Hardaway, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hardaway, Alabama
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 Hardaway, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Hardaway, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Macon |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36039
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| Area code(s) | 334 |
| GNIS feature ID | 119711 |
Hardaway is a small, unincorporated community in Macon County, Alabama, United States. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It is located about 12.9 miles (20.8 km) southwest of Tuskegee, Alabama.
Hardaway was originally called Dick's Creek. It got its new name after a railroad was built there. The railroad project was led by an engineer and professor named Robert A. Hardaway. He even lived in the community with his family for a while. Today, Hardaway has its own post office with the ZIP code 36039.
Contents
Hardaway's Population Story
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 200 | — | |
| 1910 | 300 | 50.0% | |
| 1920 | 310 | 3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Hardaway's population was counted in the official U.S. Census for a few years. In 1900 and 1910, it was listed as a small village. By 1920, it was recognized as an incorporated town, meaning it had its own local government.
However, after 1920, Hardaway no longer appeared on the census. This likely happened because it stopped being an official town.
Hardaway Baptist Church History
The Hardaway Baptist Church has a long history in the community. It was first known as Ebenezer Baptist Church. The original church building was constructed near the Hardaway Cemetery before 1880.
Between 1889 and 1893, the church building was moved to its current location. While weekly services are no longer held there, the church is now recognized as an Alabama Historic Site. For many years, the church hosted annual Hardaway Baptist Church Reunions, bringing people together until around 2018.
The Railroad's Arrival
The arrival of the railroad was a huge event for Hardaway. On November 27, 1891, the railroad was completed, and the very first steam locomotive came through the community. Robert A. Hardaway, who the town is named after, was in charge of building this important railroad.
Before the railroad, local merchants had to travel to Fitzpatrick, Alabama to meet the train and pick up their supplies. The sound and sight of the first train startled many of the residents. The railroad served the community for over a century, but it was removed around 2003.
The Hardaway Post Office
The exact date the Hardaway Post Office was built is not known. However, we do know that its name officially changed from Dick's Creek Post Office to Hardaway Post Office on October 6, 1892. This change happened after the railroad was finished and the town was renamed.
During the American Civil War, the post office received mail by horseback. At that time, it was located in a log house where the postmaster, John M. F. Parker, lived.
