Eclectic, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Eclectic is a town in Elmore County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,037. It is part of the Montgomery
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), of which, 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.17%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,037 people, 409 households, and 280 families residing in the town. The population density
was 244.7 people per square mile (94.4/km2). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 108.3 per square mile (41.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 78.11% White
, 19.19% Black
or African American
, 0.96% Native American
, 0.10% Asian
, 0.87% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.83% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 409 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,906, and the median income for a family was $31,855. Males had a median income of $29,554 versus $18,162 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,131. About 20.5% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
and so named the town because of the various surrounding geographic areas. Another theory is that the name is a corruption of "Electric", the name by which Eclectic was marked on some late 19th century maps of Alabama. Eclectic post office
was established in 1879, before which the community was known as Cotton or Cotton's Store on maps (Cotton being the surname of the merchant and postmaster and not a reference to the crop). Prior to its settlement by European and/or African people, on the site of this town was the Creek Indian village called "Tumkeehatchee".
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 :...
, 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 1,037. It 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...
.
Geography
Eclectic is located at 32°38′29"N 86°2′19"W (32.641285, -86.038571).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), of which, 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.17%) 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 1,037 people, 409 households, and 280 families residing in the town. 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 244.7 people per square mile (94.4/km2). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 108.3 per square mile (41.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 78.11% 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...
, 19.19% 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...
, 0.96% 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...
, 0.10% 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...
, 0.87% 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 0.77% from two or more races. 1.83% 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 409 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% 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, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,906, and the median income for a family was $31,855. Males had a median income of $29,554 versus $18,162 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 town was $14,131. About 20.5% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
The town of Eclectic was incorporated in 1907, and celebrated its centennial season in August 2007, though the community itself is older. The word "eclectic" is defined as "being composed of elements drawn from various sources", and tradition has it that the town was named by a local physician who practiced eclectic medicineEclectic medicine
Eclectic medicine was a branch of American medicine which made use of botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices, popular in the latter half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries....
and so named the town because of the various surrounding geographic areas. Another theory is that the name is a corruption of "Electric", the name by which Eclectic was marked on some late 19th century maps of Alabama. Eclectic post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in 1879, before which the community was known as Cotton or Cotton's Store on maps (Cotton being the surname of the merchant and postmaster and not a reference to the crop). Prior to its settlement by European and/or African people, on the site of this town was the Creek Indian village called "Tumkeehatchee".