Thomaston, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Thomaston is a town in Marengo County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 383. The area was first settled in the early 19th century by people from Virginia
and the Carolinas
who migrated to the area in search of land. The community was named in 1892, and the town of Thomaston was incorporated in 1901. Thomaston has one historic district, the Thomaston Central Historic District
, which encompasses the core of the town. Additionally, there are three individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places
: the Thomaston Colored Institute
, C. S. Golden House
, and Patrick Farrish House
. The town is home to the Alabama Rural Heritage Center
, and the Thomaston Community Market, both community projects of Auburn University's Rural Studio
.
of 2000, there were 383 people, 163 households, and 105 families residing in the town. The population density
was 190.3 people per square mile (73.6/km²). There were 212 housing units at an average density of 105.3 per square mile (40.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.13% Black
or African American
, 48.56% White
, and 1.31% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 163 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples
living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,972, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $32,404 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,390. About 22.1% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.2% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, 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 383. The area was first settled in the early 19th century by people from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Carolinas
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
who migrated to the area in search of land. The community was named in 1892, and the town of Thomaston was incorporated in 1901. Thomaston has one historic district, the Thomaston Central Historic District
Thomaston Central Historic District
The Thomaston Central Historic District is a historic district in the town of Thomaston, Alabama, United States. Thomaston was founded in 1901, the same year that the B.S. & N.O. Railroad, now CSX Transportation, went through the town...
, which encompasses the core of the town. Additionally, there are three individually listed properties 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 Thomaston Colored Institute
Thomaston Colored Institute
The Thomaston Colored Institute, also known as the Thomaston Academy, is a historic African American school building in the town of Thomaston, Alabama, United States...
, C. S. Golden House
C. S. Golden House
The C.S. Golden House, also known as the Leonard and Ellie Crain House, is a historic house located in Thomaston, Alabama. It was built in 1898 in the Queen Anne style. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 31, 2000 due to its architectural...
, and Patrick Farrish House
Patrick Farrish House
The Patrick Farrish House, also known as the Lowe and Paula McDaniel House, is a historic house located in Thomaston, Alabama. It was built in 1926 in the Craftsman style. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 31, 2000 due to its architectural...
. The town is home to the Alabama Rural Heritage Center
Alabama Rural Heritage Center
The Alabama Rural Heritage Center is located in Thomaston, Alabama, and was built by the Auburn University Rural Studio. The center is run by the non-profit Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation. The building is located off of Alabama Highway 25, on the former Marengo County High School Campus...
, and the Thomaston Community Market, both community projects of Auburn University's Rural Studio
Rural Studio
The Rural Studio is a design-build architecture studio run by Auburn University which aims to teach students about the social responsibilities of the profession of architecture while also providing safe, well-constructed and inspirational homes and buildings for poor communities in rural west...
.
Geography
Thomaston is located at 32.269495°N 87.624865°W. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 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 383 people, 163 households, and 105 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 190.3 people per square mile (73.6/km²). There were 212 housing units at an average density of 105.3 per square mile (40.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.13% 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...
, 48.56% 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...
, and 1.31% from two or more races. 2.35% 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 163 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% 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, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,972, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $32,404 versus $21,750 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 $13,390. About 22.1% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.2% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.