Blountsville, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Blountsville is a town in Blount County
, Alabama
, United States
. Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on 1818 Feb. 6, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Creek Nation on 1814 Aug. 9. It was named for Gov. Willie G. Blount
of Tennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War of 1813-14. It lies in the northeastern section of the state, generally known as the mineral region.
Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, and Walker Counties. The county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River. Blount County contains 643 square miles (1,665.4 km²). The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County. From 1818 to 1889, Blountsville served as the county seat. 1889 was an election year and resulted in the county seat's transfer to Oneonta.
There were many schools in the town in the early years: The Academy, Blount College and the District Agricultural School, plus the public schools. Blount County Courthouse and jail was built in 1833 and remained there until it was moved to Oneonta. A major crossroads in early Alabama, Blountsville became a Confederate depot for the cavalry. General N. Bedford Forrest and General Abel Streight skirmished briefly in the town on May 1, 1863, and Major General Lovell H. Rousseau and his cavalry occupied the town in July 1864. Blount College was in the building that was originally the courthouse. It was established in 1890. The beautiful Blountsville United Methodist Church was established in 1818 and is still in use today.
The oldest building in Blountsville was once known as the Barclift House. Built in 1834 as Hendricks Tavern, it is now owned and is being restored by the Ortiz Family.
The Freeman House, built circa 1825, was damaged by a storm and the two-story brick dwelling was rebuilt, using the same bricks, into a one story. The porches face the historic Meat Cabin Rd. and the other porch faces U.S. Highway 231. An annual reenactment is held on the grounds. The structure has been renovated by the Blountsville Historical Society and now serves as a museum and visitors' center on a part-time basis. During the reenactment it is furnished with period furnishings and is open to the public for tours.
The Thomas Nation House, circa 1835, is now a ruin due to a storm that took all but one and one half walls down in 1998 before the house could be stabilized. The ruins can still be seen from the U.S. Highway 231.
Blountsville is also home to the Spring Valley Beach Water Park, one of the few water parks in the lower Sand Mountain area. As of June 2008 Spring Valley Beach contains a large swimming pool and four water slides.
of 2000, there were 1,768 people, 743 households, and 479 families residing in the town. The population density
was 326.4 people per square mile (125.9/km2). There were 853 housing units at an average density of 157.5 per square mile (60.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.5% White
, 0.8% Native American
, 0.3% Asian
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
, 8.20% from other races
, and 1.1% from two or more races. 16.2% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 743 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,432, and the median income for a family was $34,050. Males had a median income of $27,847 versus $18,869 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,426. About 19.3% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 28.8% of those age 65 or over.
"Blountsville, Alabama: a Case Study in the Use of the R. G. Dun & Company Credit Reports, 1847-1880." Alabama Review 56 (2003): 125-35.
Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921.
Toulmin's Digest, 1823.
Blount County, Alabama
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on 1818 Feb. 6, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Creek Nation on 1814 Aug. 9. It was named for Gov. Willie G. Blount
Willie Blount
Willie Blount served as Governor of Tennessee from 1809 to 1815. He was the younger half-brother of William Blount, representative of North Carolina to the Continental Congress and governor of the Southwest Territory....
of Tennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War of 1813-14. It lies in the northeastern section of the state, generally known as the mineral region.
Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, and Walker Counties. The county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River. Blount County contains 643 square miles (1,665.4 km²). The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County. From 1818 to 1889, Blountsville served as the county seat. 1889 was an election year and resulted in the county seat's transfer to Oneonta.
History
What became Blountsville appears on an 1819 map as the mixed Creek/Cherokee Indian village of "Wassausey" (meaning Bear Meat Cabin, the name of an Indian translator who lived there). The town was established by Caleb Fryley and Johnny Jones in 1816 as Bear Meat Cabin. The post office was opened as Blountsville on October 20, 1825 and incorporarted on December 13, 1827. It was the county seat until 1889 when the government was moved to Oneonta.There were many schools in the town in the early years: The Academy, Blount College and the District Agricultural School, plus the public schools. Blount County Courthouse and jail was built in 1833 and remained there until it was moved to Oneonta. A major crossroads in early Alabama, Blountsville became a Confederate depot for the cavalry. General N. Bedford Forrest and General Abel Streight skirmished briefly in the town on May 1, 1863, and Major General Lovell H. Rousseau and his cavalry occupied the town in July 1864. Blount College was in the building that was originally the courthouse. It was established in 1890. The beautiful Blountsville United Methodist Church was established in 1818 and is still in use today.
The oldest building in Blountsville was once known as the Barclift House. Built in 1834 as Hendricks Tavern, it is now owned and is being restored by the Ortiz Family.
Attractions
The Copeland-Bussey House, built c. 1835, is one of the oldest structures in northeast Alabama. The building has been stabilized by the Alabama Historic Preservation Alliance and the Blountsville Historical Society.The Freeman House, built circa 1825, was damaged by a storm and the two-story brick dwelling was rebuilt, using the same bricks, into a one story. The porches face the historic Meat Cabin Rd. and the other porch faces U.S. Highway 231. An annual reenactment is held on the grounds. The structure has been renovated by the Blountsville Historical Society and now serves as a museum and visitors' center on a part-time basis. During the reenactment it is furnished with period furnishings and is open to the public for tours.
The Thomas Nation House, circa 1835, is now a ruin due to a storm that took all but one and one half walls down in 1998 before the house could be stabilized. The ruins can still be seen from the U.S. Highway 231.
Blountsville is also home to the Spring Valley Beach Water Park, one of the few water parks in the lower Sand Mountain area. As of June 2008 Spring Valley Beach contains a large swimming pool and four water slides.
Transportation
Blountsville is located on the intersection of County Highway 26 and U.S. Highway 231. Alabama Highway 79 also runs through Blountsville's jurisdiction.School
Both J.B. Pennington High School (PHS) and Blountsville Elementary School (BES), the town's only two schools, are located in the center of Blountsville. They are both in the Blount County School District.Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.Demographics
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 1,768 people, 743 households, and 479 families residing in the town. 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 326.4 people per square mile (125.9/km2). There were 853 housing units at an average density of 157.5 per square mile (60.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.5% 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...
, 0.8% 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...
, 0.3% 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...
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
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...
, 8.20% 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 1.1% from two or more races. 16.2% 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 743 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% 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, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,432, and the median income for a family was $34,050. Males had a median income of $27,847 versus $18,869 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 town was $13,426. About 19.3% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 28.8% of those age 65 or over.
Historical Studies
Davis, Robert S. A Blountsville Picture Book. Blountsville: Blountsville Historical Society, 1999."Blountsville, Alabama: a Case Study in the Use of the R. G. Dun & Company Credit Reports, 1847-1880." Alabama Review 56 (2003): 125-35.
Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921.
Toulmin's Digest, 1823.