Sand Rock, Alabama

"Sand Rock" redirects here. For other uses, see Sandrock (disambiguation).

Sand Rock, Alabama
Town
Motto:  "Built on sand solid as a rock"
Location of Sand Rock in Cherokee County and DeKalb County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°13′57″N85°46′14″W / 34.23250°N 85.77056°W / 34.23250; -85.77056
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Cherokee, DeKalb
Area [1]
• Total	5.07 sq mi (13.13 km2)
• Land	5.07 sq mi (13.13 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	860 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	591
• Density	116.55/sq mi (44.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35983
Area code	256
FIPS code	01-67920
GNIS feature ID	2407282 [2]
Website	www.sandrock-al.org

Sand Rock is a town in Cherokee and DeKalb counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It incorporated in 1988. At the 2020 census, the population was 591.

History

A post office called Sand Rock was established in 1855, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1903. ^[3] Legend has it the city was named after a pioneer sat on a rock upon sandy ground. ^[4]

Geography

Sand Rock is located in western Cherokee County at 34°13'57.115" North, 85°46'13.516" West (34.232532, -85.770421), ^[5] atop Lookout Mountain. A portion of the town extends north into DeKalb County. The town is bordered to the south by the town of Leesburg.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.3 km²), all land. ^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	438		—
2000	509		16.2%
2010	560		10.0%
2020	591		5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 2013 Estimate [8]

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 509 people, 195 households, and 154 families residing in the town. The population density was 112.4 inhabitants per square mile (43.4/km²). There were 215 housing units at an average density of 47.5 per square mile (18.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.41% White, and 0.39% Black or African American.

There were 195 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,179, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $17,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,845. About 10.9% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The first school was a one-room log cabin. Around 1895, the school was moved to a more central location and was built as a two-room school. In 1916, another room was added to accommodate more students. In 1922 a new school building was constructed. It had five rooms including a small library. Slowly the school expanded and added more grades. In 1932, Sand Rock School had its first graduating class. ^[10]

Sand Rock School is part of the Cherokee County School District. Schools in the district include Cedar Bluff School, Centre Elementary School, Gaylesville School, Sand Rock School, Centre Middle School, Cherokee County High School, Spring Garden High School and Cherokee County Career & Technology Center.

It is a K-12 school located in Sand Rock, Alabama. There are approximately 819 students and 54 teachers. The principal is Ben East. The assistant principals are Andrew Jones and Brian Mackey.

The official school web site is http://sr.cherokeek12.org/.

Mitchell Guice is the Superintendent of Schools. ^[11]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sand Rock, Alabama
3. "Cherokee County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
4. "Cherokee County, Ala". Calhoun Times. September 1, 2004. p. 46. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sand Rock town, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
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. "Sand Rock Community History". www.sandrock-al.org. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011.
11. "Cherokee County Schools". Cherokee County Schools. Retrieved June 21, 2012.