Prichard is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 19,322 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 18,870 in 2022. Prichard borders the north side of Mobile, as well as the Mobile suburbs of Chickasaw, Saraland, and the unincorporated sections of Eight Mile.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
- 2010 census
Education
Notable people
See also

History

Prichard began as a settlement in the 1830s, bordering Telegraph Road (known now as U.S. Highway 43) It remained largely unsettled until the Clotilde landed in Mobile Bay prior to the Civil War. Africatown evolved into a greater part of the Plateau/Magazine area which developed along Telegraph Road, and eventually, Plateau and Magazine had their territory split between Mobile and Prichard.

After 1900, Prichard began a slow, steady development. In 1925, Prichard was incorporated as a city. During World War II, Prichard became a company town as many Mobile shipbuilding companies built homes for their workers in Prichard. During the 1950s and 1960s, Prichard annexed historic Whistler as well as parts of Eight Mile and Kushla. The 1940s and 1950s saw phenomenal growth in the Mobile area, and Mobile, Prichard and Chickasaw all recorded their highest city-proper populations in 1960. Following the Civil Rights Movement however, Prichard's rigid system of segregation collapsed, and many blacks who had previously lived in the Bullshead/Neely/Trinity Gardens area of Prichard began moving into East Prichard (downtown Prichard), causing a dramatic white flight to occur.

In 1960, Prichard recorded a population of 47,371. In 1970, the population had decreased to 41,000 and by 1990, to approximately 34,000. In 1970, Vigor High School on Wilson Avenue, which had been Prichard's white high school during segregation was 70% white, by 1980, it was 80% black, even considering that most of Prichard's remaining white areas were in its district. In 1994, construction of Interstate 165 was completed, and it has produced some economic benefits in East Prichard. The 1980s downtown vacancy rate was near 80%, as of 2000, it was closer to 30%.

In 1972, while still a majority white city, Prichard elected its first black mayor, Algernon Johnson (A.J.) Cooper, who would serve two terms as Prichard's mayor, and would eventually serve in the administration of President Bill Clinton. In 1968, Cooper founded the Black American Law Students Association at New York University. While Mayor Cooper was popular with both blacks and whites, however, he engaged in many battles with the Prichard City Council during his tenure.

In the 1980s and 1990s problems with crime, drugs and middle class flight were elevated when the area's major financial and employment base left with the closing of factories operated by Scott Paper Company and International Paper. This devastated the area and the city struggled to recover. In 1999, the city declared bankruptcy.

In 2004, the Prichard Housing Authority began demolition of the Bessemer Avenue Housing Project in Bullshead. In November of that year, Mobile County voters narrowly (500 votes out of 100,000 cast on the issue) defeated a local amendment which would have allowed Prichard to set up a special trade zone. The measure passed by a two-thirds vote in Prichard, and passed by smaller margins in Mobile and Chickasaw, but was defeated by the rest of Mobile County.

Geography

Prichard is located at 30°44′53″N 88°6′1″W / 30.74806°N 88.10028°W / 30.74806; -88.10028 (30.748038, -88.100384).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.4 square miles (66 km²), of which 25.3 square miles (66 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.31%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	4,580	—
1940	6,084	32.8%
1950	19,014	212.5%
1960	47,371	149.1%
1970	41,578	−12.2%
1980	39,541	−4.9%
1990	34,311	−13.2%
2000	28,633	−16.5%
2010	22,659	−20.9%
2020	19,322	−14.7%
2022 (est.)	18,870	−16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

Prichard is a part of the Mobile metropolitan area.

2020 census

Prichard racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	2,234	11.56%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	16,285	84.58%
Native American	57	0.3%
Asian	30	0.16%
Pacific Islander	2	0.01%
Other/Mixed	508	2.63%
Hispanic or Latino	206	1.07%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,322 people, 7,323 households, and 4,683 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 22,659 people, 8,240 households, and 5,659 families residing in the city. The population density was 896.0 people per square mile (346.1/km²). There were 9,891 housing units at an average density of 391.1 per square mile (151.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.80% Black or African American, 12.47% White-American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.004% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,240 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.8% were married couples living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,894, and the median income for a family was $29,100. Males had a median income of $29,664 versus $21,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,137. About 28.7% of families and 33.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.5% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The Mobile County Public School System serves Prichard. Elementary schools in Prichard include Collins-Rhodes Elementary School, Grant Elementary School, Indian Springs Elementary School, Robbins Elementary School, and Whitley Elementary School.

Mobile County Training Middle School and Chastang Middle School serve sections of Prichard. Some area students attend North Mobile County Middle School.

Vigor High School is in Prichard. Blount High School is in an unincorporated area in Eight Mile, adjacent to Prichard, and serving a part of Prichard. Faulkner Vocational School, a magnet school, is in Prichard.

The current Collins Rhodes school opened in 2007, replacing Eight Mile Elementary School.

Colleges and universities

The University of Mobile is also located within the city.

Public libraries

The city operates the Prichard Public Library and the Mitchell Public Library.

Notable people

Jimmie V. Adams, retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), from 1991 to 1993
Ethel Ayler, actress, The Cosby Show
Delores Brumfield, former member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Derrick Burroughs, professional football player with the Buffalo Bills
James "Thunderbird" Davis (1938 – 1992) was a Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Jacoby Glenn, American football cornerback
Lil Greenwood, jazz and R&B singer
Kennedy Winston, professional basketball player
Sherman Williams, professional football player with the Dallas Cowboys
Willie Anderson, American professional football player Cincinnati Bengals.
Robert Brazile Pro football Hall of Famer Houston Oilers.

Prichard, Alabama facts for kids

Contents