Alexander City, Alabama

Encyclopedia : A : AL : ALE : Alexander City, Alabama

Alexander City is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,008. Locals refer to Alexander City as "Alex City".It is also know as "The South's Best Kept Secret" due to its proximity to Lake Martin. Alexander City is known for Lake Martin with its 750 miles of wooded shoreline and 44,000 acres (178 km²) of crystal clear water. Lake Martin is located on the Tallapoosa River and offers boating, swimming, fishing, golfing, and camping. Many waterfront neighborhoods and luxury homes are located on Lake Martin.

Russell Corporation, makers of Russell Athletic, Cross Creek, Jerzees, and Country Cottons apparel, was founded in 1902 and is a large employer in the city. Though as of recently the employment rate of Russel Corporation in the town has been on a steady decline due to more production overseas. On April 17, 2006 Russel Coporation was bought by Berkshire-Hathaway for an estimated 600 million dollors. The company that purchased them are the owners of such companys as Fruit of the Loom and GEICO. The company will continue to operate as Russell Corperation but will not have its own CEO.

Contents

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Notable natives
5 External links

History

1698 - Captain Thomas Welch, a trader, marks out the Okfuskee Trail through Tallapoosa County. The English establish trading stations near Flint Hill, Young's Ferry and Kowaliga.
1814 - The Battle of Horseshoe Bend secures U.S. government control of Tallapoosa County when Andrew Jackson defeats the Creek Indians in a decisive battle.
1832 - The Creek Indian nation cedes its territory in Tallapoosa County to the U.S. Government.
1837 - James Young acquires 320 acres, which comprise a large portion of present day southwest Alexander City, including Russell Corporation and much of the land along U.S. Highway 280.
1872 - The town is incorporated as Youngsville, with corporate limits set one-half mile in every direction from the center of the public square.
1872 - A revival on Herzfeld Hill, now Hillabee Street, spawns the first two congregations of the community, First Baptist and First United Methodist.
1873 - The Savannah and Memphis Railway comes to Youngsville, brought by S & M president Edward P. Alexander. The town is renamed in his honor and boundaries are extended to one mile (1.6 km) from the center of the public square.
1879 - The first community school is organized and constructed with community funds.
1884 - B.F.C. Russell moves his family, including his youngest son, Benjamin (Ben), to Alexander City.
1889 - B.L. Dean, Alexander City mayor, spurs the movement to build a courthouse in Alexander City, paid for entirely by public subscription. Newspapers and a bottle of rum are put in the cornerstone and survive the 1902 fire.
1900 - J.C. Maxwell and Reuben Herzfeld convince builders of a cotton mill to locate in Alexander City.
1902 - Twenty six year old Ben Russell begins what is today Russell Corporation. The first step was a single knitting mill manufacturing women's and children's underwear.
1902 - "The Fire" destroys the entire downtown district, with losses totaling $400,000 in 1902 dollars. By today's standards, the loss would have been in the millions.
1907 - T.C. Russell, Ben Russell's brother, is elected mayor for the first of 10 terms.
1919 - Avondale Mills purchases Alexander City Cotton Mills and begins production in Alexander City.
1923 - Alabama Power Company begins construction on Martin Dam at Cherokee Bluffs. By 1926 Martin Dam is completed and Lake Martin forms. At the time, Lake Martin is the largest man-made lake in the world.
1950 - A new high school is build with community funds. After debating on many names including Benjamin Russell Vocational High School, the community chose Benjamin Russell High School
1956 - Horseshoe Bend becomes a national military park, 57 years after the action is first proposed by Alexander City Outlook editor F.O. Horton and due in large part to the efforts of Judge C.J. Coley.
1965 - Alexander City State Junior College opens in an old hospital on Lee Street with 442 students.
1988 - Alexander City State Junior College and Nunnelley State Technical College in Childersburg were merged and became Central Alabama Community College.
2000 - A time capsule was filled with local treasures and buried near Children's Harbor on Lake Martin in what is now called Time Capsule Park. The capsule is to be opened 100 years later.
2006 - Russel Corporation is bought by Berkshire-Hathaway for close to 600 million dollors.

Geography

Alexander City is located at [32°55′59″N, 85°56′10″W] (32.933157, -85.936008)^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 101.0 km² (39.0 mi²). 100.5 km² (38.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.44%) is water.

Alexander City is located on US Highway 280. Birmingham, AL is 60 miles to the north, Auburn, AL is 40 miles SE and Montgomery, AL is 50 miles SSW of Alexander City.

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 15,008 people, 6,152 households, and 4,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 149.3/km² (386.6/mi²). There were 6,855 housing units at an average density of 68.2/km² (176.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.56% White, 28.37% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,152 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,309, and the median income for a family was $38,881. Males had a median income of $30,392 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,305. About 15.0% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

External links

[City of Alexander City] official site
[Alexander City Chamber of Commerce]
[Lake Martin] community and visitors guide

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