Moundville, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Moundville is a town in Hale
and Tuscaloosa
Counties in the U.S. state
of Alabama
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,809. It is part of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Moundville is known for its quintessential southern landscapes and Indian Mounds.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (1.00%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,809 people, 809 total housing units with 688 being occupied households, and 479 families residing in the town. The population density
was 458.7 people per square mile (177.3/km²). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 197.8 per square mile (76.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 61.30% White
, 35.16% Black
or African American
, 0.66% Native American
, 0.94% Asian
, 0.83% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 688 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples
living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.47% under the age of 19, 6.63% from 20 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.67% from 45 to 64, and 15.54% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,944, and the median income for a family was $36,000. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $25,231 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,014. About 21.2% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
is a National Historic Landmark
. The 320 acres (1.3 km²) park contains 26 prehistoric, Mississippian culture
-era Native American earthwork mounds
, burial sites and artifacts.
The largest Native American mounds are located near the Black Warrior River. Mounds get smaller as they get farther from the river. This might be an indication of the relative ranks of the people who built and maintained the mounds.
A palisade was built around 3 sides of the center of Moundville, surrounding the mounds, a plaza, and residential areas. This palisade was rebuilt at least 6 times during the town's occupation.
is a privately owned, public-use airport
located two nautical mile
s (2.3 mi
, 3.7 km
) south of the central business district
of Moundville.
Hale County, Alabama
Hale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Confederate officer Stephen Fowler Hale. As of 2010 the population was 15,760. Its county seat is Greensboro and it is part of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Tuscaloosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is named in honor of the pre-Choctaw chief Tuskaloosa. In 2010, the population was 194,656...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,809. It is part of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area
Tuscaloosa metropolitan area
The Tuscaloosa metropolitan area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in west central Alabama, anchored by the city of Tuscaloosa...
. Moundville is known for its quintessential southern landscapes and Indian Mounds.
Geography
Moundville is located at 32°59′55"N 87°37′34"W (32.998521, -87.626006).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (1.00%) 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 1,809 people, 809 total housing units with 688 being occupied households, and 479 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 458.7 people per square mile (177.3/km²). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 197.8 per square mile (76.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 61.30% 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...
, 35.16% 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...
, 0.66% 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...
, 0.94% 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...
, 0.83% 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 1.11% from two or more races. 1.55% 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 688 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% 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, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.47% under the age of 19, 6.63% from 20 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.67% from 45 to 64, and 15.54% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,944, and the median income for a family was $36,000. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $25,231 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 $13,014. About 21.2% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Moundville Archaeological Park
The Moundville Archaeological ParkMoundville Archaeological Site
Moundville Archaeological Site, also known as the Moundville Archaeological Park, is a Mississippian site on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, near the town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama...
is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. The 320 acres (1.3 km²) park contains 26 prehistoric, Mississippian culture
Mississippian culture
The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, varying regionally....
-era Native American earthwork mounds
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
, burial sites and artifacts.
The largest Native American mounds are located near the Black Warrior River. Mounds get smaller as they get farther from the river. This might be an indication of the relative ranks of the people who built and maintained the mounds.
A palisade was built around 3 sides of the center of Moundville, surrounding the mounds, a plaza, and residential areas. This palisade was rebuilt at least 6 times during the town's occupation.
Airport
Moundville AirportMoundville Airport
Moundville Airport is a privately owned, public-use airport in Hale County, Alabama, United States. It is located two nautical miles south of the central business district of Moundville, Alabama.- Facilities and aircraft :...
is a privately owned, public-use airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located two nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (2.3 mi
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
, 3.7 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
) south of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Moundville.