Editing Harpersville, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Harpersville, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = Big Springs
|motto                    = "Rich Past, Bright Future!" 
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Harpersville, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Harpersville, Alabama.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|image_map                = File:Shelby County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Harpersville Highlighted 0133256.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Harpersville in Shelby 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        = [[Shelby County, Alabama|Shelby]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Theoangelo Perkins 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 21.65
|area_land_sq_mi          = 21.29
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.35
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 1614
|population_metro         = 
|population_urban         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 75.80
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|19|33|N|86|25|34|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 436
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35078
|area_code                = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205, 659]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-33256
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2406645<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406645}}</ref>
|website                  = [https://www.harpersvilleal.gov/ City Website]
|footnotes                = 
|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|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 56.06
|area_land_km2 = 55.15
|area_water_km2 = 0.91
|population_density_km2 = 29.27
|population_footnotes = 
}}
'''Harpersville''' is a town in [[Shelby County, Alabama|Shelby County]], [[Alabama]], United States. According to the 1950 U.S. Census, it formally incorporated in 1943.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37778831v2p2ch2.pdf |title= Census data |website=www2.census.gov |access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref> At the 2020 census the population was 1,614, compared to 1,637 in 2010 and 1,620 in 2000. It is located southeast of the [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] metro area.

==History==
Harpersville was settled just after the [[War of 1812]] ended.  It was originally called Big Springs.<ref>[http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/articles/2007/10/26/lifestyles/life712.txt Shelby County Reporter] {{dead link|date=August 2019}}</ref>

Harpersville Municipal Court has been effectively taken over by Circuit Court Judge Hub Harrington{{Sfn|Circuit Court of Shelby County, Alabama|2012}} as of July 13, 2012, in a case regarding [[Private probation]].{{Sfn|Judicial Correction Services|2011}}{{Sfn|Rappleye|Seville|2014}} His order characterizes the municipal court as a debtors' prison and extortion racket condoned by the elected officials of Harpersville and [[Judicial Correction Services]].{{Sfn|Stillman|2014}}{{Sfn|Bronner|2012}}{{Sfn|Bronner|2012a}}{{Sfn|Huffington Post|2012}}

Harpersville has two structures which are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Alabama#Shelby County|National Register of Historic Places]], the Chancellor House and the [[Old Rock House (Harpersville, Alabama)|Old Rock House]].

==Datcher Family Farm Museum==
The history of the Datcher's Harpersville farm dates back to before the end of slavery. It tells the story of family and Black ownership throughout American history. The trees on the farm have been around for three centuries. A small, white farmhouse serves as the Datcher family farm museum; the walls are replete with images of family photos paying homage to the Datcher legacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/culture/meet-the-datcher-family-who-have-owned-run-their-alabama-farm-since-the-1800s|title=Meet The Datcher Family, Who Have Owned & Run Their Alabama Farm Since The 1800s|website=BOTWC|accessdate=March 30, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/11/this-black-alabama-farmers-family-history-is-a-legacy-of-slavery-and-love.html| title= Black Alabama farmers family history| date= November 9, 2021}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Harpersville is located in the eastern part of Shelby County at {{coord|33|19|33|N|86|25|34|W|type:city}} (33.325848, -86.426121).<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 [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|15.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|15.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.06% is water. The town is located at the intersection of US Routes [[US Route 280|280]] and [[U.S. Route 231 in Alabama|231]]. US 280 runs east to west through the town, leading west 12&nbsp;mi (19&nbsp;km) to [[Chelsea, Alabama|Chelsea]] and 30&nbsp;mi (48&nbsp;km) to downtown Birmingham. US 280 and 231 run southeast together 7&nbsp;mi (11&nbsp;km) to [[Childersburg, Alabama|Childersburg]]. US 231 runs northeast 21&nbsp;mi (34&nbsp;km) to [[Pell City, Alabama|Pell City]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 194
|1950= 348
|1960= 667
|1970= 639
|1980= 934
|1990= 772
|2000= 1620
|2010= 1637
|2020= 1614
|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><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|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>
}}

