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Roanoke, Alabama facts for kids

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Roanoke, Alabama
Downtown Roanoke, Alabama
Downtown Roanoke, Alabama
Location of Roanoke in Randolph County, Alabama.
Location of Roanoke in Randolph County, Alabama.
Country United States
State Alabama
County Randolph
Area
 • Total 19.12 sq mi (49.51 km2)
 • Land 18.74 sq mi (48.53 km2)
 • Water 0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2)
Elevation
840 ft (256 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 5,311
 • Density 283.46/sq mi (109.45/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36274
Area code(s) 334
FIPS code 01-65040
GNIS feature ID 0153164

Roanoke is a city in Randolph County, which is in the Piedmont region of eastern Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 6,074, down from 6,563 in 2000.

History

This was an area of historic occupation by the Creek before treaties to persuade the Native Americans to cede their land, followed by forced migration under the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The area was part of a broad part of upland developed as cotton plantations worked by enslaved African Americans. The area is still quite rural.

Initially called High Pine in the 1830s after a nearby creek, it was allegedly burned during an Indian uprising in 1836. Renamed Chulafinee in 1840, it was later renamed again for the hometown of one of the early settlers, Roanoke, Virginia. The city was officially incorporated in December 1890.

Geography

Roanoke is located at 33°8′56″N 85°22′11″W / 33.14889°N 85.36972°W / 33.14889; -85.36972 (33.148830, -85.369784).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.1 square miles (49 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (49 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (1.47%) is water.

Local

The Mayor has been Mike Fisher since 2009.

Roanoke has three schools served by Roanoke City Schools: Knight Enloe Elementary (K-3), Handley Middle School (4-8), and Handley High School (9-12). On December 1, 2011, the Handley Tigers won the AHSAA Football Class 3A State Championship.

Roanoke is served by a weekly newspaper, The Randolph Leader.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 327
1890 631 93.0%
1900 1,155 83.0%
1910 2,034 76.1%
1920 3,841 88.8%
1930 4,373 13.9%
1940 4,168 −4.7%
1950 5,392 29.4%
1960 5,288 −1.9%
1970 5,251 −0.7%
1980 5,809 10.6%
1990 6,362 9.5%
2000 6,563 3.2%
2010 6,074 −7.5%
2020 5,311 −12.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
2013 Estimate

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 6,074 people in 2,409 households, including 1,538 families, in the city. The population density was 323.1 people per square mile (124.7/km2). There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of 149.8 per square mile (57.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.6% White, 40.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,409 households 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.1% of households were one person and 15.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median household income was $30,073 and the median family income was $37,007. Males had a median income of $35,096 versus $31,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,286. About 25.8% of families and 31.0% of the population were below 47.7% of those younger than 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or older.

2020 census

Roanoke racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 2,851 53.68%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,136 40.22%
Native American 7 0.13%
Asian 43 0.81%
Other/Mixed 191 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 83 1.56%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,311 people, 2,387 households, and 1,562 families residing in the city.

Notable people

  • Admiral Edward A. Burkhalter, Chief of Naval Intelligence; Director of Intelligence Community, CIA
  • Wilkie Clark, African-American entrepreneur and civil rights activist
  • Jake Daniel, former Major League Baseball player
  • George Eddy, American-French basketball commentator and professional basketball player
  • Horace Gillom, former Cleveland Browns football player, who contributed to the evolution of punting by standing farther back from the center than was normal at the time
  • William Anderson Handley, former congressman
  • Fred Hyatt, former Auburn University and professional football wide receiver
  • Odell McLeod, country-gospel singer, radio entertainer, and songwriter
  • Stanley O'Neal, former chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch
  • Clare Purcell, former bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Church
  • Ella Gaunt Smith, doll manufacturer
  • David Vann, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama
  • Bradley Bozeman, former University of Alabama football player and current NFL football player with the Baltimore Ravens.
  • Henry Spec Bonner, former mayor of Roanoke and owner of the old Bonner hotel.
  • Ronald L Traylor, MVP 1961 1A Alabama State Basketball Tournament, 1A Alabama State Tournament Record Holder (1961 vs. Notasulga, 39 points). University of Alabama sophomore redshirt, 1963.

See also

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

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