Daviston, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Daviston is a town in Tallapoosa County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 267. It is part of the Alexander City
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
History=
Daviston, incorporated February 16, 1887, is believed to be the first incorporated rural town in Tallapoosa County
. The first mayor was J.D. Dunn. Daviston was a natural evolution of the opening of Indian lands
in 1832. Much of the Federal Horse Path
was within Creek Indian lands in 1832. With construction of Chapman Road from West Point, Georgia
to Ft. Williams, Alabama on the Coosa River
, land areas opened up to white settlement.
Daviston flourished with improved roads and became a hub of migration. It had grist and saw mills, a blacksmith shop, buggy shop, coffin shop, general mercantile, public well, federal distillery, six saloons or inns, pharmacy, and doctors. The first land deed found was dated 1836 to S.W. Monk. The post office was established in 1853 with John Davis as the first postmaster. The story told over the years is that he used his own name for the town name. When he submitted the name to the government, due to poor penmanship or a mistake, "Davis Town" became Daviston and has since remained.
The school closed in 1988. At the time of closing, it was the smallest school in Alabama with 120 K-12 students. Thirst-eight principals served from 1883-1988. For 105 years, Daviston School served as the center of the community. In 1998, a committee formed to initiate a Daviston School Reunion to be held annually in the center of the town on the second Saturday of November.
Geography=
Daviston is located at 33°3′19"N 85°38′21"W (33.055251, -85.639164).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
Demographics=
As of the census
of 2000, there were 267 people, 109 households, and 74 families residing in the town. The population density
was 29.1 people per square mile (11.2/km2). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 82.02% White
and 17.98% Black
or African American
. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 109 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,239. About 15.9% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those sixty five or over.
Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Tallapoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The name Tallapoosa is of Creek origin, and many Indian villages were along the banks of the lower river before the 19th century. As of 2010, the population was 41,616...
, 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...
. At the 2000 census the population was 267. It is part of the Alexander City
Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Alexander City micropolitan area
The Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Alabama, anchored by the city of Alexander City...
.
History=
Daviston, incorporated February 16, 1887, is believed to be the first incorporated rural town in Tallapoosa County
Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Tallapoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The name Tallapoosa is of Creek origin, and many Indian villages were along the banks of the lower river before the 19th century. As of 2010, the population was 41,616...
. The first mayor was J.D. Dunn. Daviston was a natural evolution of the opening of Indian lands
Treaty of Cusseta
The Treaty of Cusseta was a treaty between the government of the United States and the Creek Nation signed March 24, 1832. The treaty ceded all Creek claims east of the Mississippi River to the United States.-Origins:...
in 1832. Much of the Federal Horse Path
Federal Road (Creek lands)
The Federal Road was a project that started in 1805 when the Creek Indians gave a permission for the development of a "horse path" through their nation for more efficient mail delivery between Washington City and New Orleans, Louisiana....
was within Creek Indian lands in 1832. With construction of Chapman Road from West Point, Georgia
West Point, Georgia
West Point is a town in Troup County, with a small tail of the south end of town in Harris County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, this town had a total population of just 3,382 people...
to Ft. Williams, Alabama on the Coosa River
Coosa River
The Coosa River is a tributary of the Alabama River in the U.S. states of Alabama and Georgia. The river is about long altogether.The Coosa River is one of Alabama's most developed rivers...
, land areas opened up to white settlement.
Daviston flourished with improved roads and became a hub of migration. It had grist and saw mills, a blacksmith shop, buggy shop, coffin shop, general mercantile, public well, federal distillery, six saloons or inns, pharmacy, and doctors. The first land deed found was dated 1836 to S.W. Monk. The post office was established in 1853 with John Davis as the first postmaster. The story told over the years is that he used his own name for the town name. When he submitted the name to the government, due to poor penmanship or a mistake, "Davis Town" became Daviston and has since remained.
Daviston School
In 1883, Walker Allen and his twin, Walter, moved to Daviston. Walker Allen was elected principal of Daviston School. In 1884, a wooden two-story building was started on land given by J.T. Moncus to be called Daviston College. It became a high school around 1912. The building burned in 1923. Another building was built and burned before being used. A third building was constructed in 1923 and received accreditation that year. Lillie Thompson, who graduated in 1916, was the first graduate of Daviston High School.The school closed in 1988. At the time of closing, it was the smallest school in Alabama with 120 K-12 students. Thirst-eight principals served from 1883-1988. For 105 years, Daviston School served as the center of the community. In 1998, a committee formed to initiate a Daviston School Reunion to be held annually in the center of the town on the second Saturday of November.
Geography=
Daviston is located at 33°3′19"N 85°38′21"W (33.055251, -85.639164).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
Demographics=
As of the census
Census
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 267 people, 109 households, and 74 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 29.1 people per square mile (11.2/km2). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 82.02% 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...
and 17.98% 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...
. 1.50% 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 109 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $16,875 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 $14,239. About 15.9% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those sixty five or over.