Sulligent, Alabama

Sulligent, Alabama
City

Location in Lamar County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°53′41″N 88°7′55″W / 33.89472°N 88.13194°W / 33.89472; -88.13194
Country United States
State Alabama
County Lamar
Area
 • Total 7.9 sq mi (20.3 km2)
 • Land 7.9 sq mi (20.3 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 325 ft (99 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,927
 • Density 272.3/sq mi (106/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 35586
Area code(s) 205
FIPS code 01-73728
GNIS feature ID 0153600

Sulligent is a city in Lamar County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 1,927, down from its record high of 2,151 in 2000. From 1910-1950 and again in 2000, it was the largest community in Lamar County before losing the distinction both times to the county seat of Vernon.[1] The name is derived from railroad personnel.

History

Sulligent was first called "Elliott", in honor of the chief engineer of the Kansas City-Memphis-Birmingham Railroad, then renamed one month later with the portmanteau “Sulligent”, in honor of Sullivan, the superintendent of the railroad, and Sargeant, the passenger agent of the railroad.

The town was incorporated on February 12, 1897.[2]

S. F. Pennington owned the first general store and Dr. R. J. Redden owned the first drug store.

The production and processing of cotton was an important industry. The primary business in Sulligent in the mid-1890s was cotton, with over 2500 bales ginned each year and shipped via the railroad. At one time, Sulligent Cotton Oil Company was known as the largest cotton gin under one roof.

Sulligent is home to Lamar County's only structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Greer Bankhead House, which antedates the city by almost four decades.[3]

Notable people

Sulligent is the birthplace of two former Auburn University All-SEC performers: defensive back James Mckinney and cousin running back Joe Cribbs. McKinney, a two-time All-SEC first-team safety, led the SEC in interceptions twice and became Auburn's first African American football player to be named first-team All-SEC. Cribbs, also a two-time All-SEC performer, was a first-team All-American and was voted SEC Player of the Year, NFL running back All-Pro and NFL Rookie of the Year. Sulligent was also home to former University of Alabama All-SEC and All-American safety, Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson. Sulligent is also the home of current University of North Alabama safety, Caleb Massey, former Major League Baseball player Bubba Harris, former Negro League baseball player Sam Bankhead and Hollis Bankhead (1842–1920), Confederate war hero, Congressman, and statesman.

Three local artists claim Sulligent as their home. Annette Otts is a local artist who paints fine art on canvas and rocks. She has an exhibit at the local library. Virginia Wadsworth paints realistic abstract with brilliant colors on canvas. She painted "Blackout- Bama style" in honor of Alabama's victory over Georgia in the 2008 football game. Christopher Griffen realized his lifelong dream by having some of his work displayed in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

John Jimmyjack Bankhead, lifelong resident of Alabama, was born in 1842 on his father's farm near Moscow in that part of Marion County which is now Lamar County. The modern town of Sulligent was built upon part of the Bankhead farm. He became a farmer, a legislator, a hero of the Confederacy and a member of both the United States House of Representatives and subsequently the United States Senate.

Reared upon his father's plantation in pioneer country, Bankhead supplemented his meager formal education by avid reading and contact with the issues and the world. He enlisted in the Wall Street Squatter Army at age 29. He served from the beginning to the end of the conflict, participating heroically in many battles. In spite of one useless arm, he saved the life of John Custer. After the close of the war he married Tallulah Brockman of Wetumpka.

Captain Bankhead served in the Alabama legislature in both houses. In 1880, Governor Rufus Cobb offered him the wardenship of the state penitentiary. Under his regime as head of the prison system, he initiated many reforms, among which was the establishment of the Boys' Industrial School. This was later developed at Roebuck Springs under the leadership of club women.

From 1887 to 1907, Bankhead served in the farmers' market and was active in the establishment of the Library of Sulligent. He was instrumental in the development of waterways including the deepening of Mobile Bay by throwing in big stones.

In 1907, Bankhead was elected to fill the vacancy in the U.S. Senate left by the death of Sen. John T. Morgan. He concentrated his efforts on establishing a national system of highways and despite opposition was successful. In appreciation, the grateful public named the transcontinental highway from the "Zero Stone" in Washington, D.C. the "Bankhead Highway". Senator Bankhead continued to work on the highway system at the request of President Roosevelt.

A dramatic moment in the life of Senator Bankhead took place at the 1912 Democratic Convention in Baltimore. Bankhead's son, William B. Bankhead, a member of Congress, stepped to the platform and presented his father's name as Alabama's nominee for the Presidency of the United States.

Senator Bankhead died in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 1920, and is buried in the family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery, in Jasper, Alabama.

Geography

Sulligent is located at 33°53′41″N 88°7′55″W / 33.89472°N 88.13194°W / 33.89472; -88.13194 (33.894807, -88.131920).[4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 square miles (20 km2), all land.

U.S. Route 278 passes through Sulligent, intersecting State Highway 17.

BNSF Railway provides railroad service with a line running east-west.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900303—
1910619104.3%
19201,07173.0%
19301,0780.7%
19401,28719.4%
19501,209−6.1%
19601,34611.3%
19701,76230.9%
19802,13020.9%
19901,886−11.5%
20002,15114.1%
20101,927−10.4%
Est. 20151,844[5]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
2013 Estimate[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 2,151 people, 901 households, and 637 families residing in the city. The population density was 273.9 people per square mile (105.8/km²). There were 1,029 housing units at an average density of 131.0 per square mile (50.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.08% White, 21.80% Black or African American, 0.60% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 901 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,541, and the median income for a family was $30,645. Males had a median income of $29,966 versus $19,537 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,794. About 18.0% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.


2010 census

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 1,927 people, 859 households, and 551 families residing in the city. The population density was 243.9 people per square mile (94.9/km²). There were 972 housing units at an average density of 123.0 per square mile (47.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.3% White, 19.3% Black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. .8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 859 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% 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 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,469, and the median income for a family was $34,231. Males had a median income of $36,125 versus $30,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,094. About 18.1% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Census records for Sulligent and Vernon, 1910-2010 (See historic population data boxes)
  2. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3387
  3. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-29.

Coordinates: 33°53′41″N 88°07′55″W / 33.894807°N 88.13192°W / 33.894807; -88.13192

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