Opelika, Alabama

Opelika (pronounced ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Opelika is 30,995, an increase of 17.1 percent from the 2010 Census where the population was 26,477. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 150,933, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents.

History

The Opelika area was first settled in 1832 after the Treaty of Cusseta was signed by the U.S. government and the Creek Nation. This treaty placed the land, and all other Creek territories east of the Mississippi River, under the possession of the United States government. Though the territory now belonged to the U.S., Opelika kept its Creek name, which translates to "large swamp", from ''opilwa'' (swamp) and ''lako'' (big).

Two decades after settlement, Opelika was chartered as a town on February 9, 1854, thanks to its rapid growth. This growth was due to the Montgomery & West Point Railroad Company's rail lines, which traversed the town and served as major means of transportation for unprocessed cotton between the northern and southern territories.

Opelika later received a new charter in 1870, and its rapid growth continued. The town nearly doubled in size between 1870 and 1900.

Opelika's downtown was packed with saloons catering to railroad workers and other men. Frequent gunfire in the street by intoxicated patrons resulted in railroads directing their passengers to duck beneath the windows when their trains passed through the town."The Battle Of The Bar-rooms; Murderous Factions Fights In Alabama—Death Of Maloney In Opelika"
''New York Times'', December 15, 1882, accessed April 4, 2016.

In 1882, two factions claimed to rule the city government, one known as the "Bar room" headed by Mayor Dunbar, a saloon keeper, and another known as the "Citizens". In a riot in late November–December of that year, a dozen men were wounded. In the end, a few were killed. The Citizens had claimed control of the city via the elections, but Dunbar refused to give up. After continued violence, the state legislature revoked the city's charter and the governor sent in the militia to restore order. The legislature appointed five commissioners to manage the city, a situation that continued until 1899. That year, the legislature restored the city's charter.

Geography

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,995 people, 11,866 households, and 7,199 families residing in the city.

2010 census

According to 2024 Census estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $58,763.

The per capita income for the city is $33,505. Residents with income under poverty levels are 15%.

Economy

Since 2005, the city experienced new industry investments and existing industry expansions totalling more than $2.6 billion and the creation of over 4,700 additional jobs.

Opelika's largest employer is East Alabama Health, which employs more than 3,700 employees.

Arts and culture

Opelika Public Library opened in 2021, the only public library in the city.

Opelika Community Theatre was founded in 2015.

Parks and recreation

Spring Villa Park, a park in Opelika, features picnic and play areas, nature trails, two disc golf courses, and camping. Spring Villa, an antebellum house located in the park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2019, the city opened the Opelika Pickleball Facility, featuring 24 regulation courts.

In 2009, the City of Opelika built the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatics Center, a $32 million facility.

The RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, is located in Opelika, and has hosted national championships.

Government

Opelika is governed by a mayor-council government, with a mayor and a five-member city council.
The chief executive official of the city of Opelika is the mayor. The mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term. The mayor has complete executive power in the city, and can appoint and dismiss department heads at will.

The mayor of Opelika is Gary Fuller.

In 2007, the city council designated Opelika as a City of Character, to recognize, emphasize and enforce 49 character traits throughout the community, and to mandate character training.

Education

Opelika City Schools is the public school system of Opelika. The Opelika City School System consists of nine schools. There are three primary schools serving grades Kindergarten – 2, three intermediate schools serving grades 3–5, one sixth grade school, one middle school (grades 7&8), and one high school, Opelika High School (grades 9–12).

A campus of Southern Union State Community College—a public, two-year college—is located Opelika.

Media

Opelika is included in the Columbus, Georgia market according to Nielsen. The '' Opelika-Auburn News'' is a city newspaper.

The movie ''Norma Rae'' (1979) was filmed in Opelika.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Lee-Russell Public Transit provides dial-a-ride transit service through Opelika and the region.

The last passenger train service was the Illinois Central Railroad's '' City of Miami'' (Chicago - Miami), having its final run in 1971. The Illinois Central's ''Seminole'' (Chicago - Jacksonville) served Opelika until 1969. Amtrak service is proposed under the American Jobs Plan.

Notable people

* Dusty Slay, public figure and stand-up comedian that has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has his own special on Netflix.

Notes

References

* Alabama State Department of Education.
Accountability Reporting
'. Retrieved June 13, 2004.
* Alabama State Department of Education.
Reports
'. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
* Auburn, Alabama, City of. (2000) ''The City of Auburn, Alabama Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2000''. Finance Department.
* Auburn, Alabama, City of. (2000) ''The City of Auburn Proposed Biennial Budget for FY 05 & FY 06 Budget Message''. Office of the City Manager.
* Center for Demographic Research, Auburn University – Montgomery. U.S. Census Reports for Opelika City for the years 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980.
* Conway Data. (May 2004). Top Groups of 2003. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, fro

Also available in Site Selection magazine (May 2004).
* Department of Industrial Relations, State of Alabama. (1978–2005). Total Nonagricultural Employment for Lee County. Montgomery, Alabama: Author.
* Duran, Rachel (2003). "Automotive Industry in the Driver's Seat", ''Global Corporate Xpansion'', July 1, 2003. Birmingham Ala., Latitude 3 Media Group.
* EDAA Newsletter (Fall 2006). EDAA/SEDC Community Awards Presented at Conference. Economic Development Council of Alabama. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, fro
Economic Development Association of Alabama

* Golf Digest, August 2005 Vol.56, No. 8
* Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (1999). ''Strategic Plan for the City of Opelika''.
* Nunn, Alexander (Ed.) (1983). ''Lee County and Her Forebears''. Montgomery, Ala., Herff Jones. LCCCN 83-081693
* Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005). ''Comprehensive Plan for the City of Opelika''. Opelika, Alabama. Opelika Planning Department.
* Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005).
Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2005
''. Retrieved October 9, 2006.
* Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005).

''. Retrieved August 9, 2005.
* Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. (Summer 2005). Alabama Reading Test Results Show Overall Improvements from 2004 to 2005, but School System Results Vary. ''The PARCA Quarterly'', 3–7.
* Randle, Mike. (Spring 2006). Top Deals & Hot Markets 2006: Alabama and North Carolina: Performing Economic Miracles. Southern Business and Development Magazine. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, fro
Southern Business and Development

* Site Selection online. (May 2006). Top Groups 2005. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, fro
TOP GROUPS 2005-- Site Selection magazine, May 2006
Also available in Site Selection magazine (May 2006).
* Jake Hess, New York Times Obituaries, January 11, 2004.

External links

City of Opelika official website

Opelika Chamber of Commerce

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Cities in Alabama
Cities in Lee County, Alabama
County seats in Alabama
Columbus metropolitan area, Georgia
Auburn metropolitan area, Alabama
Alabama placenames of Native American origin