Enterprise, Alabama | |
---|---|
Motto(s): "City of Progress" "Retirement City USA" | |
Coordinates: 31°19′39″N85°50′40″W / 31.32750°N 85.84444°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama |
Counties | Coffee and Dale |
Founded | 1896 |
Government | |
• Mayor | William “Bill” Cooper |
Area | |
• Total | 31.02 sq mi (80.35 km2) |
• Land | 30.96 sq mi (80.18 km2) |
• Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,711 |
• Density | 927.42/sq mi (358.08/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP Code | 36330-36331 |
Area code | 334 |
FIPS code | 01-24184 |
GNIS feature ID | 0118005 |
Website | www |
Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee County and the southwestern part of Dale County in Southeastern Alabama, United States. Its population was 28,711 at the 2020 census. [2] Enterprise is the primary city of the Enterprise micropolitan statistical area (with the portion of the city in Dale County part of the Ozark micropolitan statistical area). It was originally a part of Enterprise–Ozark micropolitan area before being split; [3] for a longer while it was originally part of the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark combined statistical area but is now its own separate primary statistical area in later censuses. [4] [5]
Enterprise is famous for the Boll Weevil Monument, a large monument of a woman holding a boll weevil, in the middle of Main Street. The city erected the statue because the destruction of the cotton crop by the boll weevil had led to agricultural diversity, starting with peanuts and more prosperity than had ever come from cotton alone. It is the only statue to an insect pest in the world. Enterprise is right outside the U.S. Army's Fort Novosel, the home of Army Aviation.
Enterprise is home to Enterprise State Community College.
The founder of Enterprise, John Henry Carmichael, first settled there in 1881. Carmichael opened a store, which attracted more settlers to the area, and by the next year, a post office was relocated from the settlement of Drake Eye to the north to Enterprise. In 1896, with 250 people having settled there, the city of Enterprise incorporated. Soon afterward, the Alabama Midland Railway came to Enterprise, bringing with it opportunities for commerce and growth. By 1906, its population had grown to 3,750. [6]
Enterprise's way of life came under threat in 1915. An infestation of boll weevils found its way into the region's cotton crops, resulting in the destruction of most of the cotton in Coffee County. Facing economic ruin, the nearly bankrupt area farmers were forced to diversify, planting peanuts and other crops in an effort to lessen the damage and recoup some of their losses. [6]
Two years later, Coffee County was the United States' leading producer of peanuts. Not only did Enterprise stave off disaster, but its economy was renewed by the thriving new crop base. In appreciation, the people of Enterprise erected a monument in the city center to what the monument calls their "herald of prosperity", the boll weevil. [7] The Boll Weevil Monument was dedicated on December 11, 1919, as a reminder of how the city adjusted in the face of adversity. It is the only monument to an agricultural pest in the world. [6]
In the early afternoon of March 1, 2007, Enterprise was struck by a violent EF4 tornado. [8] The tornado caused nine deaths and injured over 121 others. Damage in Enterprise was estimated at nearly $307 million, the worst disaster in the city's history.
The most severe damage occurred at Enterprise High School, where eight students died after a hallway was destroyed and the wall collapsed on them. The students were Michael Bowen (16), Andrew (AJ) Jackson (16), Ryan Mohler (16), Peter Dunn lll (16), Michael (Mikey) Tompkins (17), Jamie Vidensek (17), Michelle Wilson (16) and Kathryn Strunk (16). Enterprise resident Edna Strickland was killed in her home near the high school, the ninth fatality from the tornado. A quarter mile-wide swath through the downtown area was devastated, with at least 370 houses damaged or destroyed. The National Guard was called into the city; a dusk-to-dawn curfew was implemented immediately after the disaster. President Bush arrived the morning of March 3 and immediately declared Coffee County a disaster area. An AmeriCorps team was sent to the city to help organize and participate in disaster relief.
After the tornado, Enterprise High School students attended classes at the local community college, where trailers were used as temporary additional classrooms. The high school was rebuilt on a new site on the west end of Boll Weevil Circle and opened on August 23, 2010, at a cost of over $80 million. The new high school has structurally reinforced safe rooms and areas to shelter during severe weather and is rated to withstand winds from an EF5 tornado. [9] [10]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 610 | — | |
1910 | 2,322 | 280.7% | |
1920 | 3,013 | 29.8% | |
1930 | 3,702 | 22.9% | |
1940 | 4,353 | 17.6% | |
1950 | 7,288 | 67.4% | |
1960 | 11,410 | 56.6% | |
1970 | 15,591 | 36.6% | |
1980 | 18,033 | 15.7% | |
1990 | 20,123 | 11.6% | |
2000 | 21,178 | 5.2% | |
2010 | 26,562 | 25.4% | |
2020 | 28,711 | 8.1% | |
2021 (est.) | 29,395 | 2.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [11] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 16,840 | 58.65% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,789 | 20.16% |
Native American | 147 | 0.51% |
Asian | 779 | 2.71% |
Pacific Islander | 46 | 0.16% |
Other/Mixed | 1,691 | 5.89% |
Hispanic or Latino | 3,419 | 11.91% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,711 people, 10,744 households, and 7,461 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 census, 26,562 people, 10,513 households, and 7,196 families resided in the city. The population density was 850 inhabitants per square mile (330/km2). The 11,616 housing units averaged 371.1 per mi2 (143.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.4% White, 20.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.8% of the population.
