Pine Apple, Alabama
Encyclopedia
“Pine Apple” redirects here. For the fruit, see Pineapple
Pine Apple is a town in Wilcox County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 145. It has two places on the National Register of Historic Places
, the Hawthorne House and the Pine Apple Historic District
.
. http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/about-the-author/
One of the most interesting historical sites in Pine Apple is the cemetery of Friendship Baptist Church. While the site includes the graves of residents born before Alabama became a state, it is the statue of William Joseph Melton (1824-1900) that dominates the landscape. Although the wealth of the Melton family was attributed to the turn-of-the-century cotton boom, the family did not have access to the free labor of slaves to harvest crops. Instead, the Meltons used fear and intimidation to compel blacks to work for them. Subsequently, the brutality of the Meltons’ practices lead to the reports of involuntary servitude and peonage.
On the eve of William Joseph Melton’s daughter Leila’s wedding, a Melton cousin (Evander “Pig” Melton) was shot and wounded after barging into the craps game of a group of black men. Arthur Stuart, a black man who happened to be nearby, but who was innocent, was apprehended. Although he knew his nephew would survive, the teenage Melton's uncle, with the complicity of the town constable, broke into the local jail where Stuart was being held, beat Stuart senseless, and burned him alive. The fire engulfed the cell, jail, the bank and other surrounding buildings, burning town to the ground.
No one was ever charged with Arthur Stuart’s lynching
and the Meltons were never prosecuted for enslavement of local blacks.
Remarkably, in spite of this history, Pine Apple is the hometown of Prince Arnold, who in 1978 became the first black sheriff of Wilcox County.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 145 people, 65 households, and 44 families residing in the town. The population density
was 46.8 people per square mile (18.1/km²). There were 101 housing units at an average density of 32.6 per square mile (12.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.76% White
, 36.55% Black
or African American
, and 0.69% from two or more races.
There were 65 households out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $30,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,876. There were 7.7% of families and 15.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including 35.9% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
Pine Apple is a town in Wilcox County
Wilcox County, Alabama
Wilcox County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lieutenant J. M. Wilcox, who fought in the wars against the Creek tribe. As of 2010, the population was 11,670...
, 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 145. It has two places on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, the Hawthorne House and the Pine Apple Historic District
Pine Apple Historic District
The Pine Apple Historic District is a historic district in the community of Pine Apple, Alabama. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 26, 1999. The boundaries are roughly Wilcox County roads 59, 7 and 61, Broad Street, Banana Street, AL 10, and Adams Drive...
.
History
Like many communities throughout the deep South, Pine Apple has a history of racial disturbances. One such disturbance was highlighted in the Pulitzer Prize winning book “Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II” by Douglas A. BlackmonDouglas A. Blackmon
Douglas A. Blackmon is an American writer and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II....
. http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/about-the-author/
One of the most interesting historical sites in Pine Apple is the cemetery of Friendship Baptist Church. While the site includes the graves of residents born before Alabama became a state, it is the statue of William Joseph Melton (1824-1900) that dominates the landscape. Although the wealth of the Melton family was attributed to the turn-of-the-century cotton boom, the family did not have access to the free labor of slaves to harvest crops. Instead, the Meltons used fear and intimidation to compel blacks to work for them. Subsequently, the brutality of the Meltons’ practices lead to the reports of involuntary servitude and peonage.
On the eve of William Joseph Melton’s daughter Leila’s wedding, a Melton cousin (Evander “Pig” Melton) was shot and wounded after barging into the craps game of a group of black men. Arthur Stuart, a black man who happened to be nearby, but who was innocent, was apprehended. Although he knew his nephew would survive, the teenage Melton's uncle, with the complicity of the town constable, broke into the local jail where Stuart was being held, beat Stuart senseless, and burned him alive. The fire engulfed the cell, jail, the bank and other surrounding buildings, burning town to the ground.
No one was ever charged with Arthur Stuart’s lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
and the Meltons were never prosecuted for enslavement of local blacks.
Remarkably, in spite of this history, Pine Apple is the hometown of Prince Arnold, who in 1978 became the first black sheriff of Wilcox County.
Geography
Pine Apple is located at 31°52′4"N 86°59′15"W (31.867882, -86.987624).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (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 145 people, 65 households, and 44 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 46.8 people per square mile (18.1/km²). There were 101 housing units at an average density of 32.6 per square mile (12.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.76% 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...
, 36.55% 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...
, and 0.69% from two or more races.
There were 65 households out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $30,833 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 $16,876. There were 7.7% of families and 15.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including 35.9% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.
Notable natives
- Fred Cone - a former running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. - Kenneth R. GiddensKenneth R. GiddensKenneth R. Giddens was an architect and movie theater owner, but most notably the broadcaster who put two radio stations and one television station based in Mobile, Alabama on the air, all at one point in time bearing the call sign “WKRG”...
- Broadcaster and Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
executive.