Hobson City, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Hobson City is a town in Calhoun County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 878. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Hobson City is Alabama's first all-black city, according to The Progress and Achievements of the Negro in the Art of Self Government, a book published in 1947 by Ross Black, a white lawyer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 878 people, 363 households, and 242 families residing in the town. The population density
was 802.8 people per square mile (311.0/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 379.5 per square mile (147.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 6.15% White
, 92.71% Black
, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 363 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.2% were married couples
living together, 35.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% 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 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 76.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,589, and the median income for a family was $20,368. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $8,992. About 30.7% of families and 30.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.7% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
According to Town Hall records, much of the area now included in the corporate limits of the Town of Hobson City was once within the City of Oxford, Alabama. During the late 1800s, the area was known as Mooree Quarter. The black vote from that area was a controlling factor during municipal elections. An account provided by an early settler of the community has been passed down through the years. In that account, a black person was elected as Justice of the Peace. As a result and in keeping with campaign promises, an Oxford mayor went to the state capitol and had the corporate boundaries of Oxford redrawn to exclude Mooree Quarter and the black vote. Approximately three years later on August 16, 1899, the Town incorporated. Records from an Alabama newspaper, "The Peoples' Journal", described the municipality as "the only municipality controlled and governed entirely by colored people anywhere in the United States". The newspaper further commented that "The whole country will doubtless be interested in the result of this experiment". Under the leadership of the first mayor, S. L. Davis and the first police chief, James Duran, police protection was restored to the area. The Town was named after Richmond P. Hobson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Pearson_Hobson), a white Naval hero and member of congress. More than a century has passed since incorporation. The Town recently had buildings placed on the historic register and is currently in the process of qualifying other buildings as well. During November, 2008, Alberta C. McCrory was sworn in as the 2008-2012 mayor.
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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 878. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area
Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area
The Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area is the most populated metropolitan area in Northeast Alabama next to Huntsville. At the 2000 census, it had a population of 112,249...
.
Hobson City is Alabama's first all-black city, according to The Progress and Achievements of the Negro in the Art of Self Government, a book published in 1947 by Ross Black, a white lawyer.
Geography
Hobson City is located at 33°37'6.589" North, 85°50'36.330" West (33.618497, -85.843425).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 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 878 people, 363 households, and 242 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 802.8 people per square mile (311.0/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 379.5 per square mile (147.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 6.15% 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...
, 92.71% 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...
, 0.23% 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 0.91% from two or more races. 0.57% 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 363 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.2% 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, 35.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% 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 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 76.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,589, and the median income for a family was $20,368. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $19,583 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 $8,992. About 30.7% of families and 30.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.7% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
According to Town Hall records, much of the area now included in the corporate limits of the Town of Hobson City was once within the City of Oxford, Alabama. During the late 1800s, the area was known as Mooree Quarter. The black vote from that area was a controlling factor during municipal elections. An account provided by an early settler of the community has been passed down through the years. In that account, a black person was elected as Justice of the Peace. As a result and in keeping with campaign promises, an Oxford mayor went to the state capitol and had the corporate boundaries of Oxford redrawn to exclude Mooree Quarter and the black vote. Approximately three years later on August 16, 1899, the Town incorporated. Records from an Alabama newspaper, "The Peoples' Journal", described the municipality as "the only municipality controlled and governed entirely by colored people anywhere in the United States". The newspaper further commented that "The whole country will doubtless be interested in the result of this experiment". Under the leadership of the first mayor, S. L. Davis and the first police chief, James Duran, police protection was restored to the area. The Town was named after Richmond P. Hobson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Pearson_Hobson), a white Naval hero and member of congress. More than a century has passed since incorporation. The Town recently had buildings placed on the historic register and is currently in the process of qualifying other buildings as well. During November, 2008, Alberta C. McCrory was sworn in as the 2008-2012 mayor.