Hokes Bluff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hokes Bluff
City
Location of Hokes Bluff in Etowah County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Etowah
Area
• Total	12.09 sq mi (31.32 km2)
• Land	11.93 sq mi (30.90 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation	587 ft (179 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,446
• Density	372.71/sq mi (143.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35903
Area code(s)	256
FIPS code	01-35392
GNIS feature ID	2404710

Hokes Bluff is a city located in Etowah County, Alabama, in the United States. It is part of the larger Gadsden area. In 2020, about 4,446 people lived there.

History of Hokes Bluff

Hokes Bluff was first built on a high area of land overlooking the Coosa River. This spot was known as "The Bluff." Native American tribes used it as a lookout point. From here, they could see far across and along the Coosa River.

Hokes Bluff was one of the places where the Cherokee people were gathered. They were then forced to move west to Oklahoma. This sad journey is known as the Trail of Tears.

Early Settlers and Naming

New settlers started arriving in the area around the 1840s. Daniel Hoke Jr. came in 1850. He built a trading post and a blacksmith shop near the bluff. In 1853, a friend of Hoke's, W.B. Wynne, renamed the town "Hoke's Bluff" after him.

During the Civil War, the town was attacked and robbed by soldiers from both sides. John Henry Wisdom, a resident of Hokes Bluff, became famous during the war. He made a very important ride from Gadsden to Rome. People called him the "Paul Revere of the Confederacy" because of this ride.

Town Development

For a long time, Hokes Bluff did not have good mail service. Most mail arrived by steamboat. In 1890, a new mail route was set up from Gadsden to Hokes Bluff. A post office was opened in 1877, but it closed in 1931.

There is a local story about Tawannah Springs, which is where the town gets its water. The legend says the springs are named after a Native American princess named Tawannah. She was very sad after her cousin, Princess Noccalula, jumped from Noccalula Falls in Gadsden. Tawannah then grieved herself to death.

Hokes Bluff officially became a city in 1946. At that time, about 1,200 people lived there. W.B. Ford was the first mayor. In 1949, the city got a water system. It included a large water tank and many fire hydrants. Gas lines were installed in 1953, and the streets were paved in 1956.

Geography of Hokes Bluff

Hokes Bluff is located in the eastern part of Etowah County. It is next to the cities of Gadsden and Glencoe to the west. Gadsden is the main city, or county seat, of Etowah County. The Coosa River is to the northwest of Hokes Bluff.

U.S. Route 278 goes through the city. This road leads west about 9 miles (14 km) to Gadsden. It goes east about 15 miles (24 km) to Piedmont.

The city of Hokes Bluff covers a total area of about 12.1 square miles (31.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Population and People

Hokes Bluff has grown steadily over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

In 2020, there were 4,446 people living in Hokes Bluff. There were 1,610 households and 1,046 families in the city.

Transportation

Etowah County Rural Transportation offers a special bus service. This service is called dial-a-ride. It provides bus rides throughout Hokes Bluff and the rest of Etowah County.

Notable People from Hokes Bluff

Many interesting people have come from Hokes Bluff, including:

• Cody Dennison, a racing driver and popular YouTuber
• Isaac Haas, a basketball player
• Linda Howard, an author
• Steve Shields, a former professional baseball player for teams like the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees
• Drake White, a country music singer

See also

In Spanish: Hokes Bluff para niños