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Gurley, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Gurley is a town in Madison County
, Alabama
, United States
, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 876.
opened, and the name was changed to Gurleysville. It was later shortened back to Gurley. The business district was nearly destroyed by fire in 1923, when a bucket brigade was able to save only two businesses. Most of the town is now included in the Gurley Historic District, which was awarded national recognition in 2003.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 876 people, 346 households, and 241 families residing in the town. The population density
was 313.9 people per square mile (121.2/km²). There were 379 housing units at an average density of 135.8 per square mile (52.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.85% White
, 15.41% Black
or African American
, 0.46% Native American
, 0.34% Asian
, 0.57% from other races
, and 1.37% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 346 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples
living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,831, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $31,146 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,271. About 23.4% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 31.1% of those age 65 or over.
— Gurley Lodge #521 F & AM, a Lions Club, a Lioness Club, and a Founders Club.
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
, 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...
, 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 2000 census, the population of the town is 876.
History
The community takes its name from the Gurley family, who settled in the area in 1817. The town gradually formed around a water and coaling stop of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad and was originally known as Gurley's Tank. Gurley was incorporated in 1891 with 250 residents. Soon after, the population peaked at 1,000. In 1896, the post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
opened, and the name was changed to Gurleysville. It was later shortened back to Gurley. The business district was nearly destroyed by fire in 1923, when a bucket brigade was able to save only two businesses. Most of the town is now included in the Gurley Historic District, which was awarded national recognition in 2003.
Geography
Gurley is located at 34°42′1"N 86°22′35"W (34.700164, -86.376469).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
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 876 people, 346 households, and 241 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 313.9 people per square mile (121.2/km²). There were 379 housing units at an average density of 135.8 per square mile (52.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.85% 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...
, 15.41% 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...
, 0.46% 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...
, 0.34% 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...
, 0.57% 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 1.37% from two or more races. 2.05% 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 346 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% 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, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,831, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $31,146 versus $20,000 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 $13,271. About 23.4% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 31.1% of those age 65 or over.
Public Services
As an incorporated town, Gurley enjoys its own police and fire departments. The city also maintains a small sewer system. Education in Gurley, however, is run by the Madison County School System http://www.madison.k12.al.us. Only one K-8 school (Madison County Elementary) operates within the city limits. Gurley secondary school students are sent to Madison County High School, a school of 583 a few miles west of the city on US 72.Fraternal
Gurley has its own Masonic LodgeMasonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
— Gurley Lodge #521 F & AM, a Lions Club, a Lioness Club, and a Founders Club.