Newton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Newton, Alabama
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Downtown Newton, Alabama
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Location of Newton in Dale County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Dale |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.28 sq mi (36.98 km2) |
| • Land | 14.25 sq mi (36.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 318 ft (97 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,607 |
| • Density | 112.78/sq mi (43.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36352
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| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-54480 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0123931 |
Newton is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. In 2020, about 1,607 people lived there. Newton was once the main town, or county seat, of Dale County. However, it lost this title to nearby Ozark in 1870. Today, Newton is a small community known for farming. It officially became a town in 1887.
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Geography of Newton
Newton is located in Alabama at coordinates 31°21′N 85°36′W. The town covers an area of about 14.3 square miles (36.98 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
The Choctawhatchee River flows close to Newton, just north and west of the town. Long ago, steamboats could travel on this river all the way from Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida to Newton. This made the town an important place for river trade.
Two main roads, Alabama State Route 123 and Alabama State Route 134, pass through Newton.
History of Newton
Newton was founded in 1843. This happened after Coffee County was created from the western part of Dale County. The old county seat, Daleville, was no longer in the center of the county. So, Newton was chosen as the new county seat.
Newton During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Newton was a place where soldiers joined the Confederate army. In March 1865, a small battle took place here. Local soldiers, called the Home Guard, fought against a group of Union soldiers from Florida. The Union soldiers wanted to burn the county courthouse. But the local troops surprised them as they entered town and stopped them.
This event is remembered with a monument in downtown Newton. Sometimes, people even re-enact the battle to show what happened.
The Legend of Sketoe's Hole
On December 3, 1864, a sad event happened near Newton. A local minister named Bill Sketoe was killed by some local Home Guardsmen. Because he was very tall, a hole was dug beneath his feet.
Local stories say that "the hole that won't stay filled" never disappeared. Even after people tried to fill it many times, the hole would always reappear. In 1979, a new bridge and lots of rocks covered the spot. But "Sketoe's hole" is still a local legend. An Alabama writer, Kathryn Tucker Windham, even wrote about it in her book, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey. A monument to Bill Sketoe was placed near the site in 2006. The local museum also has items related to his story.
Changes to the County Seat
In March 1869, a fire destroyed the courthouse in Newton. Then, in 1870, Geneva County was formed from parts of Dale and Coffee Counties. Because of these changes, voters decided to move the county seat to Ozark. Ozark was a more central location for the county.
Newspaper and Transportation
The Southern Star is one of the oldest newspapers in the Wiregrass area. It was first printed in Newton in 1867. Later, it moved to Ozark, where it is still published today.
Newton used to be a port for river boats on the Choctawhatchee River. This changed when the railroad arrived in 1890. The Baptist Collegiate Institute, a school, operated in Newton from 1898 to 1929. Its main building is now the town's public library.
Population of Newton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 469 | — | |
| 1890 | 520 | 10.9% | |
| 1900 | 457 | −12.1% | |
| 1910 | 524 | 14.7% | |
| 1920 | 680 | 29.8% | |
| 1930 | 661 | −2.8% | |
| 1940 | 616 | −6.8% | |
| 1950 | 745 | 20.9% | |
| 1960 | 958 | 28.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,865 | 94.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,540 | −17.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,580 | 2.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,708 | 8.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,511 | −11.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,607 | 6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2010 Census Data
In 2010, Newton had 1,511 people living there. There were 650 households. About 23% of households had children under 18. Most households (50.5%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.32 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 20% were under 18, and 16% were 65 or older. The average age was 43.9 years.
2020 Census Data
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,282 | 79.78% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 182 | 11.33% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.12% |
| Other/Mixed | 76 | 4.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 51 | 3.17% |
As of the 2020 United States census, Newton had 1,607 people. There were 655 households and 479 families living in the town.
Schools in Newton
Newton has its own Elementary School for younger students.
See also
In Spanish: Newton (Alabama) para niños
