Altha, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Altha, Florida
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| Town of Altha | |
Altha Town Hall on September 25, 2008
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Location of Altha in Calhoun County, Florida.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Calhoun |
| Settled | 1902 |
| Incorporated | 1946 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.37 sq mi (3.54 km2) |
| • Land | 1.34 sq mi (3.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 496 |
| • Density | 370.98/sq mi (143.20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
32421
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| Area code(s) | 850 |
| FIPS code | 12-01000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277823 |
Altha is a small town in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Florida Panhandle in North Florida. In 2020, about 496 people lived there. This was a small decrease from 536 people in 2010.
Contents
History of Altha
Altha was first settled in 1902. The town officially became a municipality, or an organized town, in 1946.
During a time when different groups of people were kept separate, Altha was known to have signs. These signs warned African Americans not to be in town after dark.
Geography of Altha
Altha is located in northwestern Florida. Its exact coordinates are 30.571710 degrees North and 85.127533 degrees West.
The town covers a total area of about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Altha is about 45 minutes from the Georgia state line. It is also about one hour from the Alabama state line. Altha is in a rural county, meaning it's mostly countryside.
Farming and Forests
The main industry in Altha is agriculture, which means farming. Farmers grow many important crops here. These include tomatoes, watermelons, green vegetables, cucumbers, peanuts, corn, wheat, and cotton.
The timber industry is also very important. Many farmers choose to plant pine trees for wood.
Climate in Altha
The weather in Altha has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
The average high temperature in Altha is 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low temperature is 51 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are very hot and humid. It often rains in the afternoons during the summer months.
Altha is about 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this, the weather can become severe when tropical storms or hurricanes get close to the coast.
Winter Weather and Storms
The coldest time of year is usually late January and early February. Night temperatures can drop to the low 30s. Sometimes, they can even reach the low to mid 20s. The last time it snowed a lot was on December 23, 1989, when 2 inches of snow fell. January and February can be cool months. Temperatures might sometimes struggle to reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 2004, during Hurricane Ivan, a strong tornado hit near the town. It destroyed many homes and sadly, four people died.
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael hit Altha and the areas around it. This was a very strong storm, listed as a category 5 hurricane. It caused a lot of damage to the town. The old high school building, known as the "white building," was damaged. Many homes were also damaged or destroyed.
Population of Altha
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 434 | — | |
| 1960 | 413 | −4.8% | |
| 1970 | 423 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 478 | 13.0% | |
| 1990 | 497 | 4.0% | |
| 2000 | 506 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 536 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 496 | −7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 496 people living in Altha. There were 187 households and 116 families.
In 2010, there were 536 people living in the town. There were 198 households and 144 families.
In 2010, 47% of the people were male and 53% were female. About 33% of the population was under 18 years old. About 15.5% of the population was 65 years old or older.
Education in Altha
Altha is part of the Calhoun County School District. The town has one public school called Altha Public School. This school teaches students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. It was started early in the 1900s.
The "white building," which was part of the old school, was torn down after Hurricane Michael. A new school has been built in the same spot. It still has the same name and is the only public school in town.
School Sports Teams
Altha School has many sports teams. The girls' volleyball team has won many district, region, and state semi-finals playoffs.
The school also has boys' basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, weightlifting, and a cross-country team. The girls' and boys' weightlifting teams have won several state championships.
Businesses and Attractions
The biggest employer in Altha is Oglesby Plants International. This company provides many jobs for people in the town.
The Chipola River is about three miles west of Altha. It's a great place for outdoor activities. You can go swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing there.
See also
In Spanish: Altha para niños
