, United States. It was incorporated in 1907. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 8,391. Atmore is in the planning stages to increase its economic base with additions in its new Rivercane development along the I-65 corridor.
Atmore has completed requirements to be recognized as an Alabama Community of Excellence at the upcoming Alabama League of Municipalities Convention. City officials are also working with the
Alabama Historical Commission
The Alabama Historical Commission is the historic preservation agency for the U.S. state of Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’s historic buildings and sites. It cons ...
to have the downtown district listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
.
On May 23, 2007, Atmore celebrated its centenary.
The federally recognized
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians ( ;) are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans in Alabama. Speaking the Muscogee language, they were formerly known as the Creek Nation East of the Mississippi.
They are located mostly in Escambia Cou ...
is headquartered in Atmore.
History
Atmore was first recorded as a stop (Williams Station) on the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad. The town was originally going to be named "Carney", in honor of a prominent citizen who owned a sawmill in town. However, Mr. Carney had a brother who had already established a town nearby with the same name. he town then decided to let Mr. Carney name the town. He named it after his close friend C.P. Atmore, General Passenger Agent of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Despite it being named in his honor, Mr. Atmore never visited the town.
In 2008 the city of Atmore annexed Alabama Department of Corrections prison property, including
Holman Correctional Facility
William C. Holman Correctional Facility is an Alabama Department of Corrections prison located in Atmore, Alabama. The facility is along Alabama State Highway 21, north of Atmore in southern Alabama.
The facility was originally built to house ...
and
Fountain Correctional Facility
Fountain Correctional Facility is an Alabama Department of Corrections prison located in Atmore, Alabama. The facility is located along Alabama Highway 21, about north of the Atmore city center. Its southern border is the
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
state line. The center of town is at the intersection of U.S. Route 31 and
Alabama State Route 21
State Route 21 (SR 21) is a state highway that extends from the Florida state line, near Atmore in Escambia County to Piedmont in Calhoun County. The route travels almost the entire length of the state from the northeast to the s ...
, while a new section of the city has been incorporated to the north around Exit 57 of Interstate 65. US 31 leads southwest to
Bay Minette
Bay Minette is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,044.
History
In the first days of Baldwin County, the town of McIntosh Bluff (now in Mobile Count ...
Mobile
Mobile may refer to:
Places
* Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city
* Mobile County, Alabama
* Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S.
* Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels
* Mobile ( ...
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 (US 29) is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Pensacola, Florida to the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland in the Southern United States, connecting the Florida Panhandle to the Baltimore-Washington me ...
.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, Atmore has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.34%, is water.
Demographics
Atmore first appeared on the 1910 U.S. Census as an incorporated town. By 1930, it became the largest city in Escambia County, though lost the title to former holder Brewton in 1940. It became the largest city again in 1950 and has held the distinction to date (2010). In 2010, the city became majority Black for the first time.
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 8,391 people, 2,803 households, and 1,443 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, the population density was . There were 3,480 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 55.4%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 39.3%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.1%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.1% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.8% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race.
There were 3,002 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 155.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 207.4 males.
Atmore Census Division (1960-)
Atmore was created a census division in 1960 following the general reorganization of county precincts. Prior to 1960, Atmore was within the former Escambia County 7th precinct of
Canoe
A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.
In British English, the ter ...
.
Education
Escambia County Public School System is the public school district of Atmore. Schools in Atmore include: Rachel Patterson Elementary School, Escambia County Middle School (the largest school in the system), and Escambia County High School (the first public county high school in the state of Alabama).
It is also home to Atmore Christian School, as well as several other private schools and colleges including Reid state.
Escambia Academy {{Infobox school
, name = Escambia Academy
, logo =
, motto = ''We are building champions both on and off the field''
, streetaddress = 268 Cowpen Creek Road
, city ...
has at Atmore address but is not in the city limits. Prior to 1970, African-American children were not allowed to attend schools with white children, and attended black schools such as the
Escambia County Training School
The Escambia County Training School was a segregated school for African-American children in Atmore in Escambia County, Alabama.
History
Atmore Colored School was founded in 1920. In 1925, the community raised funds, which along with the Rosen ...
in Atmore.
Atmore is home to an adjunct campus of
Coastal Alabama Community College Brewton
Coastal Alabama Community College (also known as Coastal Alabama Community College – South) is a public community college with nine campuses in southern Alabama: Bay Minette, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Atmore, Brewton, Gilbertown, Jackson, Mon ...
based in Brewton, which offers associate degrees and technical school training.
