Stevenson, Alabama

Stevenson
City

Historic District

Location in Jackson County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 34°52′10″N 85°49′55″W / 34.86944°N 85.83194°W / 34.86944; -85.83194
Country United States
State Alabama
County Jackson
Area
 • Total 5.2 sq mi (13.6 km2)
 • Land 4.9 sq mi (12.8 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation 653 ft (199 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 1,770
 • Density 340.4/sq mi (130.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 35772
Area code(s) 256
FIPS code 01-73080
GNIS feature ID 0127370

Stevenson is a city in Jackson County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL Combined Statistical Area. Sources listed either 1866 or 1867 as the year incorporation, but that seems to conflict with the dates given for the town being granted a charter.[1] It did not first appear on the U.S. Census until 1880, where it was the second largest town in Jackson County behind Scottsboro. Since 1900, it has been the third largest town behind either Scottsboro and Bridgeport or vice versa. At the 2010 census, the population of the city was 2,046, up from 1,770 in 2000.

Geography

Stevenson is located at 34°52′10″N 85°49′55″W / 34.86944°N 85.83194°W / 34.86944; -85.83194 (34.869442, -85.831829).[2]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), of which 4.9 square miles (13 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (5.71%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880241—
1890586143.2%
1900560−4.4%
19105742.5%
192064011.5%
193073314.5%
19407938.2%
195092716.9%
19601,45657.1%
19702,39064.1%
19802,5687.4%
19902,046−20.3%
20001,770−13.5%
20102,04615.6%
Est. 20151,991[3]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
2013 Estimate[5]

In the 2000 census,[6] there were 1,770 people, 795 households, and 508 families residing in the city. The population density was 357.8 per square mile (138.1/km²). There were 948 housing units at an average density of 191.6 per square mile (73.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.88% White, 22.37% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 1.30% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 795 households of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median household income was $26,908 and the median family income was $34,125. Males had a median income of $27,188 compared with $21,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,806. About 15.5% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

In the 2010 census,[7] there were 2,046 people, 904 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density was 393.5 per square mile (150.4/km²). There were 1,041 housing units at an average density of 200.2 per square mile (76.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.8% White, 17.4% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.6% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. 3.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 904 households of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median household income was $30,241 and the median family income was $37,634. Males had a median income of $31,210 compared with $22,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,647. About 26.6% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.9% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.

Stevenson Depot

Gazebo by Railroad museum

The Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum, located in downtown Stevenson, is dedicated to preserving an important part of railroading history through the display of related artifacts. In addition, the museum displays artifacts recalling Native American culture, pioneer life, and Civil War events.[8]

The depot, which was built in 1872 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, stands on the ruins of Stevenson's first railroad depot, which was built around 1852 for common use by the Nashville Chattanooga and the Memphis & Charleston Railroads. That original depot was destroyed either during, or shortly after, the Civil War. Bricks salvaged may have been used in the building of the present structure.[9]

Fort Harker

Fort Harker

Constructed by the Union Army in summer 1862 and expanded in 1864, using soldiers and freed slaves, Fort Harker was built on a broad hill a quarter-mile east of the town of Stevenson. It overlooked Crow Creek and was well within firing range of Stevenson’s strategic railroad lines, supply depots and warehouses.[10] Ft. Harker was an earthen redoubt, 150 feet (46 m) square, with walls that were 14 feet (4.3 m) high, surrounded by an 8-foot-deep (2.4 m) dry moat. It contained 7 cannon platforms, a bomb-proof powder magazine, a draw-bridge entrance and an 8-sided wooden blockhouse at its center.[11] Fort Harker was critical to Union plans. No major fighting occurred here, but skirmishes and sniper attacks were common as territory traded hands between Union and Confederate forces. One other large fort, two smaller redoubts and at least seven blockhouses were constructed along the railroad lines at Stevenson during the Civil War. Stevenson was the major junction for the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. In addition to forts, the Union Army established a medical facility and a refugee camp at Stevenson. The remains of Gen. Rosecrans’ headquarters is on the National Register of Historic Places. Both may be seen near downtown Stevenson today.

Depot Days

Every June, the town of Stevenson holds the annual Depot Days celebration. This celebration includes many different aspects of the southern town's culture and celebrates the great things that Stevenson represents. The week-long celebration is concluded with a parade, a day full of activities, and a street dance in the middle of Downtown Stevenson.[12]

North Jackson High School

Stevenson is the location of the North Jackson High School. In 1993, the school won the Alabama 4A State Title in football.[13] They reached the finals again in 2002, when they were defeated by UMS-Wright 7-3.[14]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3313
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
  8. ↑ "Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum". Jacksoncountychamber.com. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  9. ↑ "Stevenson". Encyclopedia of Alabama. 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  10. ↑ "Northern Alabama". Civil War Traveler. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  11. ↑ Payette, Pete (2006). Northern Alabama. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Stevenson Depot Days | Community Events". Jacksoncountychamber.com. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  13. ↑ "Alabama High School Football Championships". AHSFHS.org. 1993-12-10. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  14. ↑ "Alabama High School Football History". Ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2014-08-02.

Coordinates: 34°52′10″N 85°49′55″W / 34.869442°N 85.831829°W / 34.869442; -85.831829

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