Brewton, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Brewton is a city in Escambia County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 5,498. The city is the county seat
of Escambia County
.
marched their forces nearby. Through the centuries a huge forest of virgin yellow pine
filled millions of available acres.
Brewton's American origins began with the Treaty of Paris of 1783
, which established the boundaries of the new United States
, made Florida a Spanish territory, and confirmed what became Mississippi and Alabama which was created as a homeland for Upper and Lower Creeks, Choctaw
, Cherokee
s and other tribes.
Into the 1790s land hungry Georgia
settlers sought new lands, pressing into tempting agricultural sites near the future Brewton. The Creeks and others resisted, and their chief, Alexander McGillivray
, sought aid from the recently elected American President George Washington
. The United States attempted to help, but it could not stem the settler invasion. The area became the Mississippi territory in 1799. In 1817 Mississippi became a state and the Alabama territory was created. Alabama became the 22nd state two years later. Into the 19th century farm settlements were begun, with names like Mason, Belleville, Sparta and Brooklyn. Their residents began the region’s first trade, building a road and using the river to deal with the Spanish at Pensacola
. There was sporadic Indian-settler violence, which climaxed with the Fort Mims massacre
.
Tennessee's governor responded, sending Gen. Andrew Jackson
and a sizeable force to deal with the Indians. Several battles were fought near the future Brewton ending with a major engagement at Horseshoe Bend. Shortly thereafter Jackson and the Creeks confirmed a treaty
which transferred over two million Creek-owned acres to the United States. In 1816 Fort Crawford was established at the future site of Brewton, one of several military outposts built to assure peace.
Through the 1820s, 1830s, and beyond, more settlers arrived. Alabama became a state. And this area, like the nation, was seized with railroad fever. Into the 1850s construction began on rail lines which would connect the lower Alabama region with Pensacola and the Gulf, Mobile, and then on to Montgomery and the North. Meanwhile, philosophical disputes over tariffs, states rights and the future extension of slavery into western territories were threatening to sunder the Republic. In 1861 war
came, just as the rail lines were being completed into a hoped-for transport network to serve the new Southern nation. In May 1861, the first train arrived at a hastily built station at the site of what would become Brewton. The station master was Edmund Troupe Brewton.
The Civil War
was not kind to the new Brewton community. Rail lines were severed, and nearby the first small lumber mills were damaged or destroyed. However, when peace came, those who returned or arrived rebuilt the Brewton economy began a school and established small businesses. Into the 1870s a new European demand for lumber opened the way for creation of numerous timber and lumber operations. The Conecuh-Escambia river system
became a timber artery to the Gulf
. Great companies emerged. Fortunes were made, and over time woods resources led to production of naval stores, plywood and paper making.
In the 1880s Brewton became the seat
of Escambia County, Alabama
, and over time the county erected a series of handsome courthouses. Commerce and the professions prospered, the business community becoming the hub for a broad metropolitan and agricultural area. Cattle, cotton, strawberries, food grains all became profit centers. Oil fields were begun nearby. Paralleling actions throughout the South, Brewton developed an education system that included both public and private institutions and academies, climaxing in the 1960s with creation of the Jefferson Davis Junior College
. Manufacturing, too, helped broaden the economy, with plants which produced silk goods, shirt-type garments, iron products and commercial paper making. All of these produced a well balanced economy. Accompanying the growth of commerce and agriculture were communities of churches, the cultural arts, motion pictures and opportunities for travel, for the city became a junction of well-traveled highways.
Through time Brewton had its share of misadventures. A junction of streams allowed serious flooding on occasion; and costly fires forced rebuilding on several occasions. And, like all of America, Brewton and its people played their roles in World Wars I and II and other overseas conflicts of the 20th century.
Twenty-first century Brewton continues to enjoy growth which includes linkage with earlier adjacent communities Alco and East Brewton. Its location and transportation system continued to permit enjoyment of recreation and business functions close to the Gulf of Mexico, the Heart of Dixie, and the world.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which, 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.22%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,498 people, 2,216 households, and 1,471 families residing in the city. The population density
was 485.2 people per square mile (187.4/km2). There were 2,543 housing units at an average density of 224.4 per square mile (86.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.60% White
or Caucasian, 40.23% Black
or African American
, 0.42% Native American
, 0.49% Asian
, 0.53% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,216 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,234, and the median income for a family was $43,548. Males had a median income of $37,348 versus $20,212 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,185. About 12.6% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
, a small postsecondary school that primarily awards associate's degree
s.
