Luverne, Alabama

Luverne
City
Downtown Luverne
Nickname:  "Friendliest City in the South" [1]
Location of Luverne in Crenshaw County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 31°42′52″N86°15′48″W / 31.71444°N 86.26333°W / 31.71444; -86.26333
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Crenshaw
Founded	1889
Incorporated	February 6, 1891
Founded by	M.P. Legrand, S.D. Hubbard, and George A. Folmar
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Ed Beasley
Area [2]
• Total	15.67 sq mi (40.60 km2)
• Land	15.65 sq mi (40.53 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	354 ft (108 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,765
• Density	176.71/sq mi (68.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	36049
Area code	334
FIPS code	01-44728
GNIS feature ID	0122110
Website	www.luverne.org

Luverne is a city in and the county seat of Crenshaw County, Alabama, United States. The city describes itself as "The Friendliest City in the South", a slogan that appears on its "welcome" signs. ^[3] At the 2020 census, the population was 2,765.

History

Luverne was one of numerous towns developed in the state as a result of railroad construction.

On July 2, 1880, the Montgomery and Southern Railway was created to construct a new railroad linking Montgomery to the Florida coast. The company completed around 30 miles (48 km) of narrow gauge track by September 18, 1882. The company was reorganized as the Montgomery and Florida Railway in May 1886, and a second time as the Northwest and Florida Railroad in 1888. In November 1888, the railroad reached the site of Luverne in the central part of Crenshaw County, near the Patsaliga River. Now totaling 51 miles (82 km) the line was converted to standard gauge by July 1889 and it was decided to proceed no further. The Alabama Terminal and Improvement Company, a subsidiary of the Alabama Midland Railway , controlled the railroad by 1889 and the line from Montgomery to Luverne was into the network of the latter. ^[4]

The new railroad terminus attracted related development, and the town grew. It was incorporated in 1891, and became a center of timbering in the Piney Woods of southern Alabama, as the land was not fertile enough to be suitable for large-scale cotton plantation agriculture.

In 1893, the citizens of Crenshaw County voted to move the county seat from Rutledge to the more populous Luverne. ^[5]

By the late 1930s, lynchings of African Americans were increasingly conducted in small groups or in secret, rather than in the former mass public displays. ^[6] On June 22, 1940, an African-American man named Jesse Thornton was lynched in Luverne for failing to address a white man with the title of "Mister". He was fatally shot and his body was later found in the Patsaliga River. ^[7] The Equal Justice Initiative documented that the white man Thornton had apparently offended by his Jim Crow infraction was a police officer. ^[8] This was the only lynching recorded in the county.

Geography

Luverne is located at 31°42′52″N86°15′48″W / 31.714427°N 86.263323°W / 31.714427; -86.263323 . ^[9] The town of Rutledge lies along Luverne's western border.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.7 square miles (40.6 km²), of which 15.6 square miles (40.5 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.17%, is water. ^[10]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Luverne has a humid subtropical climate (abbreviated Cfa).

Climate data for Luverne, 1991–2020 simulated normals (341 ft elevation)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	59.2 (15.1)	63.5 (17.5)	70.7 (21.5)	77.2 (25.1)	84.6 (29.2)	89.4 (31.9)	91.4 (33.0)	90.9 (32.7)	87.4 (30.8)	79.0 (26.1)	69.1 (20.6)	61.7 (16.5)	77.0 (25.0)
Daily mean °F (°C)	47.5 (8.6)	51.3 (10.7)	58.1 (14.5)	64.4 (18.0)	72.3 (22.4)	78.8 (26.0)	81.1 (27.3)	80.6 (27.0)	76.5 (24.7)	66.6 (19.2)	56.1 (13.4)	50.4 (10.2)	65.3 (18.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	35.8 (2.1)	39.2 (4.0)	45.3 (7.4)	51.6 (10.9)	60.1 (15.6)	68.0 (20.0)	70.7 (21.5)	70.3 (21.3)	65.5 (18.6)	54.1 (12.3)	43.2 (6.2)	38.8 (3.8)	53.6 (12.0)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.16 (130.98)	4.73 (120.14)	5.28 (134.13)	4.63 (117.69)	3.71 (94.31)	5.25 (133.41)	5.80 (147.36)	5.14 (130.68)	4.26 (108.16)	3.34 (84.75)	4.29 (108.85)	5.31 (134.84)	56.9 (1,445.3)
Average dew point °F (°C)	38.5 (3.6)	41.4 (5.2)	46.0 (7.8)	52.5 (11.4)	60.8 (16.0)	68.2 (20.1)	71.1 (21.7)	70.7 (21.5)	66.2 (19.0)	55.9 (13.3)	46.6 (8.1)	41.9 (5.5)	55.0 (12.8)
Source: PRISM Climate Group [11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	451		—
1900	731		62.1%
1910	1,384		89.3%
1920	1,464		5.8%
1930	1,874		28.0%
1940	2,243		19.7%
1950	2,221		−1.0%
1960	2,238		0.8%
1970	2,440		9.0%
1980	2,639		8.2%
1990	2,555		−3.2%
2000	2,635		3.1%
2010	2,800		6.3%
2020	2,765		−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 2013 Estimate [13]