Of the 10,513 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were not families. About 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the age distribution was 25.4% under 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years or older. The median age was 34.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,042, and the median income for a family was $63,036. Males had a median income of $45,556 versus $31,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,185. About 13.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 census, 21,178 people, 8,533 households, and 5,973 families were residing in the city. The population density was 684.2 inhabitants per square mile (264.2/km2). The 9,641 housing units averaged 311.5 per square mile (120.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.62% White, 22.95% African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.88% of the population.
Of the 8,533 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were not families. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the age distribution was 25.4% under 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,661, and for a family was $45,510. Males had a median income of $37,131 versus $20,560 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,493. About 10.4% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Enterprise is served by Enterprise City Schools. It is also home to Enterprise State Community College, [13] formerly known as Enterprise State Junior College. [14] A two-year college, the Enterprise campus is home to the Boll Weevils.
Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department. Paul Theodore Arlt was an artist with the Section of Fine Arts and painted the post office mural, The Section, in the Enterprise post office in 1941. The post office was torn down in 1991, but Arlt's mural, Saturday in Enterprise was preserved and now hangs in the Enterprise Public Library. [15]
Weevil Way is a community art project with a series of 30 boll weevil statues decorated or dressed to represent the local landmarks or businesses where they stand. [16] [17] One of these statues, specifically the statue named "Ronald McWeevil" located at a local McDonalds, ended up going viral online. [18]
A weekly newspaper, The Southeast Sun , had been published since 1982 but is no longer publishing. [19] The Enterprise Ledger is published Tuesday–Friday and Sunday and has been in circulation since 1898. [20]
The song "Your Guardian Angel" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is dedicated to the eight students who lost their lives when a tornado hit the high school. The twister claimed 9 lives and destroyed Enterprise High School. The song "Held In His Love" by The Springs (band) was written by Stewart Halcomb, a student inside Enterprise High School on March 1, 2007, and dedicated to the eight friends he lost that day. [21]
Enterprise was home to the BamaJam Music Festival featuring multiple acts performing on different stages in three days. Attendance has reached as high as 100,000 each night. In 2008, headliners included Hank Williams, Jr., ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Trace Adkins, and in 2009, headliners included Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, The Black Crowes, and Kid Rock. [22]
BamaJam 2011 was canceled, but the show returned to BamaJam Farms in June 2012 with Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, the Zac Brown Band, Sheryl Crow, and Kid Rock. [23]
Enterprise is located at 31° 19′ 39″ N, 85° 50′ 40″ W (31.3275 N, -85.844444 W). [24]
Major highways that run through the city include U.S. Route 84 and Alabama State Routes 27, 134, and 167. US 84 runs through the northern part of the city along Boll Weevil Circle, leading northwest 16 mi (26 km) to Elba, the Coffee County seat, and east 9 mi (14 km) to Daleville. SR 167 runs north to south on the eastern side of the city on Boll Weevil Circle, leading north 26 mi (42 km) to SR 87 south of Troy and southeast 18 mi (29 km) to Hartford. SR 134 runs west 26 mi (42 km) to Opp.
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The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Enterprise has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [25] The temperatures are moderated by its proximity to the Gulf Coast, and is part of the Wiregrass Region of Southern Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The temperatures are usually not dissimilar from the Florida panhandle area.
It is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8B with an average minimum temperature of 15 to 20 (F). [26] As a result of its mild to warm climate, palm trees such as Butia capitata, Sabal palmetto, Phoenix canariensis, Cycas revoluta, and Trachycarpus fortunei are widely grown throughout the city. Hurricanes and Tornadoes are common here as occasionally hurricanes can reach as far inland as Enterprise and tornadoes also can exist in Enterprise. Hurricane Eloise (1975) and Hurricane Opal (1995) caused extensive damage to the city.
