Docena, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Docena, Alabama
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 Docena, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Docena, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Elevation | 610 ft (190 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35060
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| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 151755 |
Docena is a small place in Jefferson County, Alabama, in the United States. It's not an official city or town, but a community that's part of a larger county area. Docena is about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of downtown Birmingham. It even has its own post office with the ZIP code 35060.
Contents
History of Docena
Docena is located in a part of Alabama known for its coal. It's found within the area of Adamsville. This community used to be a mining village.
Early Days and the Coal Mine
In 1905, the land where Docena now sits was first planned for a college. It was going to be called Booker City. But then, a big company called the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company (TCI) noticed the area. They realized it had easy access to a lot of coal.
TCI traded land with the college planners. The college was built elsewhere and is now known as Miles College. TCI then opened a coal mine called the Number 12 Pratt Mine. They used this mine to get coal for their factories.
A New Kind of Mining Village
Around 1912, TCI decided to change how they worked. They wanted to create a "model mining village." This meant building a nice, organized town for their workers. They hoped this would attract good, stable employees.
The village was given a Spanish theme. It was named "Docena," which means "twelfth" in Spanish. This name honored the Number 12 mine. The main park was called the "prado" (Spanish for "meadow"). The company store was named the "Mercado" (Spanish for "market").
Life in Docena Village
The town was carefully planned with streets and houses. The first houses were simple, with four rooms. Each house had a yard and a small building for coal and trash.
Later, more houses were built in different styles. The village had separate areas for white and African American workers. There were also spots for churches and schools. A baseball field, a clubhouse, and a meeting hall were built for fun and community gatherings.
TCI also cared about the health of its workers. In 1913, they opened a medical office in Docena. Miners could get free medical care for a small monthly fee. Social workers also helped families with housekeeping and community programs.
Growth and Changes Over Time
During World War I, more steel was needed. Docena grew in 1918 to meet this demand. Houses were improved with running water and sometimes even indoor toilets. Miners earned about $2 a day, and a house cost $6 a month, including utilities.
The company continued its social programs through the 1920s. But the Great Depression in the 1930s made things tough. The number of workers at the Docena mine dropped a lot. The company helped by letting miners delay rent and offering credit at the company store.
In 1932, the company's schools were given to the county school system. During World War II, employment in Docena reached its highest point with over 1,200 workers.
In 1952, TCI sold all the houses and land in Docena. A real estate company bought them to sell to families. TCI workers living in the houses were given the first chance to buy their homes.
Docena Today
The mine officially closed on February 8, 1961. Over the years, Docena changed. The schools closed, and some buildings were taken down. The old company store, the Mercado, closed in the late 1990s.
However, the churches in Docena are still active. New buildings have been added near the baseball field. The Adamsville Industrial Park nearby offers jobs, helping Docena remain a living neighborhood.
Population of Docena
Docena has been counted in the U.S. Census before.
- In 1950, the population was 1,551 people.
- In 1970, the population was 1,140 people.
Most of the people living in Docena during these census years were African American.
Here's a look at the population by race and gender from a past count:
- African American: 252 people (58%)
- White: 179 people (42%)
- Female: 188 people (44%)
- Male: 243 people (56%)
Notable People from Docena
Some well-known individuals have come from Docena:
- Jan Willis: A professor who teaches about religion at Wesleyan University.
- Brian McCoy: A writer for publications like Huffington Post and Ebony Magazine, and an activist for the NAACP.
- Otis Thornton: A former professional baseball player who played as a catcher for the Houston Astros.
