Rogersville, Alabama

Rogersville, Alabama
Town
Location of Rogersville in Lauderdale County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°49′24″N87°17′8″W / 34.82333°N 87.28556°W / 34.82333; -87.28556
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Lauderdale
Government
• Mayor	Richard Herston
Area [1]
• Total	3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2)
• Land	3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	646 ft (197 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,286
• Density	424.00/sq mi (163.71/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35652
Area code	256
FIPS code	01-66216
GNIS feature ID	2407235 [2]

Rogersville is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2018 census, the population of the town is 1,231, up from 1,199 in 2000.

History

The town became an incorporated municipality on February 2, 1858. ^[3] Originally known as "Rodgersville", it took its name from Andrew and Patience Rodgers of South Carolina who moved into the area and purchased 79.8 acres (323,000 m²) at a public land sale in Huntsville on May 3, 1818. Their land eventually became what is now the downtown business district. ^[4] When the Rogersville Post Office was established on October 4, 1825, with Thomas Cunningham as the postmaster, the 'd' was dropped from the town's name and it has been known as Rogersville ever since. ^[3]

The town became a popular trading center due in part to its location near the intersection of three early thoroughfares, U.S. 72, Snake Road and Lamb's Ferry Road. U.S. 72, which now connects Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee, was once part of an Indian trail from Ditto's Landing on the Tennessee River south of Huntsville and was used to bypass the Muscle Shoals river barrier. Snake Road leads out of Rogersville into neighboring Limestone County and provided passage from Florence to Athens by way of a shallow ford across Elk River. Lamb's Ferry Road was named for John Lamb who moved from Indian Creek in Giles County, Tennessee in 1816 to establish a ferry across the Tennessee River south of what would later become Rogersville. Lamb's Ferry became an important river port where boats from Knoxville and other points on the upper Tennessee River would unload supplies that were taken over land to areas around Pulaski, TN. ^[5]

Geography

Rogersville is located at 34°49′24″N87°17′8″W / 34.82333°N 87.28556°W / 34.82333; -87.28556 (34.823444, -87.285693). ^[6] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	435		—
1880	61		−86.0%
1920	397		—
1930	445		12.1%
1940	508		14.2%
1950	531		4.5%
1960	766		44.3%
1970	950		24.0%
1980	1,224		28.8%
1990	1,125		−8.1%
2000	1,199		6.6%
2010	1,257		4.8%
2020	1,286		2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 2013 Estimate [8]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,199 people, 536 households, and 361 families in the town. The population density was 389.6 inhabitants per square mile (150.4/km²). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 196.3 per square mile (75.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.08% White, 5.67% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[9] Of the 536 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 31.2% of households were one person and 19.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.79.

The age distribution was 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median household income was $29,779 and the median family income was $37,639. Males had a median income of $30,852 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,435. About 10.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 1,257 people, 555 households, and 342 families in the town. The population density was 405.5 inhabitants per square mile (156.6/km²). There were 639 housing units at an average density of 206.1 per square mile (79.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.2% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[10] Of the 555 households 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.6% of households were one person and 18.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median household income was $32,727 and the median family income was $44,803. Males had a median income of $44,219 versus $38,229 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,605. About 12.2% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Rogersville racial composition ^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	1,117	86.86%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	65	5.05%
Native American	5	0.39%
Asian	10	0.78%
Pacific Islander	2	0.16%
Other/Mixed	54	4.2%
Hispanic or Latino	33	2.57%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,286 people, 603 households, and 356 families residing in the town.

Education

It is in the Lauderdale County School District. ^[12] The area high school is Lauderdale County High School.

Notable people

• Susan Parker, 37th Alabama State Auditor
• Larry Woods, former NFL player
• Robert Woods, former NFL offensive tackle

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rogersville, Alabama
3. Bayles, Arthur and Robbie. "General Trends of the Town of Rogersville on the Move" On file with the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce
4. McDonald, William L. Rogersville Played Key Role in Settlement of Lauderdale County, TimesDaily (August 3, 2003), p. 18G
5. McDonald, William L. Rodgers Family Namesake of City, TimesDaily (August 12, 2007), p. 7F
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013" . Retrieved June 3, 2014.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 30, 2015.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
12. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lauderdale County, AL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 11–12, 17-18 (PDF pp. 12-13, 18-19/21). Retrieved June 25, 2024. - Text list

External links

• Virtual Tour of Rogersville
• Rogersville Public Library
• Joe Wheeler State Park