Arab, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Arab is a city in both Cullman County, Alabama
and Marshall County, Alabama
in the northeastern part of the U.S. state
of Alabama
, located ten miles from Guntersville Lake
and Guntersville Dam
, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 8,050.
, whose wife is from Arab, shares the alternate explanation that the town's name was changed following a misspelling on the water tower.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33.4 km²), of which 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.62%) is water. The town's elevation is 1100 feet (335.3 m) above sea level
.
. Water service in Arab is provided through Arab Water Works, which gets water from Browns Creek in Guntersville Lake
. Natural gas is also provided in Arab through Marshall County Gas District, which is based out of Guntersville
.
is the public school district.
of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 3,012 households, and 2,075 families residing in the city. The population density
was 561.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,223 housing units at an average density of 252.4 square miles (653.7 km²) . The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White
, 0.18% Black
or African American
, 0.49% Native American
, 0.39% Asian
, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,012 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,716, and the median income for a family was $45,761. Males had a median income of $32,425 versus $24,265 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,035. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Cullman County, Alabama
Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means...
and Marshall County, Alabama
Marshall County, Alabama
Marshall County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of John Marshall, famous Chief Justice of the United States. As of 2010 the population was 93,019...
in the northeastern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, located ten miles from Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake is located in north Alabama between Bridgeport and Guntersville. Created by Guntersville Dam along the Tennessee River, it stretches 75 miles from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam...
and Guntersville Dam
Guntersville Dam
Guntersville Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Marshall County, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is one of nine dams on the river owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the late 1930s as part of a New Deal era initiative to create a...
, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
The Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area is the most populated sub-region of North Alabama, and is the second fastest growing region in the State of Alabama, with 510,088 living within the CSA...
. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 8,050.
History
The name of the town was an unintentional misspelling by the US Postal Service in 1882 of the city's intended name, taken from Arad Thompson, the son of the town founder and first postmaster Stephen Tuttle Thompson. Two other proper names for the town were sent to the US Postal Service for consideration: "Ink" and "Bird". Arab was incorporated in 1892. Standup comedian Henry ChoHenry Cho
Henry Cho is an American stand-up comedian. His work can be heard nationwide several times weekly on XM Radio's Channel 151, Laugh USA and Sirius Radio's Blue Collar Radio channel 103, Pandora Radio's PG Comedy Radio channel.- Biography :Cho, who is of Korean American descent, was raised in...
, whose wife is from Arab, shares the alternate explanation that the town's name was changed following a misspelling on the water tower.
Geography
Arab is located on top of Brindlee Mountain at 34°19′40"N 86°29′55"W (34.327863, -86.498613).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33.4 km²), of which 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.62%) is water. The town's elevation is 1100 feet (335.3 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Utilities
Electricity service in Arab is provided through Arab Electric Cooperative, which buys power through Tennessee Valley AuthorityTennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
. Water service in Arab is provided through Arab Water Works, which gets water from Browns Creek in Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake is located in north Alabama between Bridgeport and Guntersville. Created by Guntersville Dam along the Tennessee River, it stretches 75 miles from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam...
. Natural gas is also provided in Arab through Marshall County Gas District, which is based out of Guntersville
Guntersville, Alabama
Guntersville is a city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,197. The city is the county seat of Marshall County. Guntersville is located in a HUBZone as identified by the...
.
Government
Arab has a mayor-council form of city government consisting of five council members and a mayor. City elections occur every four years, coinciding with the presidential elections. Council seats are at-large and are not associated with districts. Arab City SchoolsArab City Schools
Arab City Schools is the public school district of Arab, Alabama.It includes the following schools:*Arab High School*Arab Junior High School*Arab Primary School*Arab Elementary SchoolArab City Schools750 Arabian DriveArab, AL 35016 586-6011...
is the public school district.
2000 Census data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 3,012 households, and 2,075 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 561.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,223 housing units at an average density of 252.4 square miles (653.7 km²) . The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.49% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 3,012 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,716, and the median income for a family was $45,761. Males had a median income of $32,425 versus $24,265 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,035. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
U.S. Highway 231
Alabama State Route 69