Oak Grove, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Oak Grove is a town in Talladega County, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census, the population was 457.
Its name is identical to the unincorporated community west of Hueytown
where an F5 tornado struck the high school on April 8, 1998.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
Oak Grove is a suburb of the larger city Sylacauga
. The two municipalties are contiguous and both run along U.S. Highway 280, which runs from Birmingham, Alabama southeastward to Columbus, Georgia and then through Georgia toward Jacksonville, Florida.
Oak Grove is 40 miles southeast of Birmingham and 70 miles north of Montgomery via U.S. Highway 231.
Oak Grove is a hilly town occupying both sides of Landers Hill and Merkle Mountain. There is no town square or downtown. There are numerous businesses along U.S. Highway 280, locally called "the four-lane" and County Road 280, which was formerly U.S. 280 before construction of the four-lane.
In the middle of Oak Grove between its two hills there was a cut-your-own Christmas Tree Farm which yearly drew hundreds of families to Oak Grove. It was started in 1978 by later Oak Grove Mayor Bloise Zeigler, who operated the farm through 2009. Zeigler grew the official Alabama state Christmas tree, which was displayed at the Alabama Governor's Mansion in 2004. The Christmas tree farm was closed in 2010 and donated by the former Mayor to the Town of Oak Grove as a community garden named "Comet Grove." It provides free produce to low-income people and cheap produce to everyone else. It has ordinary open gardens and two acres of experimental "plasticulture."
of 2000, there were 457 people, 178 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density
was 399.4 people per square mile (154.8/km²). There were 203 housing units at an average density of 177.4 per square mile (68.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.72% White
, 2.84% Black
or African American
and 0.44% Native American
. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 178 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,625, and the median income for a family was $29,625. Males had a median income of $29,417 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,865. About 10.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.
Oak Grove has a "Gravity Hill
" where cars appear to coast up hill. The phenomenon has generated news coverage and curiosity seekers. It is on Old Highway 280, now named "Gravity Hill Road," just off Highway 280 in the western part of Oak Grove toward Childersburg.
One native son of Oak Grove was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission
. Jim Zeigler
, born in neighboring Sylacauga in 1948 and raised in Oak Grove, won the PSC seat in 1974, becoming the youngest person to hold a state office. He won the seat two years after graduating from the University of Alabama
, where he had been elected President of the Student Government Association, defeating the fraternity political party,"The Machine
".
Talladega County, Alabama
Talladega County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Talladega is a Muscogee Native American word derived from TVLVTEKE, which means "border town." As of 2010, the population was 82,291...
, 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 457.
Its name is identical to the unincorporated community west of Hueytown
Hueytown, Alabama
Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.It was the home of the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang...
where an F5 tornado struck the high school on April 8, 1998.
Geography
It is located at 33°11′23"N 86°18′11"W (33.189772, -86.303163).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
Oak Grove is a suburb of the larger city Sylacauga
Sylacauga, Alabama
Sylacauga is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 12,616.Nicknames for Sylacauga include: "The Marble City," "Buzzard's Roost" and "Sly Town"....
. The two municipalties are contiguous and both run along U.S. Highway 280, which runs from Birmingham, Alabama southeastward to Columbus, Georgia and then through Georgia toward Jacksonville, Florida.
Oak Grove is 40 miles southeast of Birmingham and 70 miles north of Montgomery via U.S. Highway 231.
Oak Grove is a hilly town occupying both sides of Landers Hill and Merkle Mountain. There is no town square or downtown. There are numerous businesses along U.S. Highway 280, locally called "the four-lane" and County Road 280, which was formerly U.S. 280 before construction of the four-lane.
In the middle of Oak Grove between its two hills there was a cut-your-own Christmas Tree Farm which yearly drew hundreds of families to Oak Grove. It was started in 1978 by later Oak Grove Mayor Bloise Zeigler, who operated the farm through 2009. Zeigler grew the official Alabama state Christmas tree, which was displayed at the Alabama Governor's Mansion in 2004. The Christmas tree farm was closed in 2010 and donated by the former Mayor to the Town of Oak Grove as a community garden named "Comet Grove." It provides free produce to low-income people and cheap produce to everyone else. It has ordinary open gardens and two acres of experimental "plasticulture."
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 457 people, 178 households, and 124 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 399.4 people per square mile (154.8/km²). There were 203 housing units at an average density of 177.4 per square mile (68.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.72% 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...
, 2.84% 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...
and 0.44% 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...
. 0.44% 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 178 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,625, and the median income for a family was $29,625. Males had a median income of $29,417 versus $19,375 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 $12,865. About 10.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable events in Oak Grove
Oak Grove gained national recognition in 1954 when it became the first site in the history of the world of a meteor striking a human. Mrs. Ann E. Hodges was on her sofa in her Oak Grove home when something crashed through her roof, striking her on the hip. It turned out to be a meteorite. The incident gained national news coverage, including an appearance by Mrs. Hodges on Gary Moore's TV show, "I've Got a Secret." Celebrity participant Henry Morgan guessed the secret.Oak Grove has a "Gravity Hill
Gravity hill
A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
" where cars appear to coast up hill. The phenomenon has generated news coverage and curiosity seekers. It is on Old Highway 280, now named "Gravity Hill Road," just off Highway 280 in the western part of Oak Grove toward Childersburg.
One native son of Oak Grove was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission
Alabama Public Service Commission
The Alabama Public Service Commission, commonly called The PSC, was established by an act of The Alabama Legislature in 1915 to primarily replace the State Railroad Commission. The PSC's responsibility was expanded in 1920 to include regulating and setting rates that utility companies charge their...
. Jim Zeigler
Jim Zeigler
Jim Zeigler is an elder care attorney, author, and seminar leader in Alabama. He wrote the 2007 book, "Don't Let the Government take Grandma's Home and Life Savings."...
, born in neighboring Sylacauga in 1948 and raised in Oak Grove, won the PSC seat in 1974, becoming the youngest person to hold a state office. He won the seat two years after graduating from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he had been elected President of the Student Government Association, defeating the fraternity political party,"The Machine
The Machine
The Machine, the former Alpha Rho chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon at the University of Alabama, is a coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities which formed a secret society with some degree of influence over campus and Alabama state politics...
".