Editing Ashville, Alabama

{{Short description|City in and county seat of St. Clair County, Alabama}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ashville, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = File:St. Clair County Courthouse in Ashville, Alabama.JPG
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = St. Clair County Courthouse in Ashville
|image_flag               = Flag of Ashville, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Ashville, Alabama.png
|image_map                = File:St. Clair County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ashville Highlighted 0102908.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Ashville in St. Clair County, Alabama.
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alabama
|pushpin_label = Ashville
|pushpin_map = Alabama#USA#North America
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Derrick Mostella
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 19.40
|area_land_sq_mi          = 19.21
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.19
|elevation_ft             = 577
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2346
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 122.10
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|33.837|-86.255|type:city_region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35953
|area_codes                = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205, 659]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-02908
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0164539
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityofashville.org/}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 50.25
|area_land_km2 = 49.76
|area_water_km2 = 0.49
|population_density_km2 = 47.14
}}
'''Ashville''' is a city<ref>[https://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/index.html U.S. Census change list] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806133317/http://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/index.html |date=August 6, 2010 }}</ref> in and one of the [[county seat]]s of [[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair County]], [[Alabama]], United States,<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> other seat being [[Pell City, Alabama|Pell City]]. Its population was 2,212 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], down from 2,260, at which time it was a town. It incorporated in 1822.<ref name="encyclopediaofalabama.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2562|title=Ashville}}</ref>

==History==
Ashville was initially founded as the community of St. Clairsville, but the name was changed to honor John Ash, the first white settler of the area who arrived in 1817.<ref name="encyclopediaofalabama.org"/> He became the first county judge and later state senator. His log cabin stands in the city center. Philip Coleman originally owned the land on which the town stands, but he sold 30 acres to the five county commissioners, which included Ash, who was appointed by Gov. [[Thomas Bibb]] to establish a new county seat for St. Clair. It was designated the county seat in 1821 and the village incorporated in 1822. The first courthouse, also a log structure, was built two years later. It was replaced in 1844 with the current courthouse building.

In 1890, a group of investors organized the Tennessee River, Ashville and Coosa Railroad Company, and planned to build a railroad line from [[Sheffield, Alabama|Sheffield]] to [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]] via Ashville. It managed to build to Ashville from [[Whitney, Alabama|Whitney]], connecting the town to the [[Alabama Great Southern Railroad]]. However, it went bankrupt during the mid-1890s, and the tracks were dismantled and sold for scrap.<ref>Poor's Manual of the Railroads of the United States, Vol. 27 1894</ref>

Electric lights came to Ashville in 1891, and the first telephone company was chartered in the same year. Residents in the southern half of the county often complained of the difficulty of traveling to Ashville over Backbone Mountain, which divides the county, so the state legislature authorized a satellite county seat to be established in Pell City in 1907 on the southern side of the mountain.

==Geography==
Ashville is located at {{coord|33|50|37|N|86|15|59|W|type:city}} (33.843737, -86.266274).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town had a total area of {{convert|19.4|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|19.3|sqmi}} is land and 0.1 square mile (0.26&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (0.46%) is water.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Ashville has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.	<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=773010&cityname=Ashville%2C+Alabama%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Ashville, Alabama]</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Ashville, Alabama
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 55
|Feb high F = 55
|Mar high F = 66
|Apr high F = 73
|May high F = 83
|Jun high F = 89
|Jul high F = 90
|Aug high F = 90
|Sep high F = 86
|Oct high F = 76
|Nov high F = 64
|Dec high F = 53
|year high F = 73
|Jan low F = 33
|Feb low F = 33
|Mar low F = 43
|Apr low F = 48
|May low F = 56
|Jun low F = 65
|Jul low F = 68
|Aug low F = 67
|Sep low F = 60
|Oct low F = 49
|Nov low F = 38
|Dec low F = 33
|year low F = 49
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.3
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.4
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.4
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.6
|May precipitation inch = 3.6
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.7
|Jul precipitation inch = 5
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.9
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.6
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.6
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.4
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.1
|year precipitation inch = 52.5
|source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=773010&cityname=Ashville%2C+Alabama%2C+United+States+of+America&units=
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
</ref>
|date=November 2013
}}

==Demographics==
===Ashville===
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1860= 117
|1900= 362
|1910= 278
|1920= 349
|1930= 369
|1940= 385
|1950= 494
|1960= 973
|1970= 986
|1980= 1489
|1990= 1494
|2000= 2260
|2010= 2212
|2020= 2346
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="U.S. Decennial Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref><br>2013 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}
Ashville first appeared on the 1860 U.S. Census as an incorporated town.<ref>https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1860/population/1860a-04.pdf?, 1860 AL Census</ref> It would not appear again on the census as a town until 1900. See also precinct below.

