Colony, Alabama

Colony, Alabama
Town
Location of Colony in Cullman County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°56′42″N86°53′58″W / 33.94500°N 86.89944°W / 33.94500; -86.89944
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Cullman
Area [1]
• Total	2.17 sq mi (5.63 km2)
• Land	2.16 sq mi (5.60 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	456 ft (139 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	264
• Density	122.00/sq mi (47.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	01-16684
GNIS feature ID	1669444

Colony is a town in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 268, ^[2] down from 385 in 2000. Colony is a historically African-American town. In its early days it was a haven for African Americans in the Deep South. It incorporated in 1981.

Geography

Colony is located in southern Cullman County at 33°56′42″N86°53′58″W / 33.94500°N 86.89944°W / 33.94500; -86.89944 (33.945011, -86.899465), ^[3] about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River. The town is located along Alabama State Route 91, approximately one mile west of Interstate 65.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), of which 0.008 square miles (0.02 km²), or 0.40%, is water. ^[2]

History

Colony most likely was originally established soon after the emancipation of slaves after the Civil War, during Reconstruction. It is believed that the original settlers of the town were most likely freed slaves from Baltimore, Alabama. It is the only African American community in Cullman County, which was founded in 1873, ^[4] and was considered a safe haven for Blacks at a time when other cities with white majorities were considered dangerous for Blacks, and referred to as 'sundown' cities ^[4] because after sundown Blacks were in danger there. ^[5] Those that originally settled there were given land as compensation for being slaves, with over 8,000 acres eventually cultivated as farm land. ^[6]

In the early days of Colony it was not considered part of Cullman County because the freed Blacks were not welcome. But when coal mines began to open adjacent to Colony the leaders of Cullman County wanted to incorporate the coal mines into the county for economic reasons, and were forced to add Colony as well. ^[4] Colony was incorporated as a town in 1981 during the tenure of Mayor Earlene Johnson. ^[5] The town celebrates Colony Day annually in August. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	298		—
2000	385		29.2%
2010	268		−30.4%
2020	264		−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

2020 census

Colony racial composition ^[8]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	31	11.74%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	220	83.33%
Native American	1	0.38%
Asian	1	0.38%
Other/Mixed	8	3.03%
Hispanic or Latino	3	1.14%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 264 people, 188 households, and 123 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 385 people, 130 households, and 99 families residing in the town. The population density was 171.6 inhabitants per square mile (66.3/km²). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 68.6 per square mile (26.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 5.71% White, 93.51% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.26% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 130 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,708, and the median income for a family was $35,417. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $19,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,415. About 12.0% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 41.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

• James C. Fields, member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 2008 to 2010

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Colony town, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. Miles, Kyra (September 28, 2022). "A county that once barred Black people holds a town that was a safe haven for them". NPR.org. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
5. cullmansense (April 7, 2015). "A Brief History of Colony, Alabama". The Cullman Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
6. "Colony". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
8. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

33°56′42″N86°53′58″W / 33.945011°N 86.899465°W / 33.945011; -86.899465