Half Acre, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Half Acre is an unincorporated community
in Marengo County
, Alabama
. It has gone through a variety of name changes since the early 20th century. The community had a post office
at one time, but it no longer exists. Although a thriving community in its early years, it has since dwindled into obscurity.
, three general store
s, a cotton gin
, a cotton seed-oil press, grist mill, saw mill, brick kiln, hotel, and livery stables.
The tradition of how the Half Acre name came about holds that a half acre
piece of property in the community, at a crossroads next door to the hotel, had been missed in the original survey. County land records indicate that when the small piece of property was discovered to not be surveyed, it was deeded to "The Devil
" and then became known as Hell's Half Acre. A saloon
was eventually built there, only to later burn down. The title
to the property was not clarified until the community wanted to build a church on the site of the former saloon, at which time the probate court transferred ownership from "The Devil" to the Half Acre Community Church. The "Hell's" was dropped from the name at this time and the entire community came to be known simply as Half Acre. The population of the community began to relocate elsewhere after World War II
and today it is home to only the church and a few residences.
. It is located at 32.195°N 87.912°W and has an elevation of 115 feet (35 m).
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Marengo County
Marengo County, Alabama
Marengo County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of a battlefield near Turin, Italy, where the French defeated the Austrians on June 14, 1800. As of 2010 the population was 21,027...
, 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...
. It has gone through a variety of name changes since the early 20th century. The community had a post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
at one time, but it no longer exists. Although a thriving community in its early years, it has since dwindled into obscurity.
History
Half Acre was originally known as Luther's Store and was settled in the 1830s. By 1870 it had a post officePost 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...
, three general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s, a cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
, a cotton seed-oil press, grist mill, saw mill, brick kiln, hotel, and livery stables.
The tradition of how the Half Acre name came about holds that a half acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
piece of property in the community, at a crossroads next door to the hotel, had been missed in the original survey. County land records indicate that when the small piece of property was discovered to not be surveyed, it was deeded to "The Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
" and then became known as Hell's Half Acre. A saloon
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
was eventually built there, only to later burn down. The title
Title (property)
Title is a legal term for a bundle of rights in a piece of property in which a party may own either a legal interest or an equitable interest. The rights in the bundle may be separated and held by different parties. It may also refer to a formal document that serves as evidence of ownership...
to the property was not clarified until the community wanted to build a church on the site of the former saloon, at which time the probate court transferred ownership from "The Devil" to the Half Acre Community Church. The "Hell's" was dropped from the name at this time and the entire community came to be known simply as Half Acre. The population of the community began to relocate elsewhere after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and today it is home to only the church and a few residences.
Geography
Half Acre is situated above Beaver Creek, about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the Tombigbee RiverTombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
. It is located at 32.195°N 87.912°W and has an elevation of 115 feet (35 m).