Climate data for Enterprise, Alabama (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) | 84 (29) | 89 (32) | 93 (34) | 100 (38) | 104 (40) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 103 (39) | 101 (38) | 90 (32) | 82 (28) | 104 (40) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61.0 (16.1) | 64.9 (18.3) | 71.9 (22.2) | 78.2 (25.7) | 85.7 (29.8) | 90.1 (32.3) | 91.5 (33.1) | 91.1 (32.8) | 88.0 (31.1) | 80.5 (26.9) | 70.6 (21.4) | 62.9 (17.2) | 78.0 (25.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 49.3 (9.6) | 53.1 (11.7) | 59.6 (15.3) | 65.6 (18.7) | 73.7 (23.2) | 79.2 (26.2) | 81.1 (27.3) | 80.8 (27.1) | 77.1 (25.1) | 68.4 (20.2) | 58.2 (14.6) | 51.5 (10.8) | 66.5 (19.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.6 (3.1) | 41.3 (5.2) | 47.2 (8.4) | 53.1 (11.7) | 61.6 (16.4) | 68.4 (20.2) | 70.8 (21.6) | 70.5 (21.4) | 66.1 (18.9) | 56.3 (13.5) | 45.9 (7.7) | 40.2 (4.6) | 54.9 (12.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) | 10 (−12) | 17 (−8) | 30 (−1) | 40 (4) | 49 (9) | 56 (13) | 59 (15) | 39 (4) | 32 (0) | 18 (−8) | 6 (−14) | −1 (−18) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.47 (139) | 4.72 (120) | 5.00 (127) | 4.46 (113) | 3.05 (77) | 5.56 (141) | 7.01 (178) | 5.63 (143) | 4.81 (122) | 2.97 (75) | 4.38 (111) | 4.84 (123) | 57.90 (1,471) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.4 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 6.8 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 97.5 |
Source: NOAA [27] [28] |
Coffee County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,465. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee.
Dale County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 49,326. Its county seat and largest city is Ozark. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale.
Valley is a city in Chambers County, Alabama, United States. Valley was incorporated in 1980 combining the four textile mill villages of Fairfax, Langdale, River View, and Shawmut. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 10,529. The city lies on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River, the state border between Alabama and Georgia. Valley is a pilot city for the Alabama Communities of Excellence program, a non-profit that partners with governments, businesses, and universities to prepare participating communities for a more vibrant future. It is included in the LaGrange, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Greater Atlanta Combined Statistical Area.
Ashland is a city in Clay County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2,037 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clay County.
Clayhatchee is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 589, up from 501 in 2000. It was incorporated in April 1967. It is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Daleville is a city in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 5,295, up from 4,653 in 2000. It is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's nickname is "Gateway to Fort Rucker", as this U.S. Army post is located just north of town. Cairns Army Airfield is located to the south of Daleville on the road to nearby Clayhatchee.
Dothan( DOH-thən) is a city in and the county seat of Houston County in the U.S. state of Alabama. A slight portion of the city extends into Dale and Henry counties. It had a population of 71,072 at the 2020 census, making it Alabama's eighth-largest city by population and the 5th largest in Alabama by total area. It is near the state's southeastern corner, about 20 miles (32 km) west of Georgia and 16 miles (26 km) north of Florida. It is named after the biblical city where Joseph's brothers threw him into a cistern and sold him into slavery in Egypt.
Grimes is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 558, up from 459 in 2000. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Level Plains is a small town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,825. It is part of the Ozark micropolitan statistical area. Level Plains was ranked as a city from 2010 to 2020, but due to a population decline reverted to a town after the 2020 Census.
Midland City is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 2,344. It incorporated in 1890. It is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Napier Field is a town in Dale County, Alabama. At the 2020 census, the population was 409. It is part of the Ozark micropolitan statistical area. The town was originally constructed as a military air base during the Second World War. It is currently adjacent to Dothan Regional Airport. While the airport itself lies within Dothan's city limits, the adjacent housing units and other buildings constitute the incorporated town of Napier Field.
Ozark is a city in and the county seat of Dale County, Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 14,907.
Pinckard is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 582. Pinckard incorporated in 1893 and is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Boaz is a city in Marshall and Etowah counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The Marshall County portion of the city is part of the Albertville Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,107. Boaz was known for its outlet shops.
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 2,497, down from 2,731 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hale County, Alabama, which was not organized until 1867. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Abbeville is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, in the southeast part of Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,358.
Madrid is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census the population was 350, up from 303 in 2000.
Uniontown is a city in Perry County, Alabama, in west-central Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city is 2,107, up 18.7% over 2010. Of the 573 cities in Alabama, Uniontown is the 207th most populous.
The Dothan–Enterprise–Ozark Combined Statistical Area was a CSA made up of five counties in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Alabama. The once statistical area includes one metropolitan area and originally one micropolitan area which then was split off as two. As of the 2010 census, the CSA had a population of 245,838. Currently an updated area called the Dothan-Ozark Combined Statistical area is used instead and Enterprise micropolitan area is now split as its own statistical area.
The Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, was an area consisting of two counties in southeastern Alabama, anchored by the cities of Enterprise and Ozark. As of the 2000 census, the μSA had a population of 92,744.
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