Arab, Alabama

Arab, Alabama
City
Motto(s): "Proud of our past... embracing the future"

Location of Arab in Cullman County and Marshall County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°19′40″N 86°29′55″W / 34.32778°N 86.49861°W / 34.32778; -86.49861
Country United States
State Alabama
Counties Marshall, Cullman
Named for Arad Thompson
Government
 • Type City Council/Mayor
 • Mayor Bob Joslin
Area[1]
 • Total 13.39 sq mi (34.69 km2)
 • Land 13.26 sq mi (34.35 km2)
 • Water 0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation 1,089 ft (332 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 8,050
 • Estimate (2017)[2] 8,284
 • Density 624.69/sq mi (241.19/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code 35016
Area code(s) 256 , 938
FIPS code 01-02116
GNIS feature ID 0113194
Website www.arabcity.org

Arab (/ˈeɪræb/) is a city in Marshall and Cullman counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located 10 miles (16 km) from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,050.[3]

Etymology

The name of the town was an unintentional misspelling by the U.S. Postal Service in 1882 of the city's intended name, taken from Arad Thompson, the son of the town founder and first postmaster Stephen Tuttle Thompson. Two other names for the town were sent to the Postal Service for consideration: "Ink" and "Bird". Arab has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[4]

History

Arab was incorporated in 1892.[5]

Geography

Arab is located on top of Brindlee Mountain at 34°19′40″N 86°29′55″W / 34.32778°N 86.49861°W / 34.32778; -86.49861 (34.327863, -86.498613).[6] The city is primarily in southern Marshall County; a small portion extends south into Cullman County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.1 square miles (34.0 km2), of which 14.0 square miles (36.3 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 1.02%, is water.[3] The town's elevation is 1,124 feet (343 m) above sea level.

Infrastructure

Electricity service in Arab is provided through Arab Electric Cooperative, which buys power through the Tennessee Valley Authority. Water service in Arab is provided through Arab Water Works, which gets water from Browns Creek in Guntersville Lake. Natural gas is also provided in Arab through Marshall County Gas District, which is based out of Guntersville.

Government

Arab has a mayor-council form of city government consisting of five council members and a mayor. City elections occur every four years, coinciding with the presidential elections. Council seats are at-large and are not associated with districts. Arab City Schools is the public school district.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920264—
193042561.0%
194064050.6%
19501,592148.8%
19602,98987.8%
19704,39947.2%
19806,05337.6%
19906,3214.4%
20007,17413.5%
20108,05012.2%
Est. 20178,284[2]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
2013 Estimate[8]

2000 census data

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 3,012 households, and 2,075 families residing in the city. The population density was 561.8 inhabitants per square mile (216.9/km2). There were 3,223 housing units at an average density of 252.4 square miles (654 km2) . The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,012 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% 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 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,716, and the median income for a family was $45,761. Males had a median income of $32,425 versus $24,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,035. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 8,050 people, 3,359 households, and 2,257 families residing in the city. The population density was 620 inhabitants per square mile (240/km2). There were 3,693 housing units at an average density of 284.1 square miles (736 km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,359 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,435, and the median income for a family was $64,432. Males had a median income of $44,401 versus $40,062 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,986. About 13.3% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 7, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Arab city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ Parker, Quentin (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. Adams Media.
  5. ↑ Foscue, Virginia. Place Names in Alabama. University of Alabama Press, 1989.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  11. ↑ Maze, Steve. "Vernon Derrick". Arab Today Archives. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ Moore, David (March 11, 2009). "Mary Hollis' friends invited to memorial service Sunday". The Arab Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ Cohoon, Rick. "Jill King biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  14. ↑ "Jack Lively Bio". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Stein, Kelsey (December 8, 2013). "Slain country musician Wayne Mills' funeral in Arab will be live-streamed online Sunday afternoon". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved November 30, 2014.

Coordinates: 34°19′40″N 86°29′55″W / 34.327863°N 86.498613°W / 34.327863; -86.498613

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