2000 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2000, there were 2,635 people, 1,107 households, and 710 families living in the city. ^[15] The population density was 212.7 inhabitants per square mile (82.1/km²). There were 1,249 housing units at an average density of 100.8 per square mile (38.9/km²). ^[16] The racial makeup of the city was 70.25% White, 28.43% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[15]

Of the 1,107 households 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together (2.4% same-sex couples), 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 33.8% of households were one person and 19.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85. ^[15]

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.1 males. ^[15]

The median household income was $22,457 and the median family income was $30,950. Males had a median income of $30,680 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,244. About 19.2% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[15]

2010 census

As of the census ^[17] of 2010, there were 2,800 people, 1,135 households, and 729 families living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 62.6% White, 29.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,135 households 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together (2.4% same-sex couples), 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.8% of households were one person and 14.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median household income was $40,602 and the median family income was $51,500. Males had a median income of $43,464 versus $19,483 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,869. About 12.6% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Luverne racial composition ^[18]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	1,707	61.74%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	858	31.03%
Native American	2	0.07%
Asian	37	1.34%
Pacific Islander	2	0.07%
Other/Mixed	119	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino	40	1.45%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,765 people, 1,005 households, and 634 families residing in the city.

Education

• Primary and secondary education

Public education for the city of Luverne is provided by the Crenshaw County School District. There are two schools in the city: Luverne High School (grades K through 12) and Crenshaw Christian Academy, a private, religiously oriented K-12 school.

• Post-secondary education

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College offers certificate and two-year associate degrees at its Luverne location.

Media

• Radio station
  • WHLW 104.3 FM (Gospel)
  • WSMX-FM 100.3 FM (Country/Gospel)
• Newspaper
  • Luverne Journal (weekly)
• Television
  • Hunt Channel TV

Notable people

• Chester Adams, former American football guard
• Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, former member of the Florida House of Representatives
• Wendell Mitchell, Served as a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 30th District from 1974 to 2010
• Donta Hall, NBA basketball player (Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic) and Euroleague & French basketball league (AS Monaco Basket)

Gallery

• 
  The Crenshaw County Courthouse in Luverne
• 
  The Luverne Historic District, bounded by 1st, 6th Streets, Legrande, Glenwood, Folmar, and Hawkins Avenues, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 14, 2005.
• 
  Luverne Post Office (ZIP code: 36049)
• 
  Luverne Fire Department and Furman G. Mitchell Multi-Purpose Center
• 
  Frank Sikes Airport

References

1. Modleski, Tania (1986). Studies in Entertainment: Critical Approaches to Mass Culture . Indiana University Press. p.  68. ISBN   0253355664. luverne friendliest city in the south.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
3. "Location: 42: Luverne, Alabama". Rural Indexing Project. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
4. Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford University Press. p. 304. ISBN   0-8047-1731-1.
5. Sanford, William (December 10, 2009). "Luverne". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
6. Mrs. Jessie Daniels Ames, The Changing Character of Lynching, Commission on Interracial Cooperation, 1942
7. Jessie P. Guzzman & W. Hardin Hughes, “Lynching-Crime,” Negro Year Book: A Review of Events Affecting Negro Life, 1944-1946, 1947; part of National Humanities Center, The Making of African American Identity, Vol. III, 1917-1968; accessed 04 June 2018
8. Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror: Second Edition: Report Summary (PDF). Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative. 2015. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017. In 1940, Jesse Thornton was lynched in Luverne, Alabama, for referring to a white police officer by his name without the title of "mister."
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Luverne city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
11. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University". Northwest Alliance for Computational Science & Engineering (NACSE), based at Oregon State University. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
13. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013" . Retrieved June 3, 2014.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "Fact Sheet- Luverne city, Alabama". American Fast Facts. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.
16. "Geographic Comparison Table- Alabama". American Fast Facts. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010.
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
18. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.

External links

• City of Luverne official website
• Luverne Journal