 2006.[24]

Notable people
  • Greenville, Alabama
  • View of the old L&N train depot
    View of the old L&N train depot
  • View of Confederate Park
    View of Confederate Park
  • View of Greenville Post Office
    View of Greenville Post Office
  • View of Greenville City Hall
    View of Greenville City Hall

See also

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. "Camellia Day". The Office of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  3. "Alabama Counties: Butler County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  4. "History". City of Greenville, Alabama. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 144.
  6. Hutchinson, Daniel (October 6, 2009). "World War II POW Camps in Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  7. "Greenville-Alabama" Archived March 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 14, 2010
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Greenville city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  9. "Climate-Charts" Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 13, 2010
  10. "Intellicast | Weather Underground".
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  14. "Butler County". Encyclopedia of Alabama. December 10, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  15. "Greenville: Ritz Theatre" Retrieved July 25, 2016
  16. "GAAC: Ritz Players" Retrieved July 25, 2016
  17. "Greenville-Alabama" Archived March 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 13, 2010
  18. Alabama's 2nd congressional district
  19. "Butler County Schools / Homepage".
  20. "Fort Dale Academy".
  21. "About LBWCC". Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  22. "Home". The Greenville Standard. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  23. "The Greenville Advocate". The Greenville Advocate. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  24. Archived September 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine"Alabama Blues Project" Retrieved April 11, 2010
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