Elberta, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Elberta is a town in Baldwin County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 552. It is part of the Daphne
–Fairhope
–Foley
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 552 people, 228 households, and 152 families residing in the town. The population density
was 736.9 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 250 housing units at an average density of 333.8 per square mile (128.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.11% White
, 0.18% Black
or African American
, 1.09% Native American
, 0.18% Pacific Islander
, 3.08% from other races
, and 0.36% from two or more races. 3.80% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 228 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,375, and the median income for a family was $28,125. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,942. About 16.1% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Elberta has two schools, which are Elberta Elementary School (K-3) and Elberta Middle School (4-8). Elberta students continue to Foley High School
(9-12) in Foley
, with the exception of those who go on to attend the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program in Fairhope, Alabama.
The land company laid out Baldwin County in the manner found in the midwest; that is to say, roads were laid out on section lines that were due north-south and east-west. Property, especially farms, were laid out in squares. With the immigration taking these farmers through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and other midwestern states, the early years of the community resembled midwestern farming communities more than those of the deep south. In the 1930s through the 1940s, the town boasted a farmer's hall where dancing and singing were enjoyed, a hotel, a movie theatre, as well as a butcher shop, grocery and drug store. Many of the residents spoke German and St. Mark's Lutheran Church offered German language services until 1976.
The State Bank of Elberta was incorporated in 1922. The bank was unusual in that it did not close during the Great Depression.
The town was incorporated by vote on December 9, 1952.
To support the town's volunteer fire department, "The Elberta German Sausage Festival" was started in the mid-1970s. This event is held the last weekend of March and the last weekend of October and features polka music, Elberta German Sausage, and 250 arts and crafts vendors.
The town is the home of the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. The museum is located on U.S. Highway 98 east of the town. It features exhibits devoted to the development of Baldwin County. The museum includes a large amount of farm equipment and exhibits of life in farm homes. The old St. Mark's Lutheran Church building was moved to the grounds and restored.
Baldwin County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.7% White*9.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*4.4% 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 552. It is part of the Daphne
Daphne, Alabama
Daphne is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay. The city is located along I-10, 11 miles east of Mobile and 150 miles southwest of the state capital of Montgomery. The United States Census 2000 lists the population of the city as 16,581 making...
–Fairhope
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of Mobile Bay. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 16,176....
–Foley
Foley, Alabama
Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 7,590.Foley is a principal city of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baldwin County....
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Elberta is located at 30°24'49.104" North, 87°35'57.667" West (30.413640, -87.599352).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
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 552 people, 228 households, and 152 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 736.9 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 250 housing units at an average density of 333.8 per square mile (128.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.11% 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...
, 0.18% 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...
, 1.09% 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...
, 0.18% Pacific Islander
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...
, 3.08% 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 0.36% from two or more races. 3.80% 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 228 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% 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, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,375, and the median income for a family was $28,125. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $20,833 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 $12,942. About 16.1% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Elberta is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.Elberta has two schools, which are Elberta Elementary School (K-3) and Elberta Middle School (4-8). Elberta students continue to Foley High School
Foley High School
Foley High School is in Foley, Alabama and is part of the Baldwin County Public Schools System.-Alumni:*Ken Stabler is a former football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints . Julio Jones, Robert Lester, and D.J Fluker are all football...
(9-12) in Foley
Foley, Alabama
Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 7,590.Foley is a principal city of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baldwin County....
, with the exception of those who go on to attend the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program in Fairhope, Alabama.
History
Elberta was founded in the early 20th century by a Chicago based land company. The Baldwin County Colonization Company was organized in 1903 and the first settlers arrived in 1904. The community was founded by farmers who had immigrated from Germany to the midwest of America. The land company advertised the area as having rich soil and a climate that allowed year round farming. The first two organized churches were Lutheran (1908) and Catholic (1911). ("Land of Milk and Honey" by John Haupt as told to Nina Keenam, 1990)The land company laid out Baldwin County in the manner found in the midwest; that is to say, roads were laid out on section lines that were due north-south and east-west. Property, especially farms, were laid out in squares. With the immigration taking these farmers through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and other midwestern states, the early years of the community resembled midwestern farming communities more than those of the deep south. In the 1930s through the 1940s, the town boasted a farmer's hall where dancing and singing were enjoyed, a hotel, a movie theatre, as well as a butcher shop, grocery and drug store. Many of the residents spoke German and St. Mark's Lutheran Church offered German language services until 1976.
The State Bank of Elberta was incorporated in 1922. The bank was unusual in that it did not close during the Great Depression.
The town was incorporated by vote on December 9, 1952.
To support the town's volunteer fire department, "The Elberta German Sausage Festival" was started in the mid-1970s. This event is held the last weekend of March and the last weekend of October and features polka music, Elberta German Sausage, and 250 arts and crafts vendors.
The town is the home of the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. The museum is located on U.S. Highway 98 east of the town. It features exhibits devoted to the development of Baldwin County. The museum includes a large amount of farm equipment and exhibits of life in farm homes. The old St. Mark's Lutheran Church building was moved to the grounds and restored.