===2000 Census data===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|census of 2000]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 2,260 people, 814 households, and 608 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|116.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 905 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the town was 69.42% White, 26.55% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 814 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,509, and the median income for a family was $38,355. Males had a median income of $31,081 versus $21,914 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,867. About 11.4% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|census of 2010]],<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=August 9, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 2,212 people, 793 households, and 597 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|114.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 888 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the town was 75.8% White, 20.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 03% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 793 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,321, and the median income for a family was $34,607. Males had a median income of $32,026 versus $30,033 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $16,419. About 14.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ashville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0102908&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,654
|70.5%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|405
|17.26%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|20
|0.85%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|19
|0.81%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|4
|0.17%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|120
|5.12%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|124
|5.29%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,346 people, 778 households, and 584 families residing in the city.

==Ashville Precinct/Division==
{{US Census population|align=right
|1870= 922
|1880= 1443
|1890= 2017
|1900= 2446
|1910= 2067
|1920= 2289
|1930= 2379
|1940= 2494
|1950= 2423
|1960= 4402
|1970= 4895
|1980= 6347
|1990= 6742
|2000= 8208
|2010= 8449
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="U.S. Decennial Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
The Ashville Beat (St. Clair County 1st Beat) first appeared on the 1870 U.S. Census. In 1890, "beat" was changed to "precinct." In 1960, the precinct was changed to "census division" as part of a general reorganization of counties.<ref>http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf, 1960 AL Census</ref>

==April 27, 2011, tornado==
On the evening of [[2011 Super Outbreak|April 27, 2011]], an EF-4 [[tornado]] ripped through the Shoal Creek Valley community south of Ashville, killing 13 people. The tornado also destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of property including homes, livestock, timberland, and farm equipment. Rescuers from neighboring communities immediately responded after the twister swept through the valley; however, due to the abundance of fallen timber blocking the roads and the remoteness of the community, many victims were forced to wait hours before aid could arrive. Following the devastation, then-Governor [[Robert J. Bentley|Robert Bentley]] visited the community along with officials from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]. The community received both federal and state disaster aid for several weeks following the destructive tornado.

==Education==
*St. Clair County School System
**Ashville Elementary School
***Principal: Shane Parker
****Guidance Counselor: Summer Burke
**Ashville Middle School
*** Principal: Rusty St. John
****Assistant Principal: TBA
****Guidance Counselor: Kerry Montgomery 
**Ashville High School
***Principal: Janet Johnson
****Assistant Principal: TBA
****Guidance Counselor: TBA
***Mascot: Bulldogs - School Colors: Kelly Green, White, and Orange

==Notable people==
* [[Rufus W. Cobb]], [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]] from 1878–1882
* [[John Grass (American football)|John Grass]], Ashville High School: c/o 1985, head football coach for [[Jacksonville State University]]
* [[Howard Hill]], [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] archer, called "The World's Greatest Archer," winning 196 field archery competitions. Also stunt double for actor [[Errol Flynn]]. Buried in Ashville

==See also==
*[[Confederate Monument (Ashville, Alabama)]]

==Photo Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Court Street Ashville Alabama Oct 2014.jpg|[[File:Howard hill grave.jpg|left|thumb|Howard Hill gravesite]]Court Street, Ashville
File:First Baptist Ashville Alabama Oct 2014.jpg|First Baptist Church, Ashville
File:St. Clair County Courthouse Ashville Oct 2014 2.jpg|St. Clair County Courthouse, Ashville
File:St. Clair County Courthouse Ashville Oct 2014 1.jpg|St. Clair County Courthouse, Ashville
File:Inzer House Oct 2014 1.jpg|Inzer House, Ashville
File:Dr. James J. Bothwell House Oct 2014 1.jpg|Dr. James J. Bothwell House, Ashville
File:Judge Elisha Robinson House Oct 2014 1.jpg|Judge Elisha Robinson House, Ashville
File:John Looney House.jpg|John Looney House, Ashville
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://sites.google.com/site/cityofashville/ City website]

{{St. Clair County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in St. Clair County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]