Pleasant Grove, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Grove is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama
and suburb
of Birmingham
. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. Its nickname is "The Good Neighbor City". At the 2010 census the population was 10,110.
During the mid to late 30’s, the Federal Government had a program for financing the building of local water systems. In exploring the possibility of securing such funds, it was revealed that in order to secure such financing a community must be legally incorporated. At this time the incorporation became a reality.
The first appointed Mayor of Pleasant Grove was W.P. Stone. The city is governed by a Mayor and five council members who serve four-year terms. Elections for city officials is held during the summer of each leap year with four year terms beginning the first Monday in October. The area known as Pleasant Grove, Alabama was first homesteaded in September 1836. Pleasant Grove is in Jefferson County. Although no one seems to know when or exactly how the town came by its name, old documents indicate that at least part of this area was called Pleasant Grove as early as 1884. Pleasant Grove was made up of four communities which included Frog Pond, Lizard Ridge, Cottage Hill, and Pleasant Grove.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.8 km²), all of it land.
Pleasant Grove is home to Milk Creek, named for its creamy-white color and thick, calcious texture.
. Land was originally given the Board of Education and a gift of $150,000 toward the construction of a Junior High School. In 1970, Pleasant Grove High School was built. It combined with the Junior High School. The schools were accredited by the State of Alabama in May 1973. It agreed to give the Board of Education $1,000,000.00 over a ten year period to add onto the existing Elementary School and get all of the children K-6 under one roof. In January 1997, students who formerly attended Woodward School were relocated in this city.
Construction of a new Pleasant Grove High School was completed in 2010. The old high school is now Pleasant Grove Middle School.
of 2000, there were 9,983 people, 3,570 households, and 2,909 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,129.9 people per square mile (436.0/km²). There were 3,717 housing units at an average density of 420.7 per square mile (162.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.67% White
, 14.44% Black
or African American
, 0.19% Native American
, 0.15% Asian
, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 3,570 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,776, and the median income for a family was $59,132. Males had a median income of $38,544 versus $28,519 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,774. About 3.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
and suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. Its nickname is "The Good Neighbor City". At the 2010 census the population was 10,110.
History
It was established in 1889, but incorporated as a city in January 1937. The incorporation came about by reason of a rather unusual circumstance. The town sits on land honeycombed by coal mines. For many years the residents had relied on water wells for their water supply. As years passed and more mining was done, Pleasant Grove found itself confronted with a problem. Residents would sometimes go to their well to draw water only to find there was none. The water had gone into the mines.During the mid to late 30’s, the Federal Government had a program for financing the building of local water systems. In exploring the possibility of securing such funds, it was revealed that in order to secure such financing a community must be legally incorporated. At this time the incorporation became a reality.
The first appointed Mayor of Pleasant Grove was W.P. Stone. The city is governed by a Mayor and five council members who serve four-year terms. Elections for city officials is held during the summer of each leap year with four year terms beginning the first Monday in October. The area known as Pleasant Grove, Alabama was first homesteaded in September 1836. Pleasant Grove is in Jefferson County. Although no one seems to know when or exactly how the town came by its name, old documents indicate that at least part of this area was called Pleasant Grove as early as 1884. Pleasant Grove was made up of four communities which included Frog Pond, Lizard Ridge, Cottage Hill, and Pleasant Grove.
Government
The city is governed by a mayor, currently Jerry Brasseale, and five-member council. All city officials are elected to four-year terms on leap years. The council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at Pleasant Grove City Hall. Council members as of the 2008 election are James Mosely, William Bullion, Terrie Hicks, Philip Houston and Paula Johnson.Geography
Pleasant Grove is located at 33.492400°N 86.972927°W.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.8 km²), all of it land.
Pleasant Grove is home to Milk Creek, named for its creamy-white color and thick, calcious texture.
Education
Pleasant Grove Schools are operated by the Jefferson County Board of EducationJefferson County Board of Education (Alabama)
The Jefferson County School System is the second-largest public school system in the U.S. State of Alabama and serves most of Jefferson County, Alabama...
. Land was originally given the Board of Education and a gift of $150,000 toward the construction of a Junior High School. In 1970, Pleasant Grove High School was built. It combined with the Junior High School. The schools were accredited by the State of Alabama in May 1973. It agreed to give the Board of Education $1,000,000.00 over a ten year period to add onto the existing Elementary School and get all of the children K-6 under one roof. In January 1997, students who formerly attended Woodward School were relocated in this city.
Construction of a new Pleasant Grove High School was completed in 2010. The old high school is now Pleasant Grove Middle School.
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 9,983 people, 3,570 households, and 2,909 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 1,129.9 people per square mile (436.0/km²). There were 3,717 housing units at an average density of 420.7 per square mile (162.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.67% 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...
, 14.44% 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...
, 0.19% 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...
, 0.15% 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...
, 0.16% 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 0.38% from two or more races. 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 were 0.28% of the population.
There were 3,570 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% 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, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,776, and the median income for a family was $59,132. Males had a median income of $38,544 versus $28,519 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 $20,774. About 3.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.