Florala, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Florala is a city in Covington County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,964.
of 2000, there were 1,964 people, 898 households, and 527 families residing in the city. The population density
was 187.0 people per square mile (72.2/km²). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 105.0 per square mile (40.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.75% White
, 15.68% Black
or African American
, 0.87% Native American
, 0.61% Asian
, 0.66% from other races
, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 898 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $17,377, and the median income for a family was $21,176. Males had a median income of $27,569 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,495. About 29.3% of families and 32.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over.
Viewing of a map will show that the vast majority of Florala is in Alabama, hence the zip code 36442. There is no Florala, FL.
, who played for the NY Jets, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers was born in Florala on January 28, 1964.
Sgt. Rodney J. Evans
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
after being killed in Vietnam while exposing himself to enemy fire in order to protect his men. ( B. 17 July 1948, D. 18 July 1969)
R. Barbara Gitenstein
, the current President of The College of New Jersey, grew up in Florala, Alabama.
Recently in 2009, it was announced that Mark Gitenstein,
brother to Barbara Gitenstein, above, was appointed Ambassador
to Romania under the Obama administration.
Although the noted writer William March
, author of The Bad Seed
and World War I novel Company K
, was not born in Florala, he grew up in Lockhart
, a small community a few blocks west on Highway 55. His biography and list of publications are also found
elsewhere on Wikipedia. The city of Mobile, Alabama has an extensive collection of references
and publications of the author. The W.S Hoole Collection at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. "March" is the maiden name of William's mother, which the writer chose for his
pen name rather than his given name William Campbell.
Covington County, Alabama
Covington County, Alabama, is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Brigadier General Leonard Covington of Maryland. As of 2010 the population was 37,765...
, 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 1,964.
Geography
Florala is located at 31°0′28"N 86°19′30"W (31.007712, -86.324957). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 square miles (28.2 km²), of which, 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (3.93%) is water.2000 Census data
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 1,964 people, 898 households, and 527 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 187.0 people per square mile (72.2/km²). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 105.0 per square mile (40.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.75% 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...
, 15.68% 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...
, 0.87% 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...
, 0.61% 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...
, 0.66% 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 1.43% from two or more races. 2.65% 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 898 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% 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, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $17,377, and the median income for a family was $21,176. Males had a median income of $27,569 versus $15,625 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 $11,495. About 29.3% of families and 32.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over.
Origin of name
The name Florala is said to have come from the city's bisection by the Florida-Alabama border. It is a portmanteau. The town was named by combining the names of Florida and Alabama.Viewing of a map will show that the vast majority of Florala is in Alabama, hence the zip code 36442. There is no Florala, FL.
Historical Fact
In 1818, Andrew Jackson stopped at the Lake with his soldiers, and thus Lake Jackson is named after him. Since 1870, the City of Florala, through Florala’s Fidelity Masonic Lodge #685, (beginning with Chapel Hill and Lake City Lodge #377), and Chapter #441 of the Order of the Eastern Star, has served as the home of the World’s Oldest Consecutive Annual Masonic Day Celebration. The Celebration is in honor of St. John’s Day, June 24, 1717, when the first Grand Masonic Lodge in England was established. Each year on the Friday before the 24th of June and concluding on the Saturday after the 24th.Notable residents
Dwight StoneDwight Stone
This article is about Dwight Stone the football player. If you are looking for Dwight Stones the track and field athlete and commentator see Dwight Stones...
, who played for the NY Jets, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers was born in Florala on January 28, 1964.
Sgt. Rodney J. Evans
Rodney J. Evans
Rodney John Evans was a Sergeant in the United States Army's 1st battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Evans was killed in action during the Vietnam War in Tay Ninh province...
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
after being killed in Vietnam while exposing himself to enemy fire in order to protect his men. ( B. 17 July 1948, D. 18 July 1969)
R. Barbara Gitenstein
R. Barbara Gitenstein
R. Barbara Gitenstein is the president of The College of New Jersey. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Duke University and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from UNC in 1975. Dr. Gitenstein was born in Florala, Alabama, a town of 2000 where hers was the only Jewish family...
, the current President of The College of New Jersey, grew up in Florala, Alabama.
Recently in 2009, it was announced that Mark Gitenstein,
brother to Barbara Gitenstein, above, was appointed Ambassador
to Romania under the Obama administration.
Although the noted writer William March
William March
William March was an American author and a highly decorated US Marine. The author of six novels and four short-story collections, March was praised by critics and heralded as "the unrecognized genius of our time", without attaining popular appeal until after his death.March grew up in rural...
, author of The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed is a 1954 novel by William March, nominated for the 1966 National Book Award for Fiction. It was the last major work written by March, and, although published in his lifetime, its enormous critical and commercial success was largely realized after his death, one month after publication...
and World War I novel Company K
Company K
Company K is a 1933 novel by William March, first serialised in parts in the New York magazine Forum from 1930 to 1932, and published in its entirety by Smith and Haas on 19 January 1933, in New York. The book's title was taken from the Marine company that March served in during World War I...
, was not born in Florala, he grew up in Lockhart
Lockhart, Alabama
Lockhart is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 548.-Geography:Lockhart is located at . According to the U.S...
, a small community a few blocks west on Highway 55. His biography and list of publications are also found
elsewhere on Wikipedia. The city of Mobile, Alabama has an extensive collection of references
and publications of the author. The W.S Hoole Collection at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. "March" is the maiden name of William's mother, which the writer chose for his
pen name rather than his given name William Campbell.