Smiths Station, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Smiths Station is a city in Lee County
, Alabama
, United States
. It is a part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The city is also known by locals as Smiths, although the official name is Smiths Station. According to the local legend, a postmaster around 1960 grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community. Smiths Station was officially incorporated in June 2001, and is Alabama's second newest city next to Center Point
. At the time of the 2000 census, it was still a census-designated place
(CDP), and its population was 21,756. Smiths Station is a bedroom community of Columbus, Georgia
and Phenix City, Alabama
. Smiths Station High School
has an enrollment of 1,800+ students and is the 11th largest high school in the state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 71.9 square miles (186.2 km²), of which, 71.2 square miles (184.4 km²) of it was land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.00%) was water.
of 2000, there were 21,756 people, 7,806 households, and 6,252 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 305.7 people per square mile (118.0/km²). There were 8,437 housing units at an average density of 118.6 per square mile (45.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.79% White
, 12.67% Black
or African American
, 0.38% Native American
, 0.39% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.74% from other races
, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 7,806 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,977, and the median income for a family was $47,765. Males had a median income of $32,246 versus $23,707 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,608. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
.
There is one high school in Smiths, Smiths Station High School
. The school colors are that of Black and White with a secondary use of Silver. The sports teams are called "The Panthers." The schools "cheer squads" are award winning and appear at all football and basketball games. In years past the football team had more success being the states third most school to appear in state championship games. The "Panther Spirit Marching Band" has been invited to march for the Queen of the United Kingdom and has performed in the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA. The band holds three Grand Championship awards and numerous best in class awards. The Track and Field team has been nationally ranked several times in the past and has numerous alumni throughout the nation competing at the DI, DII, and professional levels.
Lee County, Alabama
Lee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Confederate Army. As of 2010 the population was 140,247. It is part of the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Area. The county seat is Opelika, and the largest city is Auburn...
, 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...
. It is a part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area
Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area
The Columbus, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in Georgia and one county in Alabama, anchored by the city of Columbus...
. The city is also known by locals as Smiths, although the official name is Smiths Station. According to the local legend, a postmaster around 1960 grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community. Smiths Station was officially incorporated in June 2001, and is Alabama's second newest city next to Center Point
Center Point, Alabama
Center Point is a newly incorporated city and a former census-designated place in northeastern Birmingham, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 22,784. However, after its incorporation in 2002, the city's boundaries are much smaller than those of the CDP. As of July 1,...
. At the time of the 2000 census, it was still a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP), and its population was 21,756. Smiths Station is a bedroom community of Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City is a city and the county seat in Russell County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Portions of Lee County are addressed as Phenix City, 36870 ZIP code, for the sole purpose that Smiths Station does not have full incorporation to annex the area...
. Smiths Station High School
Smiths Station High School
Smiths Station High School is a high school in Smiths Station, Alabama, enrolling grades 9-12. The school enrolls 1,830 students, and is one of four high schools in the Lee County School District along with Beauregard, Beulah and Loachapoka High Schools....
has an enrollment of 1,800+ students and is the 11th largest high school in the state.
Geography
Smiths is located at 32.539259°N 85.098703°W.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 71.9 square miles (186.2 km²), of which, 71.2 square miles (184.4 km²) of it was land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.00%) was 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 21,756 people, 7,806 households, and 6,252 families residing in the CDP. 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 305.7 people per square mile (118.0/km²). There were 8,437 housing units at an average density of 118.6 per square mile (45.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.79% 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...
, 12.67% 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...
, 0.38% 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...
, 0.39% 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...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.74% 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 1.03% from two or more races. 2.08% 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 7,806 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,977, and the median income for a family was $47,765. Males had a median income of $32,246 versus $23,707 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 CDP was $17,608. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 600 |
| 1970 | 600 |
| 1980 | 900 |
| 1990 | 3,500 |
| 2000 | 21,756 |
Schools
Smiths Station is a part of the Lee County SchoolsLee County Schools (Alabama)
The Lee County School District—commonly called Lee County Schools— is the public school district for Lee County, Alabama, United States, excluding the parts of the county in the Auburn, Opelika, and Phenix City city limits. Students in the Lee County Schools attend schools in one of four attendance...
.
There is one high school in Smiths, Smiths Station High School
Smiths Station High School
Smiths Station High School is a high school in Smiths Station, Alabama, enrolling grades 9-12. The school enrolls 1,830 students, and is one of four high schools in the Lee County School District along with Beauregard, Beulah and Loachapoka High Schools....
. The school colors are that of Black and White with a secondary use of Silver. The sports teams are called "The Panthers." The schools "cheer squads" are award winning and appear at all football and basketball games. In years past the football team had more success being the states third most school to appear in state championship games. The "Panther Spirit Marching Band" has been invited to march for the Queen of the United Kingdom and has performed in the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA. The band holds three Grand Championship awards and numerous best in class awards. The Track and Field team has been nationally ranked several times in the past and has numerous alumni throughout the nation competing at the DI, DII, and professional levels.