Jacksonville, Alabama: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from [[Muscogee|Creek Indian]] Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to honor President [[Andrew Jackson]] in 1834. There are a couple [[American Civil War|Civil War]] monuments in town, including a statue of Major [[John Pelham (officer)|John Pelham]] in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County |
Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from [[Muscogee|Creek Indian]] Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to honor President [[Andrew Jackson]] in 1834. There are a couple [[American Civil War|Civil War]] monuments in town, including a statue of Major [[John Pelham (officer)|John Pelham]] in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until the 20th century when the county seat moved to [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]]. [[Jacksonville State University]] was founded here in 1883. |
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An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville on [[March 20–22, 2018, nor'easter|March 19, 2018]], causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages.<ref name=WTVM>{{cite news|url=http://www.wtvm.com/story/38116937/jacksonville-state-holds-first-graduation-following-tornado|title=Jacksonville State holds first graduation following tornado|last=Huddleston|first=John|work=WTVM|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> The relatively low number of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was attributed by some to the fact that the university was on [[spring break]] at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/04/09/jacksonville-state-university-releases-security-cam-videos-of-ef-3-tornado/?noredirect=on|title=Watch the horrible EF-3 tornado tear up Jacksonville State University in security cam video|last=Fritz|first=Angela|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name=WHNT>{{cite news|url=https://whnt.com/2018/04/09/classes-resume-at-jacksonville-state-university-after-tornado/|title=Classes resume at Jacksonville State University after tornado|last=Porter|first=Joel|work=WHNT|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the immediate tornado relief.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.annistonstar.com/free/more-than-volunteers-pour-into-jacksonville-for-tornado-relief-work/article_bd48e7c2-2edc-11e8-8cb5-030ce95f0b39.html|title=More than 1,000 volunteers pour into Jacksonville for tornado relief work (updated with video)|last=McCreless|first=Patrick|work=The Anniston Star|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that "[i]t's been amazing to see the university and the community come together." Classes resumed at the university the following month.<ref name=WHNT /> Although the university's usual site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with over 20 other buildings, the first spring graduation since the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 outside the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university's president, said "It's a joyous event generally because you're celebrating the accomplishments of all your graduates, but it's an even more joyous event because to me it's a celebration of how far we've come in a short time in recovering from these tornadoes."<ref name=WTVM /> |
An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville on [[March 20–22, 2018, nor'easter|March 19, 2018]], causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages.<ref name=WTVM>{{cite news|url=http://www.wtvm.com/story/38116937/jacksonville-state-holds-first-graduation-following-tornado|title=Jacksonville State holds first graduation following tornado|last=Huddleston|first=John|work=WTVM|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> The relatively low number of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was attributed by some to the fact that the university was on [[spring break]] at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/04/09/jacksonville-state-university-releases-security-cam-videos-of-ef-3-tornado/?noredirect=on|title=Watch the horrible EF-3 tornado tear up Jacksonville State University in security cam video|last=Fritz|first=Angela|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name=WHNT>{{cite news|url=https://whnt.com/2018/04/09/classes-resume-at-jacksonville-state-university-after-tornado/|title=Classes resume at Jacksonville State University after tornado|last=Porter|first=Joel|work=WHNT|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the immediate tornado relief.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.annistonstar.com/free/more-than-volunteers-pour-into-jacksonville-for-tornado-relief-work/article_bd48e7c2-2edc-11e8-8cb5-030ce95f0b39.html|title=More than 1,000 volunteers pour into Jacksonville for tornado relief work (updated with video)|last=McCreless|first=Patrick|work=The Anniston Star|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that "[i]t's been amazing to see the university and the community come together." Classes resumed at the university the following month.<ref name=WHNT /> Although the university's usual site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with over 20 other buildings, the first spring graduation since the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 outside the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university's president, said "It's a joyous event generally because you're celebrating the accomplishments of all your graduates, but it's an even more joyous event because to me it's a celebration of how far we've come in a short time in recovering from these tornadoes."<ref name=WTVM /> |
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Revision as of 00:52, 7 May 2024
Jacksonville | |
|---|---|
 Jacksonville Square | |
| Motto: "Education – Commerce – Heritage" | |
 Location of Jacksonville in Calhoun County, Alabama. | |
| Coordinates: 33°48′57″N 85°45′38″W / 33.81583°N 85.76056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Calhoun |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Johnny L. Smith |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.92 sq mi (28.28 km2) |
| • Land | 10.91 sq mi (28.25 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,385 |
| • Density | 1,318.76/sq mi (509.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 36265 |
| Area code | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-38272 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0159857 |
| Website | www |
Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,385,[2] which is a 14.6% increase since 2010 and a 71.2% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to Jacksonville State University, which is a center of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.
History
Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from Creek Indian Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to honor President Andrew Jackson in 1834. There are a couple Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until the 20th century when the county seat moved to Anniston. Jacksonville State University was founded here in 1883.
An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville on March 19, 2018, causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages.[3] The relatively low number of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was attributed by some to the fact that the university was on spring break at the time.[4][5] More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the immediate tornado relief.[6] Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that "[i]t's been amazing to see the university and the community come together." Classes resumed at the university the following month.[5] Although the university's usual site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with over 20 other buildings, the first spring graduation since the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 outside the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university's president, said "It's a joyous event generally because you're celebrating the accomplishments of all your graduates, but it's an even more joyous event because to me it's a celebration of how far we've come in a short time in recovering from these tornadoes."[3]
Geography
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, Jacksonville is located at 33°48'56.758" North, 85°45'37.681" West (33.815766, -85.760467).[7]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.5 km2), of which 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.10%, is water. Jacksonville is located in a valley between Choccolocco Mountain to the east and smaller ridges to the west.
