Hobson City, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hobson City, Alabama
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Town
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Location of Hobson City in Calhoun County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Alabama | |
| County | Calhoun | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.05 sq mi (2.71 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.05 sq mi (2.71 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 728 ft (222 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 759 | |
| • Density | 725.62/sq mi (280.25/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP |
36201
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| FIPS code | 01-35152 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0159780 | |
| Website | http://www.townofhobsoncity.com/ | |
Hobson City is a town in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 759. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-black municipality in 1899 and continues to have an African American majority.
Contents
History
According to Town Hall records, much of the area now included in the corporate limits of Hobson City was once within the adjoining city of Oxford, Alabama. During the late 19th century, the area was known as "Mooree Quarter". The black vote from that area was a controlling factor during municipal elections. An account provided by an early settler of the community has been passed down through the years. In that account, a black person was elected as the Oxford justice of the peace. As a result, and in keeping with campaign promises, Mayor Whitehead of Oxford went to the state capitol and had the corporate boundaries of Oxford redrawn to exclude Mooree Quarter and the black vote.
The town was incorporated on August 16, 1899. Records from a contemporary Alabama newspaper, The Peoples' Journal, described the municipality as "the only municipality controlled and governed entirely by colored people anywhere in the United States." The newspaper further commented, "The whole country will doubtless be interested in the result of this experiment." Under the leadership of the first mayor, S. L. Davis, and the first police chief, James Duran, police protection was restored to the area. The town was named after Richmond P. Hobson, a white naval hero in the then-recent Spanish-American War and member of Congress. Newman O'Neal was the mayor in 1919 until he faced death threats and was assaulted by the Ku Klux Klan forcing him to flee the city.
The mayor in 1970, J. R. Striplin, was its thirteenth black mayor in succession. The town has buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Hobson City is located in southern Calhoun County at 33°37'6.589" North, 85°50'36.330" West (33.618497, -85.843425). It is bordered by the city of Oxford to the south and the city of Anniston to the north. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.7 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 292 | — | |
| 1910 | 344 | 17.8% | |
| 1920 | 371 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 404 | 8.9% | |
| 1940 | 508 | 25.7% | |
| 1950 | 672 | 32.3% | |
| 1960 | 770 | 14.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,124 | 46.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,268 | 12.8% | |
| 1990 | 794 | −37.4% | |
| 2000 | 878 | 10.6% | |
| 2010 | 771 | −12.2% | |
| 2020 | 759 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 96 | 96 | 12.45% | 12.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 658 | 612 | 85.34% | 80.63% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0.00% | 0.40% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3 | 2 | 0.39% | 0.26% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 4 | 34 | 0.52% | 4.48% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10 | 12 | 1.30% | 1.58% |
| Total | 771 | 759 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
See also
In Spanish: Hobson City para niños
