Jacksonville, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County
, Alabama
, United States
. According to the 2010 Census the population is now 12,548 which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Jacksonville State University
is located here, which is a center of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.
in 1834. There are a few Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of Gen John H. Forney in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until 1899 when it moved to Anniston
. Jacksonville State University
was founded here in 1883.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), all of it land. Jacksonville is a beautiful, often foggy valley.
of 2000, there were 8,404 people, 3,274 households, and 1,735 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,018.5 people per square mile (393.3/km²). There were 3,605 housing units at an average density of 436.9 per square mile (168.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.20% White
, 20.18% Black
or African American
, 0.35% Native American
, 1.29% Asian
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 0.77% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.87% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,274 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,726, and the median income for a family was $48,137. Males had a median income of $32,351 versus $22,534 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,035. About 13.0% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
, a public, coeducational university with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. It offers degrees in business, communication, education, family sciences, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and technology in addition to continuing education programs. The university's campus is located a few blocks north of the square.
Jacksonville is also home to two public schools run by Jacksonville City Schools:
There are also two public schools located northwest of the city proper that serve the unincorporated communities of Pleasant Valley and Williams and are run by Calhoun County Schools:
There is also a Christian school called Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA) located within the city.
Other restaurant-style bars are scattered across town. These include:
In addition to several fast-food chain restaurants, there are also a few local establishments of different tastes including:
Magazine
Television
AM Radio
FM Radio
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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...
. According to the 2010 Census the population is now 12,548 which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area
Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area
The Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area is the most populated metropolitan area in Northeast Alabama next to Huntsville. At the 2000 census, it had a population of 112,249...
. Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
is located here, which is a center of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.
History
Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from Creek Indian Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, it was renamed to honor President Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in 1834. There are a few Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of Gen John H. Forney in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until 1899 when it moved to Anniston
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
. Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
was founded here in 1883.
Geography
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, Jacksonville is located at 33°48'56.758" North, 85°45'37.681" West (33.815766, -85.760467).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), all of it land. Jacksonville is a beautiful, often foggy valley.
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 8,404 people, 3,274 households, and 1,735 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 1,018.5 people per square mile (393.3/km²). There were 3,605 housing units at an average density of 436.9 per square mile (168.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.20% 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...
, 20.18% 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...
, 0.35% 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...
, 1.29% 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...
, 0.07% 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...
, 0.77% 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 1.14% from two or more races. 1.87% 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 3,274 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,726, and the median income for a family was $48,137. Males had a median income of $32,351 versus $22,534 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 $16,035. About 13.0% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Two Alabama state routes pass through Jacksonville:- State Route 21
- State Route 204Alabama State Route 204State Route 204 or SR-204 is a highway that runs from U.S. Highway 431 at Crystal Springs to State Route 21 at Jacksonville. It is two lanes in its entirety.-Route description:...
Education
Jacksonville is the home of Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
, a public, coeducational university with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. It offers degrees in business, communication, education, family sciences, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and technology in addition to continuing education programs. The university's campus is located a few blocks north of the square.
Jacksonville is also home to two public schools run by Jacksonville City Schools:
- Jacksonville High School (Grades 7-12)
- Kitty Stone Elementary School (Grades K-6)
There are also two public schools located northwest of the city proper that serve the unincorporated communities of Pleasant Valley and Williams and are run by Calhoun County Schools:
- Pleasant Valley High SchoolPleasant Valley High School (Jacksonville, Alabama)Pleasant Valley High School is a public high school located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The school serves about 700 students in grades 7 to 12 in the Calhoun County Schools district.-Extracurricular activities:...
- Pleasant Valley Elementary School
There is also a Christian school called Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA) located within the city.
Restaurants & entertainment
Jacksonville is a minor center for the college bar activity in Northeast Alabama. Brother's Bar hosted unannounced Allman Brothers performances in the 1970s and is a popular venue for local musicians. Pelham's (formerly Fuller's, Gaterz, and the Galley Tavern) is another establishment JSU students often frequent. Pelham's is located on the southwest corner of the city square in the middle of town. Brother's Bar is just south of the square.Other restaurant-style bars are scattered across town. These include:
- Cooter Brown's Rib Shack (located west of town on State Route 204)
- Jefferson's
- Struts
In addition to several fast-food chain restaurants, there are also a few local establishments of different tastes including:
- Casa Fiesta—a popular Mexican restaurant, formerly Long John Silver'sLong John Silver'sLong John Silver's, Inc. is a United States-based fast-food restaurant that specializes in seafood. The name and concept were inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's book Treasure Island. Formerly a division of Yum! Brands, Inc., the company was divested to a group of franchisees in 2011.-History:The...
/A&WA&W RestaurantsA&W Restaurants, Inc., is a chain of fast-food restaurants, distinguished by its draft root beer and root beer floats. A&W was arguably the first successful food franchise company, starting franchises in 1921 in California. Today it has franchise locations throughout the world, serving a typical...
. - Cecil's Place—Great for 50's-style ice cream desserts and hamburgers.
- Effina's Tuscan Grille (opened in 2008)
- Golden Dragon—a Chinese restaurant located on the square.
- Java Jolt (opened in early 2007)
- Rocket BBQ
- Roma's Pizza and Steak House
- The Vault Restaurant
- Village Inn
Media
Newspaper- The Jacksonville News - Weekly, locally-owned newspaper.
- The Chanticleer - Student-run newspaper of Jacksonville State University.
Magazine
- House to House Heart to HeartHouse to House Heart to HeartHouse to House Heart to Heart is a bi-monthly American magazine. HTH is a customizable, 8 page, color, Christian magazine that works exclusively with Churches of Christ. The publication is printed every 2 months for a total of 6 issues a year and is directly mailed into homes. Each issue...
- Bi-monthly Christian magazine distributed through Churches of Christ; circulation over 2 million circulation
Television
- WJXS TV 24 - Local news, sports and programming.
AM Radio
- WCHA Alabama 810 - Local news, sports and Classic Country music.
FM Radio
- WLJS 91.9 - College radio, limited NPR station.
Notable residents
- Harvey Jackson IIIHarvey Jackson IIIHarvey Hardaway Jackson III is the Professor of History at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He is the author of a number of works on Alabama and Georgia history.-Early life and career:...
, notable Alabama historian.
- Rick BraggRick BraggRick Bragg is an American author and journalist known for his non-fiction books, especially those on his family in Alabama...
, won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 while working for The New York Times.
- John Pelham (officer), celebrated Confederate officer.
- Neel ReidNeel Reid-External links:**...
, prominent early-twentieth century architect.
- Herman Clarence NixonHerman Clarence NixonHerman Clarence Nixon was an American writer. He is perhaps best known for his contribution to the volume I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition as a member of the Southern Agrarians.-Biography:...
, political scientist, historian, and member of the Nashville-based Southern AgrariansSouthern AgrariansThe Southern Agrarians were a group of twelve American writers, poets, essayists, and novelists, all with roots in the Southern United States, who joined together to write a pro-Southern agrarian manifesto, a...
.