Alexander City, Alabama

Tallapoosa County

01-01132

Alexander City is a city in the U.S. state of Alabama, United States. It has 15,100 inhabitants ( as of 2004) and an area of 101 km ² ( of which 0.4 % of water ). The incumbent mayor is Barbara H. Young.

Geography

Alexander City is located southeast of Birmingham in Tallapoosa County on the northwest shore of Lake Martin ( a reservoir of Tallapoosa Rivers ), who with his long wooded shores and its 178 square kilometers of water area is a popular destination of tourists and recreation seekers. In the vicinity there are ways for boat and yacht trips, swimming, fishing, golfing and camping. Along the lake shore, numerous wealthy citizens have settled in luxury villas. The city lies on the highway leading from Birmingham to Columbus (Georgia ), which benefits the infrastructure of the city. There is also a rail link that connects Alexander City also with these two cities.

History

Since 1698 there was a unused by the British trade in the area where the stations Flint Hill, Young 's Ferry and Kowaliga were. 1814 succeeded the U.S. general and later President Andrew Jackson in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, just east of the village a decisive victory against the Muskogee who are forced in 1832 to cede the land on the Tallapoosa River. Five years later, James Young acquires an area of ​​320 acres in the area of the present town and founded a settlement there, which is first named Youngsville after him. The place is at the beginning still too small and insignificant to play a role in the American Civil War, 1872 to build Methodists and Baptists each have a church in the village. 1873 receives Youngsville a railway connection through the Savannah & Memphis Railway and will be renamed after the president of the company, Edward P. Alexander in Alexander City. 1879 Alexander City receives the first community school, 1884 draws BFC Russell in the place that built here in the sequence a factory, which is still the largest employer in the city. 1889 Courthouse is built in the city, 1900 carried the settlement of a cotton factory. 1902 Russell takes the factory ( production of underwear ) to operate on, the same year Alexander City is plagued by a large fire, which causes significant property damage. It is characteristic of the influence of the entrepreneur in the era of " Big Business ", that 1907 TC Russell, the brother of the then CEOs Ben, mayor of Alexander City is. In the years 1923-1926 the construction of Martin Dam, which changed the face of the landscape takes place at the same time provides better energy supply and an increase in the tourism industry. 1950 carried out the construction of a secondary school, which is named after the entrepreneur Benjamin Russell. In 1956, the adjacent battlefield of Horseshoe Bend National Monument is explained. Although new educational opportunities were also created in Alexander City, so in 1965 the Alexander City Junior College, the city was, however, marked up in the 50s and 60s in through the racial segregation in everyday life, so that the black population for a long time not approached the same opportunities for advancement. In 2000 a "time capsule " sunk in after this named " Time Capsule Park " at Children 's Harbor in the earth for future generations to gain an insight into the life of the place around the turn of the millennium.

Demography

In Alexander City were living in 2000 15.008 inhabitants ( 4,134 families) in 6,152 households, 70.6 % of the inhabitants are counted as White, 28.4 % as Black, 0.1% are of Native American origin, 0.3% are Asian, 0.5% of Hispanics and Latinos. 24 % of the population are under 18, 19 % are over 65, the average age is 39 to 100 women come into Alexander City 85 men. The average household income in the community is $ 29,309 per year, ie per capita $ 17,305, making this rural community despite their good infrastructure is somewhat below the average for the State of Alabama (about $ 20,000) in turn occupies one of the last ranks in the United States. In addition, not less than 16.7 % of the population are below the poverty line, with above average number of non-whites are affected; the luxury villas on the shores of Lake Martin, which usually include whites who continue existing social inequalities clearly document.

Attractions

• Lake Martin - reservoir full of scenic and recreational opportunities
• Horseshoe Bend National Military Park - memorial at the site of the battle of 27 March 1814 comprises 2,040 acres with visitor center and museum. The museum is a so-called drive-thru museum that can be traveled by car.
• Wind Creek State Park.
• Charles E. Bailey Sr. Sportplex.
• TC Russell airfield - situated right next to the Russell company and on highway.
• Lake Martin Amphitheater - open-air venue with 2,500 seats.
• Martin Dam - power plant with a capacity of 301.7 million kWh; the dam generated at the time of its construction the largest most artificial lake in the world (calculated by volume).
• D.A.R.E. Power Park - Between Alexander City and dadeville located recreation center.
• Chimney Rock - Favorite excursion island in the lake.
• Children 's Harbor - Lakeside situated settlement in the quintessential New England village with a church and a small lighthouse.
• Camp ASCCA - largest camping area in the region with over 10,000 visitors annually.

Established businesses

The largest employer in the region is Russell Athletic

Medical care

The hospital was named after the largest local companies.

Education

In the resort consist of educational institutions, among others:

• Alexander City Junior College
• Ben Russell High School
• A Middle School
• And three other schools ( Radney, Stevens and Jim Pearson School)

Main Library of the city is the Adelia M. Russell Library, which is housed in a two storey building.

Policy

Current Mayor is Barbara H. Young. The City Council ( City Council ) comprises six members and is divided according to the regional districts of the city. City Council and mayoral elections are held every 4 years.

Festivals

Typical festivals of the city in addition to the traditional 4th of July festivities and Christmas Homestead Festival, the Jazz Fest and Oktoberfest.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Terrell Owens, football players