===2000 Census===
As of the [[census]]<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 2000, there were 1,620 people, 610 households, and 458 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|102.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 685 housing units at an average density of {{convert|43.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 69.57% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 28.70% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.49% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.31% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 610 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,655, and the median income for a family was $34,632. Males had a median income of $28,839 versus $22,069 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,783. About 17.4% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 24.1% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 Census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 8, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,637 people, 620 households, and 456 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|103.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 708 housing units at an average density of {{convert|44.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 73.1% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 23.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. 2.6% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 620 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% 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 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,768, and the median income for a family was $42,065. Males had a median income of $43,301 versus $32,434 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,170. About 23.9% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 55.3% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Harpersville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0133256&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,207
|74.78%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|301
|18.65%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|5
|0.31%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|2
|0.12%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|64
|3.97%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|35
|2.17%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,614 people, 562 households, and 433 families residing in the town. Harpersville is growing due to the suburban spread along Highway 280; however, the most recent Census in 2020 indicates a slight decrease in population below that of the Census of 2000.

==Government==
The mayor is Theoangelo Perkins. The previous mayor was Don Greene, and the two have traded this position back and forth for many election cycles.

Mayor Theoangelo Perkins was the mayor in 2012. Also in 2012, the international scandal of the traffic court investigation into the high fines, prison sentences for traffic violations, and large fees to a non- public third-party probation company was widely reported from local news agencies to the United Kingdom in the Guardian.

Shelby County judge called the Harpersville Traffic Court “judicially sanctioned extortion  racket.” (https://eji.org/files/mi-mgm-alabama-city-running-exortion-racket-07-16-12.pdf;

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/us/judge-in-alabama-halts-private-probation.html?smid=pl-share)

Mayor Theoangelo Perkins was also the mayor of Harpersville when Shelby County Sheriff's Department acted on an order to seize the town's records before the documents could be removed or destroyed. The Mayor was not available for comment according to the Shelby County Reporter; “Harpersville Mayor Theoangelo Perkins did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.” (https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2012/08/10/sheriffs-deputies-seizing-records-in-harpersville-city-court-case/)

The Harpersville Clerk of the Court in a recorded deposition which was reported in an article in The Nation said,  “In testimony offered at a deposition, Hall, the court clerk, acknowledged that the sentences Harpersville debtors served at the Shelby County Work Release Center were indefinite. Ford’s sentence, Hall explained, was “up to her”; she could leave as soon as she paid off her fines. The sole function of work release was to collect outstanding debt, forgoing the rehabilitative underpinning of most work-release programs.”  https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/town-turned-poverty-prison-sentence/)

The article also listed that two people died while in custody waiting to pay off their debt to the Harpersville Traffic Court.

==School==
The town of Harpersville does not have public schools within town limits. All public matriculated students attend schools in the adjacent town of Vincent.

[[Coosa Valley Academy]], part of the [[Alabama Independent School Association]], serves as one of the private schools in the town of Harpersville. The doors of the school first opened in 1970 where it has served the community for 50 years. The School's mission statement says, "The vision of Coosa Valley Academy is to provide a college preparatory education in a safe and orderly Christian environment that will instill in each student the desire to fulfill his or her greatest academic potential while encouraging mutual respect among students and staff in order to prepare well-rounded individuals for success in life". Education is available for students in grades from Pre-Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. Dual enrollment programs are available for students in grades 10-12 allowing them the opportunity to take online classes at Troy University to earn college credits. A variety of clubs are available for student participation consisting of Athletics, Beta Club, Cheerleading Squad, Dance Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, History Club, Spanish Club, Student Government Association, and Ignite Club. Athletics available are baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coosavalleyacademy.org/|title=Home|website=www.coosavalleyacademy.org|accessdate=March 30, 2023}}</ref> The current enrollment at Coosa Valley Academy stands at 250 students under supervision of 22 teachers. The student teacher ratio stands at 11:1 which grants educators the ability to work closely with the students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.privateschoolreview.com/coosa-valley-academy-profile|title = Coosa Valley Academy Profile (2021-22) &#124; Harpersville, AL}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Main|Morgan Creek Vineyards (Alabama)}}

==Notable people==
* [[Warren Kidd]], NBA Player
* [[George McGinnis]], NBA Player
* [[William Joseph Simmons]], founder of the second [[Ku Klux Klan]]
* [[Henry B. Walthall]], Actor - Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

