Prichard, Alabama Facts for Kids

Prichard is a city located in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. In 2020, about 19,322 people lived there. By 2022, the population was estimated to be around 18,870. Prichard is next to the city of Mobile. It also borders nearby towns like Chickasaw and Saraland.

History of Prichard
Geography of Prichard
Population and People
- Population in 2020
- Population in 2010
Education in Prichard
- Schools for Kids and Teens
- Colleges and Libraries
Notable People from Prichard
Images for kids
See also

History of Prichard

Prichard started as a small settlement in the 1830s. It was located along a path called Telegraph Road, which is now U.S. Highway 43. The area stayed mostly undeveloped for a long time.

Early Development and Growth

Before the Civil War, a ship named the Clotilde arrived in Mobile Bay. This ship illegally brought enslaved people to the U.S. Many of these people and their descendants formed a community called Africatown. This community grew near the Plateau/Magazine area along Telegraph Road. Later, parts of Plateau and Magazine became split between Mobile and Prichard.

After 1900, Prichard began to grow slowly but steadily. On September 16, 1925, Prichard officially became a city. During World War II, many shipbuilding companies in Mobile built homes for their workers in Prichard. This made Prichard a "company town," meaning it grew because of a specific industry.

Expansion and Population Changes

In the 1950s and 1960s, Prichard grew even more. It added nearby areas like Whistler and parts of Eight Mile and Kushla. The Mobile area, including Prichard and Chickasaw, saw huge growth in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1960, Prichard reached its highest population of 47,371 people.

After the Civil Rights Movement, the strict rules of racial separation in Prichard began to change. Many Black residents moved into East Prichard, which was the downtown area. This led to many white residents moving out of the city. By 1970, Prichard's population had dropped to 41,000. By 1990, it was around 34,000.

Economic Challenges and Recovery

In 1970, Vigor High School was mostly white. But by 1980, it was mostly Black, even though some white areas were still in its district. In 1994, a new highway, Interstate 165, was finished. This helped bring some economic benefits to East Prichard. In the 1980s, many downtown buildings were empty. By 2000, fewer buildings were vacant.

In 1972, Prichard elected its first Black mayor, Algernon Johnson (A.J.) Cooper. He served two terms and later worked for President Bill Clinton. Mayor Cooper was popular with both Black and white residents. However, he often had disagreements with the Prichard City Council.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Prichard faced challenges. Major factories like those owned by Scott Paper Company and International Paper closed. This caused many jobs to be lost and hurt the city's economy. In 1999, the city had to declare bankruptcy. This means it could not pay its debts.

In 2004, the Prichard Housing Authority started tearing down old housing projects. Later that year, voters in Mobile County voted against a plan that would have created a special trade zone for Prichard.

Geography of Prichard

Prichard is located in Mobile County, Alabama. The city covers a total area of about 25.4 square miles (66 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Population and People

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 part of the larger Mobile metropolitan area. This means it's connected to Mobile and other nearby towns.

Population in 2020

In 2020, Prichard had 19,322 people living in 7,323 households. About 4,683 of these were families.

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%

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 22,659 people in Prichard. The population density was about 896 people per square mile. Most residents (85.80%) were Black or African American. About 12.47% were White.

The average household had 2.67 people. The average family had 3.27 people. About 26% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 35.8 years.

The median income for a household was $23,894. For families, it was $29,100. About 33.7% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included almost half of the children under 18.

Education in Prichard

Prichard's schools are part of the Mobile County Public School System.

Schools for Kids and Teens

Several elementary schools serve Prichard, including:

Collins-Rhodes Elementary School
Grant Elementary School
Indian Springs Elementary School
Robbins Elementary School
Whitley Elementary School

Middle schools in the area include Mobile County Training Middle School and Chastang Middle School. Some students also go to North Mobile County Middle School.

Vigor High School is located in Prichard. Blount High School is nearby and serves part of Prichard. Faulkner Vocational School, which is a special magnet school, is also in Prichard. The current Collins Rhodes school building opened in 2007.

Colleges and Libraries

The University of Mobile is a college located within the city of Prichard. The city also has two public libraries: the Prichard Public Library and the Mitchell Public Library.

Notable People from Prichard

Many interesting people have come from Prichard, including:

Jimmie V. Adams – A retired four-star general in the United States Air Force.
Willie Anderson – A professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ethel Ayler – An actress, known for her role in The Cosby Show.
Robert Brazile – A Pro Football Hall of Famer who played for the Houston Oilers.
Delores Brumfield – A former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Derrick Burroughs – A professional football player for the Buffalo Bills.
James "Thunderbird" Davis – A blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Jacoby Glenn – An American football cornerback.
Lil Greenwood – A jazz and R&B singer.
Sherman Williams – A professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys.
Kennedy Winston – A professional basketball player.

Images for kids

The official flag of Prichard, Alabama.
The official seal of Prichard, Alabama.
A map showing Prichard's location in Mobile County, Alabama.

Prichard, Alabama facts for kids

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