Rainsville, Alabama facts for kids
Rainsville is a city located in DeKalb County, Alabama, in the United States. It sits on top of Sand Mountain, which is part of the larger Cumberland Plateau. In 2020, about 5,505 people lived there.
Quick facts for kids
Rainsville
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Rainsville post office
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Location of Rainsville in DeKalb County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | DeKalb |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.71 sq mi (53.63 km2) |
| • Land | 20.69 sq mi (53.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,296 ft (395 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,505 |
| • Density | 266.03/sq mi (102.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35986
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| Area code(s) | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-63336 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404589 |
Contents
History of Rainsville
Rainsville officially became a city in October 1956.
A very strong tornado hit the city on April 27, 2011. This tornado was rated EF5, which is the strongest type. It caused a lot of damage and sadly, 25 people lost their lives.
The tornado started about 10 miles southwest of Rainsville. It grew wider and stronger as it moved into Rainsville and the nearby community of Sylvania. Many houses were completely destroyed, and debris was scattered for miles.
Geography of Rainsville
Rainsville is located in the northwest part of DeKalb County. It is near other towns like Sylvania to the northeast and Powell to the northwest.
Two main roads, Alabama State Route 35 and Alabama State Route 75, cross paths in the center of Rainsville. AL 35 connects Rainsville to Scottsboro and Fort Payne. AL 75 links Rainsville to Henagar and Albertville.
The city covers a total area of about 20.7 square miles (53.3 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 568 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,099 | 269.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,907 | 86.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,875 | −0.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,499 | 16.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,948 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,505 | 11.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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Rainsville first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1960. There was a small mistake in the first count, but it was corrected to show 568 residents. Since then, the city's population has grown quite a bit.
2020 Census Details
In 2020, the census showed that 5,505 people lived in Rainsville. There were 1,894 households and 1,303 families. Most of the people living in Rainsville were White (88.07%). Other groups included Native American (1.65%) and Hispanic or Latino (4.7%).
2010 Census Details
The 2010 census counted 4,984 people in Rainsville. At that time, about 93.5% of the population was non-Hispanic white. There were also smaller percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 3.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Rainsville
Rainsville is home to several important schools and education centers.
Plainview High School
Plainview High School is located in Rainsville. It is known as the home of the Bears. The school will be classified as a 4A school for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The current Principal is Chris Clark.
Other Schools
Cornerstone Christian Academy is another school located in Rainsville. Seth Stone is the current head administrator there.
The DeKalb County School System offices are also in Rainsville.
DeKalb County Technology Center
The DeKalb County Technology Center (DCTC) offers career and technical education. It is considered one of the best centers in the Southeastern United States. DCTC has won awards for its excellent career tech programs.
In 2021, the Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, recognized DCTC for its great work-based learning programs. Students from DCTC have won many state championships in SkillsUSA and HOSA competitions.
Notable People from Rainsville
- Lowell Barron: He was a member of the Alabama Senate for many years, from 1982 to 2010.
- Jeremy Pruitt: He used to be the head coach for the University of Tennessee football team.
- Nathaniel Ledbetter: He is the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, which is a very important political role.
Images for kids
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A bus damaged by the EF5 tornado in Rainsville in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Rainsville (Alabama) para niños
