Alexander City, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander City, Alabama
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The Alexander City Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 2000.
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| Nickname(s):
Alex City
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| Motto(s):
Hope. Courage. Pride.
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Location of Alexander City in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Alabama | ||
| County | Tallapoosa | ||
| Founded | 1872 | ||
| Named for | Edward Porter Alexander | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 43.99 sq mi (113.94 km2) | ||
| • Land | 43.70 sq mi (113.19 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,843 | ||
| • Density | 339.65/sq mi (131.14/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
35010-35011
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| Area code(s) | 256 | ||
| FIPS code | 01-01132 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0112981 | ||
| Website | Official website: https://alexandercityal.gov/ | ||
Alexander City, often called "Alex City" by locals, is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in the county. In 2020, about 14,843 people lived there.
Alexander City is famous for Lake Martin. This huge lake has 750 miles (1,210 km) of tree-lined shore. It also has 44,000 acres (18,000 ha) of water. Lake Martin is on the Tallapoosa River. It is a great place for boating, swimming, and fishing. You can also enjoy golfing and camping there. Many homes are built along the lake's edge.
The city's economy used to rely on making textiles. These are fabrics and clothes. But now, the economy has changed. Many textile jobs moved to other countries. The city now has a wider range of businesses.
Contents
History of Alexander City
Alexander City started as a town called Youngsville. It was founded in 1872 by James Young. In 1873, a railroad called the Savannah and Memphis Railroad came to the town. The town was then renamed. It was named after Edward Porter Alexander. He was the president of the railroad. He was also a hero from the Battle of Gettysburg.
On June 13, 1902, a big fire happened. It started at 1 PM in a machine shop. The fire destroyed a lot of the town. At that time, Alexander City did not have a water system. Many important buildings burned down. This included the post office and banks.
Geography and Climate
Alexander City is located in Alabama. Its exact spot is 32°55′59″N 85°56′10″W / 32.93306°N 85.93611°W.
The city covers about 39.0 square miles (101.0 km2) of land. Most of this area is dry land. A small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), is water.
Alexander City is on U.S. Route 280. It is about 60 miles (97 km) south of Birmingham. Auburn is about 40 miles (64 km) to the southeast. Montgomery is about 50 miles (80 km) to the south-southwest.
Weather in Alexander City
The weather here has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild or cool. Alexander City has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain. It also has warm temperatures for most of the year.
| Climate data for Alexander City, Alabama | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14 (58) |
17 (62) |
20 (68) |
25 (77) |
29 (84) |
32 (89) |
33 (91) |
33 (91) |
29 (85) |
25 (77) |
19 (67) |
14 (58) |
24 (76) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1 (34) |
2 (36) |
4 (40) |
9 (48) |
13 (56) |
17 (63) |
19 (66) |
18 (65) |
16 (60) |
9 (48) |
3 (38) |
1 (33) |
9 (49) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 130 (5.1) |
130 (5.2) |
170 (6.5) |
150 (5.9) |
94 (3.7) |
110 (4.3) |
130 (5.2) |
94 (3.7) |
100 (4) |
58 (2.3) |
100 (4) |
130 (5) |
1,400 (55.1) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population Changes
Alexander City first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1880. It was the largest town in Tallapoosa County then. It lost that title for a short time. But since 1910, it has been the biggest community.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 796 | — | |
| 1890 | 679 | −14.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,061 | 56.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,710 | 61.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,293 | 34.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,519 | 97.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,640 | 46.9% | |
| 1950 | 6,430 | −3.2% | |
| 1960 | 13,140 | 104.4% | |
| 1970 | 12,358 | −6.0% | |
| 1980 | 13,807 | 11.7% | |
| 1990 | 14,917 | 8.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,008 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 14,875 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 14,843 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People in Alexander City (2010 Census)
In 2010, there were 14,875 people living in Alexander City. About 62.2% of the people were White. Around 32.0% were Black or African American. About 0.9% were Asian. Other groups made up the rest. About 4.8% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
People in Alexander City (2020 Census)
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 8,587 | 57.85% |
| Black or African American | 4,886 | 32.92% |
| Native American | 25 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 156 | 1.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 446 | 3.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 743 | 5.01% |
In 2020, the city had 14,843 people. There were 5,710 households. Also, 3,872 families lived in the city.
Education in Alexander City
Alexander City has its own school district. It is called Alexander City Schools.
The schools in the district are:
- Jim Pearson Elementary School
- Nathaniel H. Stephens Elementary School
- William L. Radney Elementary School
- Alexander City Middle School
- Benjamin Russell High School
J. Darrell Cooper is the Superintendent of Schools.
Economy and Jobs
Russell Corporation was a very important company in Alexander City. It made athletic wear and other clothing. It was founded in 1902. For a long time, it was the city's biggest employer. In 1996, about 7,000 people worked there.
In 2006, Berkshire Hathaway bought Russell Corporation. It then became part of Fruit of the Loom. Over time, many manufacturing jobs moved away from Alexander City. By 2012, most of the factories in the city had closed. The company's main office is now in Kentucky.
Transportation
Alexander City has an airport called T.C. Russell Field Airport (KALX). It is owned by the city. This airport does not have regular passenger flights. The closest major airports are in Birmingham and Montgomery.
The city does not have a train station. If you want to travel by train, the closest station is in Anniston. From there, you can take Amtrak's The Crescent train. It goes to cities like Washington DC and New York.
Alexander City does not have regular bus service between cities. However, a company called Arise Transportation offers rides. You need to schedule these rides at least 24 hours in advance.
Gallery
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City Hall in Alexander City
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Alexander City Post Office (ZIP code: 35010)
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Adelia M. Russell Library
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The George C. Wallace Administration Building located on the campus of Central Alabama Community College.
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Benjamin Russell High School
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The old city hall building is now used as the Police Department and Municipal Court.
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Originally built as the city post office, the Charles T. Porch Center is now used as a city community center.
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The Avondale Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 9, 2005.
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Built in 1890, the Reuben Herzfeld House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1995.
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Alexander City First Baptist Church (Established in 1872)
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Alexander City First United Methodist Church (Established in 1872)
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Robert & Adelia Russell House, Alexander City
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Benjamin & Roberta M. Russell House, Alexander City
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Thomas Commander Russell House, Alexander City
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Thomas D. Russell House, Alexander City
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Thomas C. Russell Air Field, Alexander City
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A.J. & Emma E. Thomas Coley House, Alexander City
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See also
In Spanish: Alexander City para niños
