Carrollton, Alabama

Carrollton is a town in Pickens County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 987. The city is the county seat of Pickens CountyTemplate:GR.

The Pickens County courthouse in the center of Carrollton was erected in 1877. The first courthouse in Carrollton was burned on April 5, 1865 by troops of Union General John T. Croxton. A second courthouse was also destroyed by fire on November 16, 1876. Though arson was suspected, no arrest was made until January 1878 when Henry Wells, an African American with some criminal history, was arrested and locked in the garett of the new building. According to legend, Wells was peering down from the north garett window as a mob gathered to hang him. A bolt of lightning struck nearby and "etched" Wells' anguished face into the window glass. A vague image resembing a face can still be seen in that lower right-hand pane of that window. See also: Pickens County Courthouse.

Geography

Location of Carrollton, Alabama

Carrollton is located at 33°15′39″N 88°5′40″W (33.260858, -88.094452)Template:GR.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.3 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.96%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 987 people, 384 households, and 279 families residing in the town. The population density was 185.0/km² (479.1/mi²). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 81.9/km² (212.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 53.39% White, 44.58% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, and 1.93% from two or more races. 0.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 384 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 28.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 77.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 65.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,318, and the median income for a family was $29,612. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,153. About 31.4% of families and 38.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.9% of those under age 18 and 26.1% of those age 65 or over.

References

• Windham, Kathryn Tucker (1969). 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey. Strode. ISBN 0-87397-008-X.