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Oneonta, Alabama facts for kids

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Oneonta is a city located in Blount County, Alabama, United States. In 2020, about 6,938 people lived there. It's the main city, or county seat, of Blount County. Oneonta is also known for its fun Covered Bridge Festival.

Quick facts for kids
Oneonta
City
Oneonta is home to the Easley Covered Bridge, a county-owned, 95-foot (29 m) town lattice truss bridge built in 1927. Its WGCB number is 01-05-12.
Oneonta is home to the Easley Covered Bridge, a county-owned, 95-foot (29 m) town lattice truss bridge built in 1927. Its WGCB number is 01-05-12.
Flag of Oneonta
Flag
Official logo of Oneonta
Logo
Motto(s): 
A Small City with Big Ideas
Location of Oneonta in Blount County, Alabama
Location of Oneonta in Blount County, Alabama
Country United States
State Alabama
County Blount
Government
 • Type Council
Area
 • Total 15.88 sq mi (41.14 km2)
 • Land 15.83 sq mi (40.99 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
873 ft (266 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,938
 • Density 438.36/sq mi (169.25/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35121
Area code 205, 659
FIPS code 01-57000
GNIS feature ID 0152813

History of Oneonta

Oneonta got its name and a post office in 1889. It was named after Oneonta, New York, because a railroad official who lived there liked the name. Also in 1889, Oneonta became the main city of Blount County, taking over from Blountsville.

During World War II, a small camp for prisoners of war was located outside of Oneonta.

Geography and Location

Oneonta is in eastern Blount County. It sits in Murphree Valley, between Red Mountain and Sand Mountain to the northwest, and Straight Mountain to the southeast.

U.S. Route 231 goes right through the middle of the city. This road leads northwest about 7 miles to Cleveland, Alabama. It also goes southeast about 14 miles to Interstate 59 in Ashville.

The city covers a total area of about 15.88 square miles (41.14 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.

Weather in Oneonta

Oneonta has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

People of Oneonta

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 583
1910 609 4.5%
1920 876 43.8%
1930 1,387 58.3%
1940 2,376 71.3%
1950 2,802 17.9%
1960 4,136 47.6%
1970 4,390 6.1%
1980 4,824 9.9%
1990 4,844 0.4%
2000 5,576 15.1%
2010 6,567 17.8%
2020 6,938 5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Population in 2020

In 2020, Oneonta had 6,938 people living in the city. There were 2,565 households and 1,551 families.

Oneonta racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 5,012 72.24%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 405 5.84%
Native American 11 0.16%
Asian 54 0.78%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 280 4.04%
Hispanic or Latino 1,175 16.94%

Population in 2010

In 2010, Oneonta had 6,567 people. There were 2,502 households and 1,630 families. About 28.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.46 people.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. About 23.0% of the population was under 18.

City Government

Oneonta's city government includes Mayor Richard Phillips and a city council with five members. The council members are Judy Underwood, Sherry Pierce, Donald Bradley, Lee Alexander, and Robbie McAlpine.

Other important city leaders include:

  • City Clerk: Amanda Stanfield
  • Police Chief: Charles Clifton
  • Fire Chief: Kenny Booth

Fun Things to Do and Events

Oneonta, Alabama, is home to the historic Covered Bridge Festival. This yearly event celebrates the old covered bridges in Blount County. It also features an arts and crafts fair with lots of entertainment.

You can visit the Blount County Memorial Museum in Oneonta. It has many resources for learning about family history. Palisades Park offers hiking trails and places to camp.

The Oneonta Business Association puts on the annual June Fling festival in the summer. This event has over 100 booths, a car show, entertainment, and a special Kidz Fun Zone. They also host a singing competition called the Singing Showdown. This group also helps with other projects like "Paint the Town" and "Light the Town," and the Festival of Lights.

Education in Oneonta

Public schools in Oneonta are managed by Oneonta City Schools. There are three schools:

  • Oneonta Elementary School (for grades K-5)
  • Oneonta Middle School (for grades 6-8)
  • Oneonta High School (for grades 9-12)

A branch of Wallace State Community College is also located in the town, offering higher education.

Radio Stations

  • WCRL 1570 AM – This station plays oldies music. You can also hear it on W237DH 95.3FM.

Transportation

The Blount County Public Transportation System provides bus service in the city. It's a "dial-a-ride" service, meaning you can call to arrange a ride.

Famous People from Oneonta

  • Joe Gibbs — He helped start the Golf Channel.
  • Osmond Ingram — A sailor in the United States Navy during World War I. He received the Medal of Honor after he passed away.
  • Steve Patton — He was the head coach for the Gardner–Webb University football team from 1997 to 2010.
  • Rusty Paul — He was the second mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia.
  • Kevin Sherrer — A college football player for Alabama who became a successful football coach.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Oneonta (Alabama) para niños

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