Editing Demopolis, Alabama (section)

===20th century===
[[File:White Bluff at Demopolis in 1903.jpg|thumb|[[White Bluff (Demopolis, Alabama)|White Bluff]] at Demopolis in 1903]]
[[File:John Quill at Webb's Landing in Demopolis in 1912.jpg|thumb|The ''John Quill'' at Webb's Landing in Demopolis in 1912]]
The struggle to rebuild the economy of Demopolis and the surrounding region continued into the 20th century. The growing, trading, and [[cotton mill|milling]] of cotton continued to be a major basis of the economy up until the [[World War I]]-era. The [[boll weevil]] infestations of the 1920s and the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] of the 1930s finally ended the one-crop farming system.<ref name="demhist">{{cite web|url=http://www.demopolisal.gov/our_history.html |title=History of Demopolis |publisher=City of Demopolis |access-date=May 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721035339/http://www.demopolisal.gov/our_history.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |df=mdy}}</ref>

Demopolis had [[electric light]]s, [[water supply|water works]] and a [[sewerage]] system, [[chert]]-covered streets, paved sidewalks, and a [[fire department]] by the second decade of the 20th century. It was increasingly serving as a major banking and retail hub in the region during this time. Major financial institutions included the Commercial National Bank, City Bank and Trust Company, and [[Robertson Banking Company]]. One of the first large [[department store]]s of note in the area, Mayer Brothers, built its three-story brick building across from the public square in 1897 and operated for most of the 20th century. That building is now utilized by Robertson Banking Company. The Rosenbush Furniture Company was established in 1895 and operated until 2002.<ref name="rosenbush">{{cite web|url=http://dhs.demopolis.ws/A%20town%27s%20last%20Jew.htm |title=A Town's Last Jew Provides a Legacy of Generosity |first=Andrew |last=Muchin |publisher=Yesterdays of Demopolis |access-date=June 1, 2011 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052154/http://dhs.demopolis.ws/A%20town%27s%20last%20Jew.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> The J. H. Spight Grocery was established in 1901 as one of the earliest and most successful [[grocery store]]s for more than 50 years, prior to the era of corporate chain stores. Although the community had many newspapers throughout its first 100 years, the only one to survive into the 21st century, ''The Demopolis Times'', was established in 1904.<ref name="demhist"/><ref>{{harvp|Owen|Owen|1921|pp=482–483}}.</ref>

[[File:Braswell Opera House in Demopolis in 1907.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the Braswell Opera House in 1907]]
Theaters sprang up in the city, beginning in the late 19th century. Rooster Hall, following its incarnations as a church, courthouse, and then a city property, was leased for use as the Demopolis Opera House from 1876 to 1902. It hosted live dramatic performances, civic lectures, and [[minstrel show]]s. The [[Braswell Opera House]], with its ornate interior and private [[box (theatre)|box galleries]], opened on October 23, 1902, with a performance of Louisiana playwright [[Epsy William]]'s ''Unorna'', from [[Francis Marion Crawford]]'s ''The Witch of Prague''.  It continued as an entertainment venue into the 1920s and was eventually demolished in 1972–73. The first theater built for the presentation of motion pictures, the Elks Theater, opened on October 1, 1915. It was renamed the Si-Non in 1916. The building was restored during the 1990s.<ref name="histmarkersmarengo">{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.alabama.gov/aha/markers/marengo.html |title=Historic Markers: Marengo County |work=The Alabama Historical Association |publisher=Alabama Department of Archives and History |access-date=June 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620074811/http://www.archives.alabama.gov/aha/markers/marengo.html |archive-date=June 20, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the demise of cotton production, beef cattle farming and, more recently, [[aquaculture of catfish|catfish aquaculture]] became new major agricultural pursuits. Industrial activities became the major sources of employment by mid-century, with the cement, [[lumber]], and paper industries playing a prominent role in the city's economy into the 21st century.<ref name="demhist"/>