Abbeville, Alabama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Abbeville, Alabama

City

Historic Downtown Abbeville

Flag

Seal

Location of Abbeville in Henry County, Alabama.

Country

United States

Area

• Total

15.58 sq mi (40.36 km²)

• Land

15.54 sq mi (40.26 km²)

• Water

0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²) 0.32%

Elevation

449 ft (137 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

2,358

• Density

151.71/sq mi (58.58/km²)

Time zone

UTC-6 (CST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-5 (CDT)

ZIP code

36310

Area code(s)

334

FIPS code

01-00124

GNIS feature ID

112880

Abbeville is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, in the southeast part of Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,358.

History
Geography
- Climate
Demographics
- 2020 census
- 2010 census
Education
Transportation
Media
Notable people
Gallery
See also

History

Abbeville is the oldest remaining colonial settlement in East Alabama from Florida to the Tennessee line. Its older than the county of Henry and the State of Alabama. The city was named for "Abbe", a local Muscogee Indian man at the time of the town's settlement. The name means "a grove of dogwood trees". An active trading post was located in Abbeville in Alabama Territory early in 1819. The first settler gateway to the wiregrass was at Franklin located fourteen miles west of Abbeville.

It was designated the Henry County seat in 1833, gaining the distinction from Columbia. It was formally incorporated in 1853.

In 1950 Abbeville had a population of 2,162.

Geography

Abbeville is located at 31°33′59″N 85°15′5″W / 31.56639°N 85.25139°W / 31.56639; -85.25139 (31.566367, -85.251300). The city is located in southeastern Alabama along U.S. Route 431, Alabama State Route 10, and Alabama State Route 27 approximately 25 mi (40 km) northeast of Dothan and 23 mi (37 km) south-southwest of Eufaula.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40 km²), of which 15.6 square miles (40 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.32%) is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Abbeville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	300	—
1890	465	—
1900	889	91.2%
1910	1,141	28.3%
1920	1,267	11.0%
1930	2,047	61.6%
1940	2,080	1.6%
1950	2,162	3.9%
1960	2,524	16.7%
1970	2,996	18.7%
1980	3,155	5.3%
1990	3,173	0.6%
2000	2,987	−5.9%
2010	2,688	−10.0%
2020	2,358	−12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Abbeville racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	1,157	49.07%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,034	43.85%
Native American	5	0.21%
Asian	15	0.64%
Other/Mixed	80	3.39%
Hispanic or Latino	67	2.84%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,358 people, 1,029 households, and 604 families residing in the city.

Abbeville first appeared on the 1850 U.S. Census. Although it did not report a separate population as a town from 1860–1880, it returned again in 1890 and has returned on every successive census to date. See also Abbeville precinct below, which includes the population of the city and surrounding area since 1860.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,987 people, 1,172 households, and 787 families residing in the city. The population density was 192.0 inhabitants per square mile (74.1/km²). There were 1,353 housing units at an average density of 86.9 per square mile (33.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.65% White, 39.94% Black or African American, 0.07% Asian, 2.85% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 3.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,172 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,266, and the median income for a family was $37,917. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $20,603 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,215. About 17.3% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 29.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,688 people, 1,077 households, and 699 families residing in the city. The population density was 192.0 people per square mile (74.1/km²). There were 1,255 housing units at an average density of 80.4 per square mile (31.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.4% White, 41.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,077 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,533, and the median income for a family was $39,167. Males had a median income of $36,630 versus $25,302 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,756. About 16.2% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Abbeville is a part of the Henry County Public Schools system. It operates the Abbeville High School and the Abbeville Elementary School.

Abbeville Christian Academy is a private high school in the city and one of the last “unofficially” segregated high schools in the country.

Transportation

Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines.

Media

Abbeville is served by one radio station, WESZ-LP.

Abbeville is served by a weekly newspaper, the Abbeville Herald, which has been in operation since 1915.

Notable people

Leroy Cook, former defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys
Sharlene Newman, Cognitive Neuroscientist, AAAS Fellow
William Oates, Civil War and Spanish–American War veteran
Chris Porter, former Auburn University basketball player and professional basketball player
Jimmy Rane, founder / chairman / CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving
Al Richardson, former American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
Edward Vaughn, Black Power activist, bookstore owner, and member of the Michigan House of Representatives

Gallery

Henry County Courthouse is located in Abbeville.
Abbeville City Hall and Police Department
Abbeville Post Office (ZIP code: 36310)
Abbeville Memorial Library
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot in Abbeville
Archie Theatre was first opened in 1948
Bethune-Kennedy House is a dual front door, double pen Creole cottage; constructed circa 1840 is the oldest remaining structure in Abbeville. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Abbeville, Alabama facts for kids

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