Editing Attalla, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{distinguish|Atala (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Attalla
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "Gateway to Northeast Alabama"<ref>[http://www.attallacity.com City of Attalla official website]</ref>
|image_skyline            = Atalla, Alabama - Aerial (51157940034).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Aerial view of Attalla
|image_seal               = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Attalla, Alabama.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|image_map                = File:Etowah County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Attalla Highlighted 0103028.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Attalla in Etowah County, Alabama.
|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        = [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 18.13
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.00
|area_land_km2            = 18.13
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.00
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 558
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 5827
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 321.46
|population_density_sq_mi = 832.55
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|0|35|N|86|5|54|W|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35954
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-03028
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403130<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403130}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.attallacity.com}}
|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>
}}
[[File:AttallaAlabamaDowntown.jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Attalla]]
'''Attalla''' is a city in [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah County]], [[Alabama]], United States. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], the population was 6,048.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0103028| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Attalla city, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=January 21, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213061602/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0103028| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:AttallaAlabamaPostOffice.jpg|thumb|left|The U.S. Post Office in Attalla was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Etowah County, Alabama|National Register of Historic Places]] on June 21, 1983.]]
The town developed on the area of a former [[Muscogee people|Muscogee]] (Creek) village that was important during the [[Creek War]]. Most of the Creek people were forced out under the [[Indian Removal Act]] of 1830. White European migrants from the coastal areas came into this area to acquire land. The wealthier ones developed cotton plantations based on the labor of enslaved African Americans.

Cherokee people had also lived in this area, after being encroached on in Tennessee and western North Carolina. [[David Brown (translator)|David Brown]] ([[Cherokee]]) was assisted by the Rev. D. S. Butterick in preparing the ''Cherokee Spelling Book'' while he lived here.

Attalla was not founded until 1870; it was established on land donated by W. C. Hammond, a plantation owner. It was incorporated as a city government on February 5, 1872. The town was officially named "Attalla" in 1893, derived from the [[Cherokee language]] word ''otali'' meaning "mountain".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yyMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xDoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5700%2C4457103 | title=The Names Stayed | work=Calhoun Times and Gordon County News | date=August 29, 1990 | access-date=April 29, 2015 | pages=64}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Read |first1=William A. |title=Indian Places Names in Alabama |date=1984 |publisher=[[University of Alabama Press]] |location=Tuscaloosa |isbn=9780817302313 |page=6 |edition=2nd |url=https://www.uapress.ua.edu/9780817302313/indian-place-names-in-alabama/ |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

Railroads served the town and connected it to other markets. When the railroads went into bankruptcy, Attalla's prosperity declined in the late 19th century financial troubles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Attalla is the site of the first hydroelectric dam constructed to provide electricity for a city; it was built in 1887.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://attallacity.com/history| title=Historic Attalla Alabama| publisher=City of Attalla| access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref>

===20th century to present===
[[William Lewis Moore]], a white U.S. postman and civil rights activist, was murdered here on April 23, 1963. He was walking from [[Chattanooga]], [[Tennessee]], to [[Jackson, Mississippi]] to publicize his support of civil rights with a letter for Mississippi Governor [[Ross Barnett]]. The suspected killer, Floyd Simpson, was never charged with the crime.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.npr.org/2013/08/14/211711898/a-postmans-1963-walk-for-justice-cut-short-on-an-alabama-road| title=A Postman's 1963 Walk For Justice, Cut Short On An Alabama Road| publisher=National Public Radio| access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Attalla is in Etowah County at {{coord|34|0|35|N|86|5|54|W|type:city}} (34.009818, -86.098413).<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> It is bordered to the east by the city of [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]], the [[county seat]], and at its southernmost point by [[Rainbow City, Alabama|Rainbow City]].

[[Interstate 59]] runs along the eastern edge of the city, with access from Exits 181 and 183. [[U.S. Route 11]] passes through the center of town as Third Street and runs generally parallel to I-59, leading northeast {{convert|36|mi}} to [[Fort Payne, Alabama|Fort Payne]] and southwest {{convert|58|mi}} to [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]. U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 278|278]] and [[U.S. Route 431|431]] also pass through the center of Attalla, leading east {{convert|5|mi|0}} to downtown Gadsden. US 431 runs north {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Albertville, Alabama|Albertville]], while US 278 leads west {{convert|47|mi}} to [[Cullman, Alabama|Cullman]]. [[Alabama State Route 77]] passes through the southern section of Attalla, leading north {{convert|3|mi|0}} to US 431 and southeast {{convert|6|mi|0}} to Rainbow City.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|18.1|km2|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010"/> Big Wills Creek, a tributary of the [[Coosa River]], flows southeasterly through the city. The southern end of [[Lookout Mountain]] rises to the east overlooking the city.

