Blountsville, Alabama

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Blountsville, Alabama
settlement_type = Town


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Blount County and the state of Alabama


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map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State|subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Alabama
subdivision_name2 = Blount
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 14.2
area_total_sq_mi = 5.5
area_land_km2 = 14
area_land_sq_mi = 5.4
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
elevation_ft = 712
elevation_m = 217
population_as_of =2007
population_footnotes = cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-01.csv|title=Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Alabama|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-14]
population_total =1952
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 124.5
population_density_sq_mi = 321.5
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 34 |latm = 4 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 35 |longs = 19 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 35031
area_code = 205
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 01-07456
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0114510
footnotes =
website =

Blountsville is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on 1818 Feb. 6, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Creek Nation on 1814 Aug. 9. It was named for Gov. Willie G. Blount of Tennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War of 1813-14. It lies in the northeastern section of the state, generally known as the mineral region.Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, and Walker Counties. The county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River. Blount County contains 643 square miles. The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County. From 1818 to 1889, Blountsville served as the county seat, 1889 was an election year and resulted in the county seat's transfer to Oneonta.

History

What became Blountsville appears on an 1819 map as the mixed Creek/Cherokee Indian village of "Wassausey" (meaning Bear Meat Cabin, the name of an Indian translator who lived there). The town was established by Caleb Fryley and Johnny Jones in 1816 as Bear Meat Cabin. The post office was opened as Blountsville on October 20, 1825 and incorporarted on December 13, 1827. It was the county seat until 1889 when the government was moved to Oneonta. There were many schools in the town in the early years - The academy, Blount College and The district Agricultural School plus the public schools. Blount County Court house and jail was built in 1833 and remained there until it was moved to Oneonta. A major crossroads in early Alabama, Blountsville became a Confederate depot for the cavalry. General N. Bedford Forrest and General Abel Streight skirmishing briefly in the town on May 1, 1863, and Major general Lovell H. Rousseau and his cavalry occupied the town in July 1864. The Blount College was in the building that was originally the court house. It was established in 1890. Blountsville United Methodist Church was established in 1818 and the beautiful church is still in use today.

Davis, Robert S. A Blountsville Picture Book. Blountsville: Blountsville Historical Society, 1999.

-----. "Blountsville, Alabama: a Case Studey in the Use of the R. G. Dun & Company Credit Reports, 1847-1880." ALABAMA REVIEW 56 (2003): 125-35.

Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921.Toulmin's Digest, 1823.

chool

Both J.B. Pennington High School(PHS) and Blountsville Elementary School(BES), the towns' only two schools are located in the center of Blountsville. They are both in the Blount County School District. BES is headed by principle Kay Smallwood. PHS is headed by Principle Craig Sosebe and assistant Principle DeWon Farmer. The school is set up with six academic departments which are as follows: English Department, Science Department, History Department, Math Department, Special Education, Physical Education. Each department has a department head and staff. PHS colors are Dark Blue, Gold and White.

Attractions

The Copeland-Bussey house built in c. 1835, is one of the oldest structures in northeast Alabama. The structure has been stabilized by the Alabama Historic Preservation Alliance and the Blountsville Historical Society.

The Freeman House, built circa 1825, was damaged by a storm and the 2 story brick dwelling was rebuilt, using the same bricks, into a one story. The porches face the historic Meat Cabin Rd. (still apparent) and the other porch faces the U.S. Highway 231. Annual reenactment is held on the grounds. The structure has been renovated by the Blountsville Historical Society and now serves as a museum and visitors' center on a part-time basis. During the reenactment it is furnished with period furnishings and is open to the public for tours.

The Thomas Nation House, circa 1835, is now a ruin due to a storm that took all but one and one half walls down in 1998 before it could be stabilized. The ruins can still be seen from the U.S. Highway 231.

Spring Valley Beach, Blountsville is also home to the Spring Valley Beach waterpark, one of the few waterparks in lower Sand Mountain area. As of June 2007 Spring Valley Beach contains five water slides.

Transportation

Blountsville is located on the intersection of County Highway 26 and US Highway 231. US Highway 79 also runs through Blountsville's jurisdiction.

Geography

Blountsville is located at 34°4'54.880" North, 86°35'19.601" West (34.081911, -86.588778)GR|1, elevation is 712 feet.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,768 people, 743 households, and 479 families residing in the town. The population density was 326.4 people per square mile (125.9/km²). There were 853 housing units at an average density of 157.5/sq mi (60.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 39.54% White, 0.79% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 55.11% Pacific Islander, 8.20% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 16.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 743 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,432, and the median income for a family was $34,050. Males had a median income of $27,847 versus $18,869 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,426. About 19.3% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 28.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links