Editing Boaz, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{other uses|Boaz (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Boaz, Alabama
|settlement_type          = City
|nickname                 = City of Possibilities
|image_skyline            = BOAZ, ALABAMA.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Boaz in 2012
|image_flag               = Flag of Boaz, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = BoazSeal-11.jpg
|image_map                = File:Etowah County and Marshall County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Boaz Highlighted 0107912.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Etowah and Marshall counties, Alabama
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|Counties]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Alabama}}
|subdivision_name2        = [[Marshall County, Alabama|Marshall]], [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]]
|government_type          = Mayor and Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = David Dyar
|established_date         = 1897
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web|title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 37.85
|area_total_sq_mi         = 14.61
|area_land_km2            = 37.68
|area_land_sq_mi          = 14.55
|area_water_km2           = 0.16
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1073
|elevation_m              = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0107912&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Boaz city, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 10107
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_est           = 
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 268.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 694.64
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|12|1|N|86|7|0|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 35957, 35956
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-07912
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403886<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403886}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofboaz.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}

'''Boaz''' is a city in [[Marshall County, Alabama|Marshall]] and [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]] counties in the U.S. state of [[Alabama]]. The Marshall County portion of the city is part of the [[Albertville, Alabama|Albertville]] [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city's population was 10,107.<ref name="Census 2020"/> Boaz was known for its [[outlet store|outlet shops]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Thorton|first=William|date=May 2, 2016|title=Last call for Boaz Outlet Center|url=https://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/2016/05/last_call_for_boaz_outlet_cent.html|website=[[AL.com]]|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

==History==
First settled in the 1850s, the town of Boaz was officially founded November 11, 1878, by the Sparks family of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name="EofA">{{cite encyclopedia|author=James P. Kaetz |url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3178 |title=Boaz |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Alabama]] |access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> A post office has been in operation since 1887.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=AL&county=Marshall | title=Marshall County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref> The city was named after [[Boaz]], from the Bible.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sqYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d9YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3110%2C3238606 | title=Tenbroeck in DeKalb County was named for runaway horse | work=Gadsden Times | date=June 17, 1984 | access-date=October 30, 2015 | pages=B1}}</ref> It was incorporated in 1897.

Prior to World War II, Boaz hosted a primarily cotton-based economy, only diversifying to livestock and poultry with the pressures of boll weevil infestations and the [[Great Depression]]. After the war, Boaz developed a thriving automotive sales industry, which in many instances survives to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boaz |url=https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/boaz/ |access-date=September 26, 2023 |website=Encyclopedia of Alabama |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the early 1980s, the [[VF Corporation]] opened an [[outlet store]] in an abandoned factory, whose success prompted other retailers to open stores. In the late 1980s, Boaz was a [[tourist attraction]] with 130 outlet stores, attracting five million people per year. Retailers moved away from Boaz due to a dwindling customer base, dropping to 80 stores in the early 1990s, with the [[Great Recession]] of the 2000s driving away even more. In 2016, three buildings of the outlet center were demolished.<ref name=":0"/>

The [[Julia Street Memorial United Methodist Church]], [[Snead State Community College|Snead Junior College Historic District]], the [[Thomas A. Snellgrove Homestead]] and the [[Edward Fenns Whitman House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The [[Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]] lists the Boaz Elementary School, the First Baptist Church and Cemetery, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.<ref name="EofA" />

==Geography==
Boaz is located in southeastern Marshall County at {{coord|34|12|10|N|86|9|38|W|type:city}} (34.202793, −86.160457)<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> and extends south into Etowah County. The city sits atop [[Sand Mountain (Alabama)|Sand Mountain]] (a plateau) at {{convert|1080|ft}} above sea level. It is bordered to the north by [[Albertville, Alabama|Albertville]] and to the southeast by [[Sardis City, Alabama|Sardis City]]. [[U.S. Route 431]] passes through the east side of the city, leading north {{convert|16|mi|}} to [[Guntersville, Alabama|Guntersville]] and south {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city of Boaz has a total area of {{convert|14.6|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.06|sqmi|2}}, or 0.43%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> Most of the city drains west to either Slab Creek or Clear Creek, tributaries of the [[Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River]]. The [[Tennessee Valley Divide]] crosses the east side of the city, with the eastern portions of the city draining to Short Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the [[Tennessee River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 253
|1910= 1010
|1920= 1369
|1930= 1691
|1940= 1927
|1950= 3078
|1960= 4654
|1970= 5635
|1980= 7151
|1990= 6928
|2000= 7411
|2010= 9551
|2020= 10107
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Boaz racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0107912&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|7,264
|71.87%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|189
|1.87%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|43
|0.43%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|57
|0.56%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|98
|0.97%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|407
|4.03%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|2,049
|20.27%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 10,107 people, 3,494 households, and 2,197 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 9,551 people, 3,712 households, and 2,479 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|782.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,036 housing units at an average density of {{convert|330.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 87.3% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 14.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,712 households 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.6% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median household income was $31,172 and the median family income was $42,973. Males had a median income of $32,446 versus $27,924 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,697. About 11.7% of families and 16.0 of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 7,411 people, 3,155 households, and 2,085 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|607.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,468 housing units at an average density of {{convert|284.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 93.50% White, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 4.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,155 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of households were one person and 16.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median household income was $25,699 and the median family income was $34,018. Males had a median income of $29,504 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,664. About 13.9% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
In May 2004, five schools broke away from the Marshall County School system and formed the Boaz City School System.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2004|title=Boaz Schools on the Move|url=https://www.waff.com/story/1881686/boaz-schools-on-the-move/|website=[[WAFF (TV)|WAFF]]|access-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203135837/https://www.waff.com/story/1881686/boaz-schools-on-the-move/|archive-date=December 3, 2022|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref>

Boaz is the site of [[Snead State Community College]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Smith|first=Shelley|title=Snead State Community College|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-3118|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Alabama|publisher=Alabama Humanities Foundation|access-date=December 2, 2022|date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>

==Climate==
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]" (Humid Subtropical Climate).

==Notable people==
*[[James Fischer]], engineer who developed high-purity silicon technology for [[Texas Instruments]]
*[[Tim Hodge]], voice actor and director for [[Big Idea Entertainment]]
*[[Jody Hunt]], United States Assistant Attorney General (2018–2020)
*[[Rose Maddox]], [[country music]] singer-songwriter and [[fiddle]] player
*[[Wayne Peterson (racing driver)|Wayne Peterson]], racing driver
*[[Eddie Priest]], former [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]]
*[[John Q. Roberts#Namesake|John Roberts]], [[Navy Cross]] recipient

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.cityofboaz.org}}

{{Marshall County, Alabama}}
{{Etowah County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1897]]
[[Category:Cities in Marshall County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Etowah County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area]]