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1880= 351
|1890= 1254
|1900= 1692
|1910= 2513
|1920= 3462
|1930= 4585
|1940= 4885
|1950= 7537
|1960= 8257
|1970= 7510
|1980= 7737
|1990= 6859
|2000= 6592
|2010= 6048
|2020= 5827
|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>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 6,795 people, 2,672 households, and 1,976 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|988.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of {{convert|436.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 78.42% White, 13.5% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<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>
Of the 2,620 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median household income was $27,444 and the median family income  was $39,549. Males had a median income of $30,605 versus $19,693 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,727. About 16.4% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 6,048 people, 2,442 households, and 1,627 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|983.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,841 housing units at an average density of {{convert|424|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 81.5% White, 12.7% Black or African American, .4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 4.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 23, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
Of the 2,442 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.8% of households were one person and 13.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.07.

The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median household income was $32,426 and the median family income  was $35,934. Males had a median income of $33,428 versus $25,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,457. About 13.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Attalla racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0103028&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|4,337
|74.43%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|774
|13.28%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|13
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|33
|0.57%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|333
|5.71%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|337
|5.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,827 people, 2,151 households, and 1,364 families residing in the city.

==Attalla Precinct/Division (1880-1970)==

The Attalla Beat (Etowah County 17th Beat) first appeared on the 1880 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> In 1980, Attalla census division was consolidated with [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]] census division.

== Education ==
The Attalla City School System is the public [[school district]]. As of 2006, it has some 1,823 students.<ref>[http://www.attalla.k12.al.us/ Attalla City Schools]</ref>

The district includes the following schools:
* Attalla Elementary School (Grades Pk-5)
* Etowah Middle School (Grades 6–8)
* [[Etowah High School (Alabama)|Etowah High School]] (Grades 9-12)

The system formerly had Alma Hinson Junior High School. In 1962, the editor of ''The Etowah News Journal'' described the school as having a "nothing short of excellent" curricula and "a bright exception" to problems in other schools in the system.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hinson Junior High: A Bright Exception|newspaper=[[The Etowah News-Journal]]|place=Attalla, Alabama|date=November 22, 1962|volume=12|issue=28|page=1}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102018942/ Clipping] from [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

==Transportation==
Etowah County Rural Transportation provides [[dial-a-ride]] bus service throughout the city and county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etowahcounty.org/department/rural-transportation/|title=Etowah County Rural Transportation|access-date=November 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Gerald William Barrax]] (1933–2019), poet and educator
*[[Betty Kelly]] (born September 16, 1944), member of Motown girl group [[Martha and the Vandellas]]
*[[Larry Means]] (born April 20, 1947), former member of the [[Alabama Senate]] and current mayor
*[[Patrick Nix]] (born April 7, 1972), former [[Auburn University]] quarterback
*[[Tyrone Nix]] (born September 30, 1972), defensive coordinator for the [[Ole Miss Rebels]]
*[[Derrick Nix (American football)|Derrick Nix]] (born February 22, 1980), defensive coordinator for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]
*[[B. L. Noojin]] (1885–1950), [[athlete]], educator, and politician
*[[Albert Staton]] (1899–1980), basketball and football player for [[Georgia Institute of Technology]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:4th Street Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|4th Street, Attalla
File:Bank of Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|Bank of Attalla
File:Historic Alabama Power Company sign, Attalla, Alabama LCCN2010640595.tif|Historic Alabama Power Company sign, Attalla
File:5th Avenue Attalla Oct 2014 1.jpg|5th Avenue, Attalla
File:5th Avenue Attalla Oct 2014 2.jpg|5th Avenue, Attalla
File:Country Music Opera House Oct 2014.jpg|Country Music Opera House, Attalla
File:First United Methodist Church Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|First United Methodist Church, Attalla
File:Seven Cedars Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|Seven Cedars, Attalla
File:Houses on 5th Avenue Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|Houses on 5th Avenue, Attalla
File:Walker's Drug Store building Attalla Oct 2014.jpg|Walker's Drug Store building, Attalla
File:Old Attalla Elementary School Oct 2014 2.jpg|Old Attalla Elementary School
</gallery>

==References==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

===References===
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.attallacity.com/ City of Attalla official website]

{{Coord|display=title|34.009818|-86.098413}}

{{Etowah County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Alabama placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Etowah County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 11]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Alabama]]