Climate
| Climate data for Jacksonville, Alabama (2004-2022 Precipitation only) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.69 (119) |
5.33 (135) |
5.61 (142) |
4.77 (121) |
4.54 (115) |
4.63 (118) |
4.36 (111) |
4.12 (105) |
3.00 (76) |
3.07 (78) |
3.85 (98) |
5.35 (136) |
53.32 (1,354) |
| Source: NOAA(National Weather Service)[8] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 716 | — | |
| 1860 | 703 | −1.8% | |
| 1870 | 958 | 36.3% | |
| 1880 | 882 | −7.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,237 | 40.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,176 | −4.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,231 | 89.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,395 | 7.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,840 | 18.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,995 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 4,751 | 58.6% | |
| 1960 | 5,678 | 19.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,715 | 35.9% | |
| 1980 | 9,735 | 26.2% | |
| 1990 | 10,283 | 5.6% | |
| 2000 | 8,404 | −18.3% | |
| 2010 | 12,548 | 49.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,385 | 14.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,826 | 54.4% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,085 | 35.35% |
| Native American | 24 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 334 | 2.32% |
| Pacific Islander | 17 | 0.12% |
| Other/Mixed | 646 | 4.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 453 | 3.15% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,385 people, 4,518 households, and 2,472 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 12,548 people, 4,917 households, and 2,466 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,275 inhabitants per square mile (492/km2). There were 5,382 housing units at an average density of 546.4 per square mile (211.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.7% White, 26.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 2.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,917 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, marriage 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 17.2% under the age of 18, 32.6% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,987, and the median income for a family was $50,863. Males had a median income of $35,615 versus $26,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,063. About 17.6% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Two Alabama state routes pass through Jacksonville:
- State Route 21 (Pelham Road)
- State Route 204 (Nisbet Street)
Education
Jacksonville is the home of Jacksonville State University, a public, coeducational university with an enrollment of almost 10,000. It offers degrees in business, communication, education, family sciences, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and technology in addition to continuing education programs. The university's campus is located a few blocks north of the square.
Jacksonville is home to two public schools run by Jacksonville City Schools:
- Jacksonville High School (Grades 7-12).
- Kitty Stone Elementary School (Grades K-6).
There are also two public schools located northwest of the city proper that serve the unincorporated communities of Pleasant Valley and Williams and are run by Calhoun County Schools:
- Pleasant Valley High School
- Pleasant Valley Elementary School
There is also a Christian school called Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA) located within the city.
The Calhoun County Center for the Arts offers classes through the Community Center.[11]
Media
Newspaper
- The Jacksonville News - Weekly, locally owned newspaper
- The Chanticleer - Student-run newspaper of Jacksonville State University
Magazine
- House to House Heart to Heart - Bi-monthly Christian magazine distributed through Churches of Christ; circulation over 2.5 million each issue
Television
- WJXS TV 24 - Local news, sports and programming
AM Radio
- WCHA Alabama 810 - Local news, sports and Classic Country music
FM Radio
Notable people
- Rick Bragg, Alabama writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1996 while working for The New York Times
- Glen Browder, U.S. Representative from 1989 to 1997 and professor of political science at Jacksonville State University.
- John Henry Caldwell, U.S. Representative from 1873 to 1877.
- William Crutchfield, U.S. Representative from 1873 to 1875. Lived in Jacksonville from 1844 to 1850.
- Todd Cunningham, Major League Baseball center fielder
- Sallie Curb Arnold, artist featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.[13]
- John Horace Forney, major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War
- William H. Forney, U.S. Representative from 1875 to 1893
- Riley Green, country music singer
- James A. Haley, U.S. Representative representing Florida from 1953 to 1977.
- Thomas C. Hindman, lawyer, United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.[14]
- Harvey Jackson III, notable Alabama historian
- Lilly Ledbetter, women's equality activist and plaintiff in the American employment discrimination case Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
- Shed Long, professional baseball player
- Darrell Malone, former National Football League cornerback
- Herman Clarence Nixon, political scientist, historian, and member of the Nashville-based Southern Agrarians
- John Pelham, celebrated Confederate officer
- Neel Reid, prominent early-twentieth century architect
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Huddleston, John. "Jacksonville State holds first graduation following tornado". WTVM. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ Fritz, Angela. "Watch the horrible EF-3 tornado tear up Jacksonville State University in security cam video". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ a b Porter, Joel. "Classes resume at Jacksonville State University after tornado". WHNT. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ McCreless, Patrick. "More than 1,000 volunteers pour into Jacksonville for tornado relief work (updated with video)". The Anniston Star. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Climate". weather.gov. National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ Calhoun County Center for the Arts Archived May 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "WLJS 91.9 Live Stream has moved - The Friendliest Campus in the South". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Sallie Curb Arnold". Smithsonian American Art Museum.
- ^ "Hindman, Thomas Carmichael - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved May 31, 2007.
External links
33°48′57″N 85°45′38″W / 33.815766°N 85.760467°W
Municipalities and communities of Calhoun County, Alabama, United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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