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Rainsville, Alabama facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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
Rainsville post office
Rainsville post office
Location of Rainsville in DeKalb County, Alabama.
Location of Rainsville in DeKalb County, Alabama.
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)
 • 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
Area code(s) 256
FIPS code 01-63336
GNIS feature ID 2404589

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
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

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

See also

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

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