==Landmarks==
*[[Klein-Wallace Home]]

==Gallery==

<gallery widths=250px heights=150px>
File:Chancellor House Harpersville, AL.JPG|Chancellor House
File:Historic American Buildings Survey Alex Bush, Photographer, May 11, 1935 REAR (W) AND SOUTH SIDE - William Chancellor House, Chancellor Crossroads, Harpersville, Shelby County, AL HABS ALA,61- ,1-2.tif|Chancellor House from rear
File:Historic American Buildings Survey Alex Bush, Photographer, May 11, 1935 FRONT (S) AND EAST SIDE - The Rock House, U.S. Route 280 (State Route 38), Harpersville, Shelby County, HABS ALA,59-HARP.V,1-1.tif|Old Rock House
File:Historic American Buildings Survey Alex Bush, Photographer, May 11, 1935 REAR (N) AND WEST SIDE - The Rock House, U.S. Route 280 (State Route 38), Harpersville, Shelby County, HABS ALA,59-HARP.V,1-2.tif|Old Rock House from rear
</gallery>

== References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{citation|title=Probation Fees Multiply as Companies Profit |first=Ethan |last=Bronner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/us/probation-fees-multiply-as-companies-profit.html?smid=pl-share |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 2, 2012 |location=Childhildersburg, Alabama  |access-date=August 3, 2014 }}
* {{citation|title=Judge in Alabama Halts Private Probation |first=Ethan |last=Bronner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/us/judge-in-alabama-halts-private-probation.html?smid=pl-share |work=The New York Times |date=13 July 2012a |access-date=August 3, 2014 }}
* {{citation|url=http://media.al.com/spotnews/other/Judge%20Hub%20Harrington%20order%20to%20Harpersville.pdf |title=Burdette vs Harpersville |date=July 11, 2012 |access-date= August 4, 2014 |series=Civil Action No. CV 2010-900183 |work=Circuit Court of Shelby County, Alabama |location=Shelby County, Alabama |ref={{SfnRef|Circuit Court of Shelby County, Alabama|2012}}}} 
* {{citation|title=Debtors Prison' Run by Harpersville Municipal Court Shut Down |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/15/alabama-judge-hub-harrington-shut-down-debtors-prison-harpersville-municipal-court_n_1674223.html |date=July 15, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |work=Huffington Post |location=Columbiana, Alabama |ref={{SfnRef|Huffington Post|2012}}}}
* {{citation|year=2010 |title=INC Company Profile |work=Judicial Correction Services |ref={{SfnRef|Judicial Correction Services|2012}}}}
* {{citation |work=Company website retrieved |access-date=July 3, 2012 |url=https://www.judicialservices.com/ |year=2011 |title=Judicial Correction Services |ref={{SfnRef|Judicial Correction Services|2011}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706165939/http://www.judicialservices.com/ |archive-date=July 6, 2012 }}
* {{citation|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/178845/town-turned-poverty-prison-sentence |title=The Town That Turned Poverty Into a Prison Sentence |work=The Nation |date=April 14, 2014 |first1=Hannah |last1=Rappleye |first2=Lisa Riordan |last2=Seville |access-date=August 3, 2014 }} 
* {{citation|first=Sarah |last=Stillman |magazine=The New Yorker |title=Get out of Jail, INC |date=June 23, 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/06/23/get-out-of-jail-inc }}
* {{citation|title=Greene to take over for Perkins as Harpersville mayor |first=Stephen |last=Dawkins |url=https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2016/08/04/greene-to-take-over-for-perkins-as-harpersville-mayor/ |work=Shelby County Reporter |date=August 4, 2016 |location=Columbiana, Alabama |access-date=January 26, 2020}}
* Brooks, Graham (March 10, 2015), [https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2015/03/10/profile-faith-family-and-a-way-of-life/ "Profile, Faith, family and a way of life"] ''Shelby County Reporter'', Columbiana, Alabama, retrieved September 23, 2023

==External links==
* [https://www.harpersvilleal.gov/ Town of Harpersville]

{{Shelby County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Shelby County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]