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Wedowee, Alabama facts for kids

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Wedowee, Alabama
Town
Wedowee.JPG
Location of Wedowee in Randolph County, Alabama.
Location of Wedowee in Randolph County, Alabama.
Country United States
State Alabama
County Randolph
Area
 • Total 3.52 sq mi (9.13 km2)
 • Land 3.49 sq mi (9.05 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
856 ft (261 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 737
 • Density 210.93/sq mi (81.44/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36278
Area code(s) 256
FIPS code 01-80496
GNIS feature ID 0153913

Wedowee is a small town in Randolph County, Alabama, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Randolph County. In 2020, about 737 people lived there.

Wedowee was first made an official town in 1836. However, its official status ended later in the 1800s. It became an official town again in 1901. Randolph County High School is located in Wedowee.

History of Wedowee

Wedowee gets its name from the Creek language. The word "Wedowee" means "old water." It was named after a chief from the Muscogee Creek Indian tribe. This area was once the home of the Muscogee Creek people.

In the 1830s, the U.S. government moved the Creek people to lands west of the Mississippi River. After this, people from Europe began to settle in the area. The town of Wedowee was chosen as the county seat for Randolph County in 1835.

The county became known for growing cotton, which was a very important crop. Many African Americans were forced to work on these cotton farms. They had been brought to the Deep South from other parts of the country.

Since the late 1900s, Lake Wedowee has become a popular spot. This lake was made by building a dam on the Tallapoosa River. The lake, also called the R. L. Harris Reservoir, helps bring many visitors to Wedowee each year. This has made the town more popular for tourists.

Geography and Location

Wedowee is found on the Piedmont plateau. This area is a gently sloping land between mountains and a coastal plain. It is also located in the lower parts of the Appalachian Mountains.

The town is in the middle of Randolph County. The main road that goes through Wedowee is U.S. Route 431. This road goes northwest to Oxford (about 34 miles or 55 km away). It also goes southeast to Roanoke (about 13 miles or 21 km away).

Another road, Alabama State Route 48, also passes through Wedowee. It goes northeast to Woodland (about 9 miles or 14 km away). It also goes west to Lineville (about 16 miles or 26 km away).

The town covers a total area of about 3.5 square miles (9.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.

Population Facts

The population of Wedowee has changed over the years:

  • 1870: 130 people
  • 1910: 435 people
  • 1920: 510 people
  • 1930: 396 people
  • 1940: 525 people
  • 1950: 559 people
  • 1960: 917 people
  • 1970: 842 people
  • 1980: 908 people
  • 1990: 796 people
  • 2000: 818 people
  • 2010: 823 people
  • 2020: 737 people

In 2000, there were 818 people living in Wedowee. About 68.7% of the people were White, and 30.2% were Black or African American. A small number of people were from other racial groups.

The town's population included people of all ages. About 21.8% were under 18 years old. About 20.3% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 39 years old.

Famous People from Wedowee

Many notable people have connections to Wedowee:

  • Hulond Humphries – He was a high school principal and school district leader.
  • John Merrill – A politician who used to be the Secretary of State of Alabama.
  • T. Jack Lee – He was the sixth Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center from 1989 to 1994.
  • Stanley O'Neal – He was the former CEO of Merrill Lynch, a big financial company.
  • William Hugh Smith – He was the 21st Governor of Alabama from 1868 to 1870. He was the first Republican governor of Alabama. He moved to Wedowee when he was 13 years old. A historical marker now stands where his family's home used to be.
  • Alvin Wright – A former professional football player who played as a defensive lineman in the NFL.

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wedowee para niños

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