Editing Gurley, Alabama

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Gurley, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = Gurley Alabama Aerial - Aug2014 (40207555000).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Aerial view of Gurley
|image_flag               = Flag of Gurley, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = Crest of Gurley, Alabama.png
|image_map                = File:Madison County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Gurley Highlighted 0132440.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Gurley in Madison County, Alabama.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|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        = [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 1891
|area_total_km2           = 9.20
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 9.19
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|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 1, 2022}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 965
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|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=1600000US0132440&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Gurley town, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 816
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 88.75
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|42|0|N|86|22|35|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35748
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-32440
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2406631<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406631}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.townofgurleyal.com}}
}}
[[File:Old Gurley Town Hall Feb 2012 02.jpg|thumb|right|The Old Gurley Town Hall is a [[contributing property]] to the Gurley Historic District which was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Alabama|National Register of Historic Places]] on June 2, 2004.]]
'''Gurley''' is a town in [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]], [[Alabama]], United States, and is included in the [[Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area]]. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 816.<ref name="Census 2020"/>

==History==
The community takes its name from the Gurley family, who settled in the area in 1817. The town gradually formed around a water and coaling stop of the [[Memphis & Charleston Railroad]] and was originally known as "Gurley's Tank". In 1866, the [[post office]] opened, and the name was changed to "Gurleysville"; it was later shortened back to Gurley. Gurley was incorporated in 1891 with 250 residents. Soon after, the population peaked at 1,000. The business district was nearly destroyed by fire in 1923, when a [[bucket brigade]] was able to save only two businesses. Most of the town is now included in the [[Gurley Historic District]], which was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2004.<ref name="NRHP">{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=David B.|author2=Christy Anderson|title=Gurley Historic District |url={{NRHP url|id=04000562}}|work=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=July 28, 2014|date=January 14, 2004|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6RQ2nQdyh?url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/nrhp/text/04000562.pdf|archivedate=July 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
Gurley is located in eastern Madison County at {{Coord|34|42|1|N|86|22|35|W|type:city}} (34.700164, −86.376469),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along [[U.S. Route 72]]. [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] is {{convert|16|mi}} to the west, and [[Scottsboro, Alabama|Scottsboro]] is {{convert|26|mi}} to the east.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Gurley has a total area of {{convert|9.2|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 570
| 1900 = 831
| 1910 = 750
| 1920 = 727
| 1930 = 581
| 1970 = 647
| 1980 = 735
| 1990 = 1007
| 2000 = 876
| 2010 = 801
| 2020 = 816
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 833
| 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|accessdate=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|accessdate=June 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522161634/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|archive-date=May 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

Note: From the 1940 Census until 1970, Gurley ceased to appear on the census rolls. This was likely due to either disincorporation or loss/lapse of its charter in the 1930s. At some point in the 1960s, it was reincorporated. Gurley had a estimated population of 833 people in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gurley, Alabama Population 2024 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/gurley-al-population |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 876 people, 346 households, and 241 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|313.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 379 housing units at an average density of {{convert|135.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 81.85% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 15.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.57% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.37% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 346 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,831, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $31,146 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,271. About 23.4% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 31.1% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Gurley racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0132440&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-17|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|636
|77.94%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|71
|8.7%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|9
|1.1%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|8
|0.98%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|76
|9.31%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|16
|1.96%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 816 people, 253 households, and 153 families residing in the town.

==Public services==
As an incorporated town, Gurley has its own police and fire departments. The city also maintains a small sewer system.

==Education==
Education in Gurley is run by the [[Madison County Schools (Alabama)|Madison County School System]].<ref name=Censusschoolmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01089_madison/DC20SD_C01089.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Madison County, AL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-08-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01089_madison/DC20SD_C01089_SD2MS.txt Text list] - Huntsville parcel in county schools is on page 4 (PDF p. 5/7).</ref> Only one K–8 school (Madison County Elementary) operates within the city limits, in the building formerly occupied by [[Madison County High School (Alabama)|Madison County High School]]. A new Madison County High School was built a few miles west of the town on [[U.S. Route 72|US 72]] in 1999.

==Fraternal==
Gurley has its own [[Masonic Lodge]] (Gurley Lodge #521 F & AM), a [[Lions Club]], a Lioness Club, and a Founders Club.

==Notable people==
*[[Graham Ashcraft]], professional baseball player<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Ashcraft|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ashcrgr01.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=June 2, 2022}}</ref>
*[[Clement Claiborne Clay]], United States senator and Confederate States senator
*[[Lena Styles]], professional baseball player<ref>{{cite web|title=Lena Styles|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stylele01.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=July 28, 2014}}</ref>
*[[Jordan Chunn]], professional football player

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.townofgurleyal.com}}
*[http://www.contactez.net/gurleyalabama/ Gurley Community & Town History]
*[http://hmcpl.org/gurley Gurley Public Library]

{{Madison County, Alabama}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Madison County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Alabama]]