Leighton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leighton, Alabama
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Leighton City Hall
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Location of Leighton in Colbert County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Colbert |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.16 sq mi (5.59 km2) |
| • Land | 2.16 sq mi (5.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 665 |
| • Density | 308.30/sq mi (119.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35646
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| Area code(s) | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-42160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406001 |
Leighton is a small town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is part of a larger area called "The Shoals", which includes the cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals. In 2020, about 665 people lived in Leighton.
Leighton has faced several tornadoes. One strong tornado hit on May 8, 2008. It caused damage to buildings and even flipped cars.
Contents
History of Leighton, Alabama
The first people to settle in the area that is now Leighton arrived around 1813. The community was first called Crossroads. This was because it was located where two important roads met. One road went from the Tennessee River to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The other connected Huntsville to Tuscumbia, Alabama. The very first business there was a tavern.
How Leighton Got Its Name
The town's name was changed to Leighton in honor of Rev. William Leigh. He was a minister and a businessman. He also became the first postmaster in 1824, handling mail for the town.
In 1826, Leighton grew a lot. About 20 families from North Carolina moved there. Later, in 1833, a railroad line was built through the town. This was the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad. Because of the railroad, Leighton became a busy place for shipping cotton. The town officially became a town (it "incorporated") in 1890. It stayed an important shipping center for many years.
Leighton's Changing Borders
Leighton was originally located across two different counties: Franklin and Lawrence. In 1867, Colbert County was created. Leighton was still split between Colbert and Lawrence counties. By 1880, the U.S. Census showed 196 people living in the Colbert County part and 83 in the Lawrence County part. After 1890, Colbert County's eastern border was moved. This placed all of Leighton completely within Colbert County.
Geography and Location
Leighton is found in the eastern part of Colbert County. Its exact location is 34°41′59″N 87°31′51″W / 34.69972°N 87.53083°W.
The U.S. Census Bureau states that the town covers a total area of about 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2). All of this area is land.
Population and People
Understanding the population of a town helps us learn about its growth. This is called demographics. The table below shows how Leighton's population has changed over many years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 279 | — | |
| 1900 | 506 | — | |
| 1910 | 540 | 6.7% | |
| 1920 | 598 | 10.7% | |
| 1930 | 670 | 12.0% | |
| 1940 | 810 | 20.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,080 | 33.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,158 | 7.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,231 | 6.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,218 | −1.1% | |
| 1990 | 988 | −18.9% | |
| 2000 | 849 | −14.1% | |
| 2010 | 729 | −14.1% | |
| 2020 | 665 | −8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2020 Census Information
The 2020 United States census counted 665 people living in Leighton. These people lived in 368 households, which are groups of people living together. There were also 200 families.
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Leighton based on the 2020 census:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 325 | 48.87% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 289 | 43.46% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.3% |
| Other/Mixed | 35 | 5.26% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13 | 1.95% |
Education in Leighton
Leighton is part of the Colbert County School System. Students in Leighton attend these schools:
- Hatton Elementary (for grades Kindergarten through 6th grade)
- Leighton Elementary (for grades Kindergarten through 6th grade)
- Colbert County High School (for grades 7th through 12th grade)
Jobs and Work in Leighton
In 2010, the people who worked in Leighton had jobs in many different areas. This is how the workforce (people who work) was divided:
- Arts, entertainment, fun activities, hotels, and food services (20.3 percent)
- Retail trade (stores that sell things) (18.5 percent)
- Manufacturing (making things in factories) (15.8 percent)
- Education and health care (15.3 percent)
- Construction (building things) (13.5 percent)
- Farming, forestry, fishing, and mining (5.4 percent)
- Other services (5.0 percent)
- Public administration (government jobs) (5.0 percent)
- Professional, scientific, and management services (1.4 percent)
Famous People from Leighton
Leighton has been home to several notable individuals:
- Lefty Bates, a talented Chicago blues guitarist.
- Leon Douglas, a former professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Francine Hughes, a domestic abuse survivor whose story became a book and film called The Burning Bed.
- Jimmy Hughes, a former rhythm and blues singer.
- Ozzie Newsome, a famous tight end who played football for Colbert County High School. He is in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Thomas Minott Peters, a lawyer and botanist (someone who studies plants).
- Percy Sledge, a well-known soul musician.
Images for kids
Below are photographs taken in Leighton as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey:
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Drury Vinson House
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Presbyterian Church
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Hugh C. Leckey House
See also
In Spanish: Leighton (Alabama) para niños
