Jacksonville, AL
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Jacksonville is a city in
Calhoun County Calhoun County is the name of several counties in the United States of America named after U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun: * Calhoun County, Alabama * Calhoun County, Arkansas * Calhoun County, Florida * Calhoun County, Georgia * Calhoun Count ...
, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 12,548, which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to Jacksonville State University, which is a center of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.


History

Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from Creek Indian Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to honor President Andrew Jackson in 1834. There are a couple Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County (pronounced Cal'n County) until the 20th century when it moved to Anniston. Jacksonville State University was founded here in 1883. An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville on March 19, 2018, causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages. The relatively low number of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was attributed by some to the fact that the university was on spring break at the time. More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the immediate tornado relief. Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that " 's been amazing to see the university and the community come together." Classes resumed at the university the following month. Although the university's usual site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with over 20 other buildings, the first spring graduation since the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 outside the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university's president, said "It's a joyous event generally because you're celebrating the accomplishments of all your graduates, but it's an even more joyous event because to me it's a celebration of how far we've come in a short time in recovering from these tornadoes."


Geography

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, Jacksonville is located at 33°48'56.758" North, 85°45'37.681" West (33.815766, -85.760467). 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 ...
, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.10%, is water. Jacksonville is located in a valley between Choccolocco Mountain to the east and smaller ridges to the west.


Demographics


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 14,385 people, 4,518 households, and 2,472 families residing in the city.


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,548 people, 4,917 households, and 2,466 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,382 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 68.7% White, 26.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3%
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 ...
, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 2.3% of the population were Hispanic 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 4,917 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, marriage 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 17.2% under the age of 18, 32.6% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,987, and the median income for a family was $50,863. Males had a median income of $35,615 versus $26,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,063. About 17.6% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.


Transportation

Two Alabama state routes pass through Jacksonville: * State Route 21 (Pelham Road) * State Route 204 (Nisbet Street)


Education

Jacksonville is the home of Jacksonville State University, a public, coeducational university with an enrollment of almost 10,000. It offers degrees in business, communication, education, family sciences, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and technology in addition to continuing education programs. The university's campus is located a few blocks north of the square. Jacksonville is home to two public schools run b
Jacksonville City Schools
* Jacksonville High School (Grades 7-12).
Kitty Stone Elementary School (Grades K-6)
There are also two public schools located northwest of the city proper that serve the unincorporated communities of Pleasant Valley and Williams and are run by Calhoun County Schools: * Pleasant Valley High School *Pleasant Valley Elementary School There is also a Christian school called Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA) located within the city. The Calhoun County Center for the Arts offers classes through the Community Center.Calhoun County Center for the Arts


Media

Newspaper
The Jacksonville News
- Weekly, locally owned newspaper
The Chanticleer
- Student-run newspaper of Jacksonville State University Magazine *''
House to House Heart to Heart ''House to House Heart to Heart'' (HTH) is a monthly American magazine. HTH is a customizable, 8 page, color, Christian magazine that works exclusively with Churches of Christ. The publication is printed every month for a total of 12 issues a ...
'' - Bi-monthly Christian magazine distributed through Churches of Christ; circulation over 2.5 million each issue Television
WJXS TV 24
- Local news, sports and programming AM Radio
WCHA Alabama 810
- Local news, sports and Classic Country music FM Radio
WLJS 91.9
- College radio, limited NPR station


Notable people

*
Rick Bragg Rick Bragg (born July 26, 1959) is an American journalist and writer known for non-fiction books, especially those about his family in Alabama. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1996 recognizing his work at ''The New York Times''. Early life Bragg wa ...
, Alabama writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1996 while working for '' The New York Times'' *
Glen Browder John Glen Browder (born January 15, 1943) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd congressional district. Browder was born in Sumter, South Carolina and graduated in 1961 from Edmunds High School in ...
, U.S. Representative from 1989 to 1997 and professor of political science at Jacksonville State University. *
John Henry Caldwell John Henry Caldwell (April 4, 1826 – September 4, 1902) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Caldwell attended the common schools of Huntsville and Bacon College, Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He taught school in L ...
, U.S. Representative from 1873 to 1877. *
William Crutchfield William Crutchfield (November 16, 1824 – January 24, 1890) was an American politician who represented the Tennessee's 3rd congressional district, 3rd congressional district of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives for one ...
, U.S. Representative from 1873 to 1875. Lived in Jacksonville from 1844 to 1850. *
Todd Cunningham Thomas David "Todd" Cunningham III (born March 20, 1989) is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. High school and college Cunningham was ...
, Major League Baseball
center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...
*
John Horace Forney John Horace Forney (August 12, 1829 – September 13, 1902) was a farmer, civil engineer, and major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Being promoted to the rank of major general on October 27, 1862, Forney part ...
, major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War *
William H. Forney William Henry Forney (November 9, 1823 – January 16, 1894) was an Alabama legislator, a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and U.S. Representative from Alabama from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1893. E ...
, U.S. Representative from 1875 to 1893 * Riley Green, country music singer *
James A. Haley James Andrew Haley (January 4, 1899 – August 6, 1981) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Florida. Born in Jacksonville, Alabama, Jacksonville, Alabama, Haley attended the public schools and the Univer ...
, U.S. Representative representing Florida from 1953 to 1977. *
Thomas C. Hindman Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. (January 28, 1828 – September 28, 1868) was an American lawyer, politician, and a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he later moved to Miss ...
,
lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...
, United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. *
Harvey Jackson III Harvey Hardaway Jackson III (born February 25, 1943) is the Professor of History at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He is the author of a number of works on Alabama and Georgia history. Early life and career He was born in Junction Ci ...
, notable Alabama historian *
Lilly Ledbetter Lilly McDaniel Ledbetter (born April 14, 1938) is an American activist who was the plaintiff in the United States Supreme Court case '' Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'' regarding employment discrimination. Two years after the Supreme C ...
, women's equality activist and plaintiff in the American
employment discrimination Employment discrimination is a form of illegal discrimination in the workplace based on legally protected characteristics. In the U.S., federal anti-discrimination law prohibits discrimination by employers against employees based on age, race, g ...
case '' Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'' *
Shed Long Shedric Bernard Long Jr. (born August 22, 1995) is an American professional baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners. Professional career Cincinnati Reds Long ...
, professional baseball player * Darrell Malone, former National Football League cornerback *
Herman Clarence Nixon Herman Clarence Nixon (1886 – 1967) was an American political scientist and a member of the Southern Agrarians. Early life Herman Clarence Nixon was born in 1886 in Possum Trot, Alabama. He was educated in the public schools of Jacksonville, A ...
, political scientist, historian, and member of the Nashville-based Southern Agrarians * John Pelham, celebrated Confederate officer *
Neel Reid Joseph Neel Reid (October 23, 1885 – February 14, 1926), also referred to as Neel Reid, was a prominent architect in Atlanta, Georgia, in the early 20th century as a partner in his firm Hentz, Reid and Adler. Reid was born in Jacksonville, Al ...
, prominent early-twentieth century architect


References


External links


City of Jacksonville official websiteJacksonville City SchoolsKitty Stone Elementary SchoolJacksonville High SchoolJacksonville State University
{{authority control Cities in Alabama Cities in Calhoun County, Alabama Populated places established in 1833 1833 establishments in Alabama