Government and infrastructure
Atmore is governed by a mayor and members of a city council elected from five districts within the city.
The
Holman Correctional Facility
William C. Holman Correctional Facility is an Alabama Department of Corrections prison located in Atmore, Alabama. The facility is along Alabama State Highway 21, north of Atmore in southern Alabama.
The facility was originally built to house ...
execution chamber
An execution chamber, or death chamber, is a room or chamber in which capital punishment is carried out. Execution chambers are almost always inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, although not always at the same prison where the death r ...
For most of the 20th century, the Atmore area was primarily a farming, timber, and light industry community. Major commercial industries have been Masland Carpets, Alto, and a local lumber company. For many years, the Vanity Fair lingerie company operated a manufacturing sewing plant in Atmore, offering employment to local citizens and surrounding communities.
With federal recognition and the founding of gaming casinos, the
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians ( ;) are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans in Alabama. Speaking the Muscogee language, they were formerly known as the Creek Nation East of the Mississippi.
They are located mostly in Escambia Cou ...
near Exit 54 on
I-65
Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between the Great Lakes and the Gulf ...
, northwest of the center of Atmore, has increased its relative economic contributions to the region. The tribe operates the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel, which provides for tourism and conferences, adjacent to I-65 Exit 57. Wind Creek is one of just a few four-diamond hotels in the state.
US Highway 31
U.S. Route 31 or U.S. Highway 31 (US 31) is a major north–south U.S. highway connecting southern Alabama to northern Michigan. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with US 90/ US 98 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Its ...
and Alabama Highway 21 pass through the center of the city.
In addition, the town is home to Atmore Municipal Airport with a 4,952 foot long runway.
The town is serviced by two freight railroads, the
Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway
The Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway is a Class II railroad owned by Genesee & Wyoming. It operates of track from the Pensacola, Florida export terminals, west of downtown, north to Columbus, Mississippi, with trackage rights along BNSF Railway ...
and
CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...
. Historically, Atmore was home to a
Frisco Railway
Frisco may refer to:
Places in the United States
*Frisco, Alabama, an unincorporated community
*San Francisco, California, as a nickname
*Frisco, Colorado, a home rule municipality
**Frisco Historic Park – see Frisco Schoolhouse
* Frisco, Idaho ...
station, served by a section of the railroad's ''Sunnyland'' passenger train north to Tupelo, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, and south to Pensacola, Florida. A
Louisville and Nashville
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.
Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of the ...
station was a stop for the ''Azalean'' (Cincinnati-New Orleans), the ''
Piedmont Limited
The ''Piedmont Limited'' was a named passenger train operated by the Southern Railway in the southern United States. For most of its life it was a New York—New Orleans train, operating over the same route as the more famous '' Crescent Li ...
'' (New York-New Orleans) and local Montgomery-New Orleans trains. The Frisco service ended in 1955, and the L&N in 1971.
Atmore station
Atmore station is a former train station in Atmore, Alabama. It formerly served Amtrak's ''Sunset Limited'' line. It has been closed since 2005, after Amtrak stopped service of the ''Sunset Limited'' east of New Orleans due to the effects of Hurri ...
was later served by
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
's ''
Gulf Breeze
Gulf Breeze is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida. It is a suburb of Pensacola, and is in the Pensacola Metropolitan Area. The population estimate was 6,900 in 2020. Gulf Breeze is located just north of Pensacola Beach, and south of Pensaco ...
'' train (Birmingham-Montgomery-Mobile) until that service ended in 1995.
Health care and recreation
Atmore Community Hospital, an affiliate of Infirmary Health Systems of Mobile, offers full acute care in a two-story facility.
Atmore has several recreational and sports facilities, including Atmore Heritage Park and Claude D. Kelley State Park.
Local events
Mayfest — On the first Saturday in May at Tom Byrne Park, Atmore celebrates Mayfest with sports events, arts and crafts and a variety of food. There are many different forms of entertainment, including a Beautiful Baby Contest and a Pooch Parade.
Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention — Musicians from across the state come to Atmore the third Saturday in July to compete for prizes in the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bands and vocals division.
A Taste of the South — Held annually at Heritage Park in September, A Taste of the South is an evening of entertainment and local food from the area's best cooks.
Williams Station Day — Held the fourth Saturday of October, Williams Station Day celebrates Atmore's history beginning in 1866 as Williams Station. The event includes an arts and crafts show, an old time fiddlers' tent, professional entertainment, a model train show, and sugar cane mill.
Poarch Creek Indian Pow-wow — The local Poarch Creek Indians host an authentic Thanksgiving annually. Visitors enjoy turkey, dressing, and roasted corn as dancers from many tribes gather to compete. Over 100 booths display arts and crafts, quilts and other keepsakes of the Creek Indian culture.
Notable people
* Paul Birch, actor and the original "Marlboro Man", born in Atmore
*
Bobby Brantley
Bobby Lynn Brantley (born April 6, 1948) is an American Republican Party (United States), Republican politician from the State of Florida. He served as the 13th lieutenant governor of Florida, from 1987 to 1991.
Brantley began his political car ...
Marva Collins
Marva Delores Collins (née Knight; August 31, 1936 – June 24, 2015) was an American educator. Collins is best known for creating Westside Preparatory School, a widely acclaimed private elementary school in the impoverished Garfield Park (Chicag ...
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
''. "Indian Director Sworn In: Glenn L. Emmons Takes Office Succeeding Dillon S. Myer." August 11, 1953. Steven C. Harris Commercial pilot for
FedEx Corporation
FedEx Corporation, formerly Federal Express Corporation and later FDX Corporation, is an American multinational conglomerate holding company focused on transportation, e-commerce and business services based in Memphis, Tennessee. The name "Fed ...
Bishop State Community College
Bishop State Community College (BSCC) is a Public college, public, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black Community_college#United_States, community college with campuses and facilities throughout Mobile County, Alabama, ...
and
Reid State Technical College
Reid State Technical College is a public community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for student ...
*
Don McNeal
Donald McNeal (born May 6, 1958) is a former American professional football player who played cornerback for the Miami Dolphins in the 1980s.
McNeal was born and raised in Atmore, Alabama. He is a 1976 graduate of Escambia County (Alabama) High ...
, star defensive back for Alabama and the Miami Dolphins, born and raised in Atmore
* Ron Middleton, former Auburn University and NFL
tight end
The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Lik ...
*
Woodrow McClain Parker
Woodrow McClain "Max" Parker (born April 23, 1941) is an American educator, mental health counselor, and author with a focus on multicultural counseling, training, and consultation. Prior to his retirement in 2016, was a professor of counselor ed ...
, Professor Emeritus, mental health counselor, and author
* Michael Williams, NFL player
* Art White, WWII Veteran, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, world heavyweight championship wrestler, former
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the publi ...
All-American, member of 1934 National Championship team, played alongside Paul "Bear" Bryant and Don Hutson, and NFL
offensive guard
Offensive may refer to:
* Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative
* Offensive (military), an attack
* Offensive language
** Fighting words or insulting language, words that by their very utterance inflict in ...
player, 1938 NFL Championship winner, 1938 Pro Bowl
Climate
Climate is characterized by mild to high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
sub-type for this climate is " Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).
Photo Gallery
File:2022-10-16 Atmore, Alabama - City Hall.jpg, Atmore City Hall
File:Atmore Alabama Post Office.jpg, Atmore Post Office ( ZIP code: 36502)
File:Library picture.jp Atmore Public Library File:2022-10-16 Atmore, Alabama - Fire Department.jpg, Atmore Fire Department
File:Main Street Atmore Oct 2014 2.jpg, Main Street Atmore
File:Main Street Atmore Oct 2014 1.jpg, Main Street Atmore
File:2022-10-16 Atmore, Alabama - American Legion Post 90.jpg, Billy Glenn Rushing American Legion Post 90
File:Wind Creek Casino sign in Atmore, Alabama LCCN2010640198.tif, Atmore is home to the Wind Creek Casino.
File:Owen-Lufkin House Oct 2014 1.jpg, The Owen-Lufkin House was built in 1906 and added to the
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties ...
on August 22, 1985.
File:2022-10-16 Atmore, Alabama - Railroad Bill Historic Marker.jpg, The notorious American outlaw Morris Slater, better known as " Railroad Bill", was gunned down in Atmore on March 7, 1896. A historic marker was placed in 2021 by th Alabama Folklife Association
File:Atmore Municipal Airport.jpg, Atmore Municipal Airport