Winfield, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winfield
City
Seal
Location in Fayette and Marion counties, Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Marion, Fayette
Named for	Winfield Scott
Area
• Total	17.83 sq mi (46.2 km2)
• Land	17.78 sq mi (46.0 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	476 ft (145 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,845
• Density	272.47/sq mi (105.20/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35594
Area code(s)	205, 659
FIPS code	01-82992
GNIS feature ID	0154009

Winfield is a city in Alabama, located in both Marion and Fayette counties. In 2020, about 4,845 people lived there. This makes Winfield the second-largest city in Marion County.

History of Winfield

Winfield is a small city in northwest Alabama. It's about 26 miles east of the Mississippi state line. The city sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range. This mountain range stretches all the way from the southern United States to Canada.

Long ago, before settlers arrived, Native Americans hunted in the forests and fished in the streams here. This area was once home to the Chickasaw people. While there were no known Native American towns in the county, they did use several spots as hunting camps.

The area was first called Luxapallila, named after a nearby creek. Later, as more settlers moved in, they called their community "Needmore." When the town officially became a city, its name changed to "Winfield." This new name honored General Winfield Scott. The city was incorporated in either 1887 or 1891.

Geography and Climate

Winfield's Location

Winfield is mainly in southern Marion County. A small part of the city also reaches into Fayette County. U.S. Route 43 goes through Winfield. This road leads northwest about 6.5 miles to Guin. It also goes south about 18 miles to Fayette. Hamilton, which is the main town of Marion County, is about 20 miles northwest on US 43.

The city covers about 17.9 square miles of land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square miles, is water. The East Branch of Luxapallila Creek flows near the center of town. It then goes southwest towards the Tombigbee River in Columbus, Mississippi.

Weather in Winfield

Winfield has a subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. There is also a lot of rain, especially in late winter and spring.

In January, the average high temperature is about 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low is around 31.8 degrees Fahrenheit. In July, the average high is about 90.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and the low is about 69.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow doesn't fall often, with only about 0.5 inches per year. Winfield gets about 52 inches of rain each year. March is usually the wettest month, and October is the driest.

Spring and fall are generally pleasant. However, cold fronts can bring strong thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes. Fall has less rain and fewer storms than spring. It also has lower humidity. But fall can also have severe weather.

December 2021 Tornado

On the evening of December 29, 2021, a line of strong storms moved into Alabama from Mississippi. A tornado warning was issued for Winfield and nearby towns. The storm caused damage on the edges of Winfield, mostly downed trees.

At 6:46 PM, a tornado moved over downtown Winfield. It caused a lot of damage in the area. Luckily, no one was hurt or killed. Eight workers at a local pizza place were stuck for about 30 minutes but were safe. This tornado was rated as an EF-1.

Population of Winfield

Winfield's population has grown over the years. Here's how it has changed:

2010 Census Information

In 2010, Winfield had 4,717 people. Most of the people were White (92.9%). About 4.5% were Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller percentages. About 2.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Winfield in 2010 was 43.2 years old. About 21.3% of the people were under 18. About 20.2% were 65 or older.

2020 Census Information

As of the 2020 United States census, Winfield had 4,845 people. There were 1,627 households and 1,242 families living in the city.

Culture and Events

Mule Day Festival

Winfield hosts a special event called Mule Day every year. It takes place on the fourth Saturday in September. A travel magazine even called it "One of the top 20 events in the Southeast."

The main part of Mule Day is a horse parade through downtown. There is also live entertainment and car shows. You can find many homemade baked goods sold at a farmers market. A popular part for kids is the Mule Day carnival. This small carnival area is usually located along Kirkwood Street. Many small shops and food stands are set up throughout the town. Mule Day has been celebrated since 1975. It has become a big event for Winfield and for the state of Alabama.

The Pastime Theater

The Pastime Theater is a historic building in Winfield. It was built in 1937. Recently, it was updated to be a performing arts center. This theater offers cultural events for Winfield and nearby communities.

Notable People from Winfield

Many interesting people have come from Winfield, including:

• W. Eugene Davis, a judge for a high court in the United States.
• Jimmy Miles, a country music artist who has won awards.
• Johnny Micheal Spann, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative. He was the first American killed in combat after the U.S. began its operations in Afghanistan.
• The Dirty Clergy, a national rock/pop band.
• Trey Cunningham, a talented hurdler.

Images for kids

• 

  The official seal of Winfield, Alabama.

• 

  A map showing Winfield's location in Fayette and Marion counties, Alabama.

See also

In Spanish: Winfield (Alabama) para niños