.
The Thomas E. McMillan Museum is housed on the campus of the Jefferson Davis Community College (http://museum.jdcc.edu/). It was founded in 1979 to chronicle life in Escambia County, Alabama. From 10,000-year-old fossils to a fireside popcorn popper, a doctor's bag, and a display of cameras, the museum has something to interest most anyone. The Museum is one of the region's finest places to learn of local history. Funded by a private foundation, the McMillan Trust, the museum stands alone in the region with its displays of historical, archaeological, and cultural Alabama artifacts.
Escambia County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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...
, 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 5,498. The city is 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 Escambia County
Escambia County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
History
Brewton as a city is young in years, yet its region has been touched by many hallmarks of modern American history. Its hinterland was long the home to a variety of native American societies, while mid-16th century Spanish explorers Hernando de Soto and Don Tristán de Luna y ArellanoTristán de Luna y Arellano
Tristán de Luna y Arellano was a Spanish Conquistador of the 16th century. Born in Borobia, Spain, he came to New Spain in about 1530, and was sent on an expedition to conquer Florida in 1559...
marched their forces nearby. Through the centuries a huge forest of virgin yellow pine
Yellow pine
Yellow pine may refer to the following:*Certain pines in the subgenus Pinus subgenus Pinus:**In American forestry, a term for several closely related species of pine with yellow tinted wood, including the Southern Yellow Pines , and the non-Southern yellow pines and several others...
filled millions of available acres.
Brewton's American origins began with the Treaty of Paris of 1783
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
, which established the boundaries of the new United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, made Florida a Spanish territory, and confirmed what became Mississippi and Alabama which was created as a homeland for Upper and Lower Creeks, Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
, Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
s and other tribes.
Into the 1790s land hungry Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
settlers sought new lands, pressing into tempting agricultural sites near the future Brewton. The Creeks and others resisted, and their chief, Alexander McGillivray
Alexander McGillivray
Alexander McGillivray, also known as Hoboi-Hili-Miko , was a principal chief of the Upper Creek towns from 1782. Before that he had created an alliance between the Creek and the British during the American Revolution...
, sought aid from the recently elected American President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. The United States attempted to help, but it could not stem the settler invasion. The area became the Mississippi territory in 1799. In 1817 Mississippi became a state and the Alabama territory was created. Alabama became the 22nd state two years later. Into the 19th century farm settlements were begun, with names like Mason, Belleville, Sparta and Brooklyn. Their residents began the region’s first trade, building a road and using the river to deal with the Spanish at Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
. There was sporadic Indian-settler violence, which climaxed with the Fort Mims massacre
Fort Mims massacre
The Fort Mims massacre occurred on 30 August 1813, when a force of Creek people, belonging to the "Red Sticks" faction under the command of Peter McQueen and William Weatherford "Red Eagle", his cousin by marriage, killed hundreds of settlers, mixed-blood Creeks, and militia at Fort Mims...
.
Tennessee's governor responded, sending Gen. Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and a sizeable force to deal with the Indians. Several battles were fought near the future Brewton ending with a major engagement at Horseshoe Bend. Shortly thereafter Jackson and the Creeks confirmed a treaty
Treaty of Fort Jackson
The Treaty of Fort Jackson was signed on August 9, 1814 at Fort Jackson near Wetumpka, Alabama following the defeat of the Red Stick resistance by United States allied forces at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. It occurred on the banks of the Tallapoosa River near the present city of Alexander City,...
which transferred over two million Creek-owned acres to the United States. In 1816 Fort Crawford was established at the future site of Brewton, one of several military outposts built to assure peace.
Through the 1820s, 1830s, and beyond, more settlers arrived. Alabama became a state. And this area, like the nation, was seized with railroad fever. Into the 1850s construction began on rail lines which would connect the lower Alabama region with Pensacola and the Gulf, Mobile, and then on to Montgomery and the North. Meanwhile, philosophical disputes over tariffs, states rights and the future extension of slavery into western territories were threatening to sunder the Republic. In 1861 war
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
came, just as the rail lines were being completed into a hoped-for transport network to serve the new Southern nation. In May 1861, the first train arrived at a hastily built station at the site of what would become Brewton. The station master was Edmund Troupe Brewton.
The Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
was not kind to the new Brewton community. Rail lines were severed, and nearby the first small lumber mills were damaged or destroyed. However, when peace came, those who returned or arrived rebuilt the Brewton economy began a school and established small businesses. Into the 1870s a new European demand for lumber opened the way for creation of numerous timber and lumber operations. The Conecuh-Escambia river system
Conecuh River
The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States.The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The river's name changes from the Conecuh to the Escambia at...
became a timber artery to the Gulf
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Great companies emerged. Fortunes were made, and over time woods resources led to production of naval stores, plywood and paper making.
In the 1880s Brewton became the 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 Escambia County, Alabama
Escambia County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and over time the county erected a series of handsome courthouses. Commerce and the professions prospered, the business community becoming the hub for a broad metropolitan and agricultural area. Cattle, cotton, strawberries, food grains all became profit centers. Oil fields were begun nearby. Paralleling actions throughout the South, Brewton developed an education system that included both public and private institutions and academies, climaxing in the 1960s with creation of the Jefferson Davis Junior College
Jefferson Davis Community College
Jefferson Davis Community College is a community college located in Brewton, Alabama. Founded in 1964, the college was named in honor of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.- External links :*...
. Manufacturing, too, helped broaden the economy, with plants which produced silk goods, shirt-type garments, iron products and commercial paper making. All of these produced a well balanced economy. Accompanying the growth of commerce and agriculture were communities of churches, the cultural arts, motion pictures and opportunities for travel, for the city became a junction of well-traveled highways.
Through time Brewton had its share of misadventures. A junction of streams allowed serious flooding on occasion; and costly fires forced rebuilding on several occasions. And, like all of America, Brewton and its people played their roles in World Wars I and II and other overseas conflicts of the 20th century.
Twenty-first century Brewton continues to enjoy growth which includes linkage with earlier adjacent communities Alco and East Brewton. Its location and transportation system continued to permit enjoyment of recreation and business functions close to the Gulf of Mexico, the Heart of Dixie, and the world.
Geography
Brewton is located at 31°7′4"N 87°4′16"W (31.117706, -87.071164).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which, 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.22%) 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 5,498 people, 2,216 households, and 1,471 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 485.2 people per square mile (187.4/km2). There were 2,543 housing units at an average density of 224.4 per square mile (86.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.60% 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...
or Caucasian, 40.23% 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...
, 0.42% 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...
, 0.49% 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...
, 0.53% 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 0.73% from two or more races. 1.11% 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 2,216 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% 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, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,234, and the median income for a family was $43,548. Males had a median income of $37,348 versus $20,212 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 $18,185. About 12.6% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city government consists of mayor who is elected at large and five member city council who are each elected from a district.City schools
Schools in the Brewton City School System:- Brewton Elementary School, on Douglas Ave.
- Brewton Middle School, on Liles Blvd.
- T. R. Miller High SchoolT. R. Miller High SchoolThomas Richard Miller High School is a public high school in Brewton, Alabama educating students in grades 9-12. The school shares its name with a timber baron that financially contributed to the construction of the school building. The school mascot is the T.R. Miller Tiger.-Mission statement:"The...
, on Douglas Ave.
Higher education
Brewton is home to Jefferson Davis Community CollegeJefferson Davis Community College
Jefferson Davis Community College is a community college located in Brewton, Alabama. Founded in 1964, the college was named in honor of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.- External links :*...
, a small postsecondary school that primarily awards associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s.
Culture and special events
The annual Alabama Blueberry Festival is held at Burnt Corn Creek Park and downtown Brewton. Prior to 2006 it was held on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community CollegeJefferson Davis Community College
Jefferson Davis Community College is a community college located in Brewton, Alabama. Founded in 1964, the college was named in honor of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.- External links :*...
.
The Thomas E. McMillan Museum is housed on the campus of the Jefferson Davis Community College (http://museum.jdcc.edu/). It was founded in 1979 to chronicle life in Escambia County, Alabama. From 10,000-year-old fossils to a fireside popcorn popper, a doctor's bag, and a display of cameras, the museum has something to interest most anyone. The Museum is one of the region's finest places to learn of local history. Funded by a private foundation, the McMillan Trust, the museum stands alone in the region with its displays of historical, archaeological, and cultural Alabama artifacts.
External links
- City of Brewton is the city's website.
- Chamber of Commerce is the local Chamber's website
- Alabama Blueberry Festival is the festival website
- Brewton Standard is the local newspaper.
- Brewton statistics from Escambia County Industrial Development Authority website
- Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance