Prattville, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Prattville is a city in Autauga
and Elmore
counties in the U.S. state
of Alabama
. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 33,960. Nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to the many artesian wells in the area, Prattville is part of the Montgomery
metropolitan statistical area
and serves as the county seat
of Autauga County. The city is northwest of Montgomery.
and a few settlers when Pratt, a native of Temple, New Hampshire
, first observed the Autauga Creek in the 1830s. He purchased approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) from Joseph May at $21.00 an acre, and set out to build his manufacturing facilities and the town along the banks of the Autauga creek. The location was chosen because the creek could supply power to the cotton gin
manufacturing equipment. The town became an industrial center and rapidly grew. In 1868, it was named the county seat for Autauga County.
Prattville contains several sites on the National Register of Historic Places
, including the Daniel Pratt Historic District
, Bell House
, and Buena Vista
.
tornado
which destroyed more than 45 homes and businesses and damaged over 700. Twenty-nine people were injured with no fatalities. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $85 million in insured and uninsured damages.
of 2000, there were 24,303 people, 8,939 households, and 6,918 families residing in Prattville. The population density
was 1049 PD/sqmi. There were 9,562 housing units at an average density of 412.7 square miles (1,068.9 km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.09% White, 14.42% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,939 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,728, and the median income for a family was $51,774. Males had a median income of $36,677 versus $22,978 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,832. 8.3% of the population and 6.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
and has eight schools, including Prattville High School
and the Autauga County Technology Center.
television market
. The local radio station is WIQR
1410 AM, airing a sports radio
format and featuring programming from Sporting News Radio
. Prattville is also served by two news publications, the twice-weekly Prattville Progress newspaper and the Our Prattville web magazine.
destination, featuring the Capitol Hill golf courses (part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
). Its Senator Course has hosted the Navistar LPGA Classic
on the LPGA Tour
since 2007
. The 2011
event is scheduled for September 15-18.
Trust Company
originated in Prattville.
Autauga County, Alabama
Autauga County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 54,571. Its county seat is Prattville.Autauga County is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Elmore
Elmore County, Alabama
Elmore County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John A. Elmore. As of 2010 its population was 79,303. Its county seat is Wetumpka.This county is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 33,960. Nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to the many artesian wells in the area, Prattville is part of the Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
metropolitan statistical area
Montgomery Metropolitan Area
The Montgomery, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan statistical area in central Alabama...
and serves as the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Autauga County. The city is northwest of Montgomery.
History
Prattville was founded in 1839 by industrialist and architect Daniel Pratt. The area was largely inhabited by native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and a few settlers when Pratt, a native of Temple, New Hampshire
Temple, New Hampshire
Temple is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,366 at the 2010 census.- History :Incorporated in 1768, Temple takes its name from colonial governor John Wentworth's lieutenant governor, John Temple.- Geography :...
, first observed the Autauga Creek in the 1830s. He purchased approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) from Joseph May at $21.00 an acre, and set out to build his manufacturing facilities and the town along the banks of the Autauga creek. The location was chosen because the creek could supply power to the cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
manufacturing equipment. The town became an industrial center and rapidly grew. In 1868, it was named the county seat for Autauga County.
Prattville contains several sites on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, including the Daniel Pratt Historic District
Daniel Pratt Historic District
The Daniel Pratt Historic District is a historic district that includes and 154 buildings in Prattville, Alabama. It is named in honor of Prattville's founder, Daniel Pratt. The district includes the historic downtown and is roughly bounded by 6th Street in the north, Northington Street in the...
, Bell House
Bell House (Prattville, Alabama)
The Bell House, also known as Biggs House, is a historic Queen Anne style house in Prattville, Alabama. The two-story frame house was completed in 1893. It designed by Alabama architect Frank Lockwood...
, and Buena Vista
Montgomery-Janes-Whittaker House
The Montgomery-Janes-Whittaker House, best known today as Buena Vista, is a historic Federal style plantation house in Autauga County, Alabama, south of Prattville. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 25, 1974...
.
Severe weather
On February 17, 2008, Prattville was hit by an F3Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
which destroyed more than 45 homes and businesses and damaged over 700. Twenty-nine people were injured with no fatalities. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $85 million in insured and uninsured damages.
Geography
Prattville is located at 32°27'32.886" North, 86°27'4.698" West (32.459135, -86.451305). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.7 mi2 of which 32.9 mi2 is land and 0.9 mi2 (3.09%) is water.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 24,303 people, 8,939 households, and 6,918 families residing in Prattville. 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 1049 PD/sqmi. There were 9,562 housing units at an average density of 412.7 square miles (1,068.9 km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.09% White, 14.42% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,939 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,728, and the median income for a family was $51,774. Males had a median income of $36,677 versus $22,978 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 $19,832. 8.3% of the population and 6.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education
Prattville is part of the Autauga County School SystemAutauga County School System
Autauga County School System, based in Autauga County, Alabama, has 13 schools and over 9,900 students as of 2007.The schools are located in the communities of Billingsley, Pine Level, and Marbury, and the cities of Autaugaville and Prattville.-Schools:...
and has eight schools, including Prattville High School
Prattville High School
Prattville High School, formerly Autauga County High School, is a high school in Prattville, Alabama and forms part of the Autauga County School System...
and the Autauga County Technology Center.
Media
Prattville is part of the MontgomeryMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
television market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. The local radio station is WIQR
WIQR
WIQR is a radio station licensed to serve Prattville, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Star Power Communications Corporation and serves the Montgomery, Alabama, area....
1410 AM, airing a sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format and featuring programming from Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
. Prattville is also served by two news publications, the twice-weekly Prattville Progress newspaper and the Our Prattville web magazine.
Recreation
The city has become a popular golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
destination, featuring the Capitol Hill golf courses (part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is a collection of championship caliber golf courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., distributed across the state of Alabama, as part of investments by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Trail started with 378 holes at eight sites throughout the state,...
). Its Senator Course has hosted the Navistar LPGA Classic
Navistar LPGA Classic
The Navistar LPGA Classic Presented by Monaco RV is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. The 72-hole event made its debut in September 2007 at the Capitol Hill location on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, Alabama. Maria Hjorth won the inaugural event on the...
on the LPGA Tour
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
since 2007
2007 LPGA Tour
The 2007 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that took place from February through December 2007. The tournaments were sanctioned by the United States based Ladies Professional Golf Association...
. The 2011
2011 LPGA Tour
The 2011 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that began in Thailand on February 17, 2011 and had its last official event end on November 20, 2011 in Florida...
event is scheduled for September 15-18.
Notable residents
- John MartinJohn Martin-In the arts:*John H. Martin, American actor in TV soap operas One Life to Live and Sunset Beach*John Martin , English-born Canadian broadcaster*John Martin , dance critic at the New York Times...
, AuthorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Travel and History - Rodger MorrisonRodger MorrisonRodger Morrison, Jr. is an American author, researcher, professor, and businessman.A researcher in several fields, including human-to-computer interaction and trust in technology-mediated communication environments, Morrison has published and presented numerous articles in journals and at academic...
, Author and Researcher - Marlon AndersonMarlon AndersonMarlon Ordell Anderson is a former Major League Baseball utility player. He was widely known for his clutch hits, and writers for publications including The New York Times and Newsday had referred to him as one of the best pinch-hitters in the game...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Bobby Jon DrinkardBobby Jon DrinkardBobby Jon Drinkard was a contestant on Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Guatemala. Bobby Jon graduated from Troy University in Troy, Alabama, in 2003 with a degree in journalism. While at Troy, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity...
, contestant on Reality televisionReality televisionReality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
shows Survivor: PalauSurvivor: PalauSurvivor: Palau is the tenth season of the United States reality show Survivor. Its preview appeared during the final episode of Survivor: Vanuatu. Survivor: Palau premiered on February 17, 2005. The complete season, including the Live Reunion Show, was released on DVD by CBS Home Video on August...
and Survivor: GuatemalaSurvivor: GuatemalaSurvivor: Guatemala — The Maya Empire, commonly referred to as Survivor: Guatemala, is the eleventh season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The season was filmed in the Yaxhá-Nakúm-Naranjo National Park near the more popular Tikal National Park, located in... - Roman HarperRoman HarperRoman Harper is an American football safety with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama...
, NFL player. - Wilson PickettWilson PickettWilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
(March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006), R&BRhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soulSoul musicSoul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer and songwriter - Kevin TurnerKevin Turner (running back)Paul Kevin Turner is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League for eight seasons for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles....
, NFL player
Popular culture
The rock bandRock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Trust Company
Trust Company (band)
Trust Company is an American alternative metal/post-grunge band from Prattville, Alabama.-First run :...
originated in Prattville.