Tuscumbia, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tuscumbia, Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|
Colbert County Courthouse in Tuscumbia
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
"The Charm of the Shoals"
|
||
Location of Tuscumbia, Alabama
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Alabama | |
| County | Colbert | |
| Founded | 1815 | |
| Incorporated | December 20, 1820 | |
| Named for | Chief Tuscumbia | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor–Council | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 9.258 sq mi (23.978 km2) | |
| • Land | 9.215 sq mi (23.867 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.043 sq mi (0.113 km2) | |
| Elevation | 427 ft (130 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • City | 9,054 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
9,169 | |
| • Density | 995.07/sq mi (384.19/km2) | |
| • Urban | 78,925 | |
| • Metro | 155,175 | |
| Demonym(s) | Tuscumbian | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
35674
|
|
| Area code(s) | 256 and 938 | |
| FIPS code | 01-77280 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405616 | |
| Sales tax | 9.0% | |
Tuscumbia is a city in Alabama, United States. It is the main city of Colbert County. In 2020, about 9,054 people lived there. By 2023, the population was thought to be around 9,169. Tuscumbia is part of a larger area called The Shoals.
Tuscumbia is famous as the hometown of Helen Keller. She was a deafblind author and activist who lived at Ivy Green. Many places in Tuscumbia are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is also home to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
History of Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia began around 1816 when the Michael Dixon family arrived. They traded with Chief Tucumseh for the Tuscumbia Valley. They built their home near a large spring. This small settlement quickly grew into a village.
In 1820, the village was officially made a city. It was first called Ococoposa. This makes it one of Alabama's oldest towns. In 1821, its name changed to Big Spring. Then, on December 22, 1822, it was named Tuscumbia. This name honors the Chief Rainmaker of the Chickasaw people.
The nearby Tennessee River had shoals, which made river travel hard. But a new federal highway was finished in 1820. This road helped the area connect to markets. Tuscumbia soon became a key farming center in northern Alabama. A railroad line to the town was finished in 1832. By 1850, Tuscumbia was a major railroad hub for the southern United States.
Tuscumbia became the main city for Colbert County in 1867. During the Civil War, Tuscumbia's railroad hub was important. The Union Army attacked the city and destroyed its railroad shops.
Geography of Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia is located in the northeast part of Colbert County. It is at coordinates 34°43′51″N 87°42′10″W / 34.73083°N 87.70278°W. The city of Sheffield is to its north. Muscle Shoals is to its northeast. The Tennessee River is about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the northwest.
The U.S. Census Bureau says the city covers about 9.25 square miles (23.978 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.113 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,214 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,369 | 12.8% | |
| 1890 | 2,491 | 82.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,348 | −5.7% | |
| 1910 | 3,324 | 41.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,855 | 16.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,533 | 17.6% | |
| 1940 | 5,515 | 21.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,734 | 22.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,994 | 33.6% | |
| 1970 | 8,828 | −1.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,137 | 3.5% | |
| 1990 | 8,413 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 7,856 | −6.6% | |
| 2010 | 8,423 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 9,054 | 7.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,169 | 8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
|||
In 2023, there were about 3,972 homes in Tuscumbia. Each home had about 2.22 people on average. The average income for a household was $47,342. About 19.0% of the people in the city lived below the poverty line.
About 54.8% of people in Tuscumbia have jobs. Also, 22.1% of the population has a college degree or higher. Most people, about 85.2%, have a high school diploma. The average age in the city was 38.7 years old.
2020 Census Information
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,375 | 70.41% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,991 | 21.99% |
| Native American | 28 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 16 | 0.18% |
| Other/Mixed | 416 | 4.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 228 | 2.52% |
The 2020 census showed 9,054 people living in Tuscumbia. There were 3,304 households and 2,207 families.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, Tuscumbia had 8,423 people. There were 3,704 households and 2,279 families. The city had about 1076 people per square mile. There were 4,120 housing units.
The people living in Tuscumbia were mostly White (75.91%). About 21.16% were Black or African American. Other groups included Native American (0.39%) and Asian (0.33%). About 1.37% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 25.4% of households had children under 18. Many households (46.2%) were married couples. About 34.5% of all households were single people. About 17.5% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.19 people.
The median age in the city was 42 years. About 21.64% of people were under 18. About 21.9% were 65 or older.
Education in Tuscumbia
Public schools in Tuscumbia are managed by Tuscumbia City Schools and the Colbert County Board of Education.
Here are some of the public schools in Tuscumbia:
- Deshler Area Vocational Center (grades 9-12)
- Deshler High School (grades 9-12)
- Colbert Heights High School (grades 7-12)
- Deshler Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Colbert Heights Elementary School (grades K-6)
- New Bethel Elementary (grades K-6)
- R. E. Thompson Intermediate School (grades 3-5)
- G. W. Trenholm Primary School (grades K-2)
Covenant Christian School is a private school in Tuscumbia. It serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Media and News
Tuscumbia has a few radio stations:
- WVNA 1590 AM (This station plays news and talk shows.)
- WZZA 1410 AM (This station plays urban contemporary music.)
Transportation
Major Roads
U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 72
Local Travel
Tuscumbia does not have a regular bus service. However, the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments offers a ride service. It is called NACOLG Transit. You can call them to arrange a ride.
Famous People from Tuscumbia
Many notable people have come from Tuscumbia:
- Cynthia Bailey: A model, actress, and businesswoman. She was on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
- Beverly Barton: A writer of novels.
- Deion Belue: An American football player.
- Archibald Hill Carmichael: A politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Mike Cooley: A guitarist for the band Drive-By Truckers.
- James Deshler: A Confederate general during the Civil War.
- Al Gamble: A musician who plays for recordings.
- Howell Thomas Heflin: A U.S. senator from Alabama.
- Richard H. Jackson: A four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy.
- Helen Keller: A famous deafblind author and activist.
- Robert B. Lindsay: The 22nd Governor of Alabama.
- Frank Manush: A former Major League Baseball player.
- Heinie Manush: A professional baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Jimmy Orr: A former National Football League player.
- Margaret Pellegrini: She played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz movie.
- Billy Pettinger: A songwriter, painter, and author.
- William Henry Sawtelle: A United States federal judge.
- William H. Steele: A judge for the U.S. District Court.
- Larry Stutts: A State Senator.
- Bubba Underwood: A former mayor of Tuscumbia and state representative.
- Wilson D. Watson: A U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor.
See also
In Spanish: Tuscumbia (Alabama) para niños
