Editing Linden, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Linden, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Marengo Alabama Courthouse.jpg
|image_caption            = Marengo County Courthouse in Linden
|nickname                 = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Linden, Alabama.png
|image_map                = File:Marengo County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Linden Highlighted 0143240.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Marengo County, Alabama
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Alabama}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Marengo County, Alabama|Marengo]]
|government_type          = Mayor/Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Gwendolyn Rogers
|established_date         = 
|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 6, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 9.36
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 9.27
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.09
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|elevation_ft             = 161
|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=1600000US0143240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Linden city, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 1930
|population_metro         = 
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_density_km2   = 208.24
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|32|18|4|N|87|47|34|W|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36748
|area_code                = [[Area code 334|334]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-43240
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0152070
|website                  = {{URL|www.lindenalabama.net}}
|footnotes                = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}

'''Linden''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Marengo County, Alabama|Marengo 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}}</ref> The population was 1,930 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 2,123 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].

==History==
Settled prior to 1818, the community was first known as "Screamersville", since the cry of wild animals could still be heard during the night. It became the county seat in 1819 and was then known as the "Town of Marengo". This was changed to "Hohenlinden" in 1823, to honor the county's earliest European settlers, French [[Bonapartism|Bonapartist]] refugees to the [[Vine and Olive Colony]].<ref name="adahmarengo">{{cite web|title=Alabama Counties: Marengo County|work=Alabama Department of Archives and History|url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/counties/marengo.html|access-date=November 30, 2007|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710175637/http://archives.state.al.us/counties/marengo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The name commemorated the [[Battle of Hohenlinden|battle in 1800]] at [[Hohenlinden]], Bavaria, where the French defeated the armies of both Austria and Bavaria. The spelling was later shortened to just "Linden."<ref name="marheritage">Marengo County Heritage Book Committee. ''The Heritage of Marengo County, Alabama'', pages 1-4. Clanton, Alabama: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2000.  {{ISBN|1-891647-58-X}}</ref>

==Geography==
Linden is located in central Marengo County at {{coord|32|18|4|N|87|47|34|W}} (32.301154, −87.792650).<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 {{convert|16|mi}} south of [[Demopolis, Alabama|Demopolis]], the largest city in Marengo County, {{convert|11|mi}} west of [[Thomaston, Alabama|Thomaston]], and {{convert|28|mi}} north of [[Thomasville, Alabama|Thomasville]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.03|sqmi|km2|2}}, or 0.94%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The city drains north to Chickasaw Bogue, a west-flowing tributary of the [[Tombigbee River]], and south to Sycamore Creek, a tributary of Chickasaw Bogue.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 171
|1870= 300
|1910= 600
|1920= 700
|1930= 982
|1940= 1203
|1950= 1363
|1960= 2516
|1970= 2697
|1980= 2773
|1990= 2548
|2000= 2424
|2010= 2123
|2020= 1930
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 8, 2014}}</ref><br>2013 Estimate<ref name="2013 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 8, 2014|url-status=dead|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}}</ref>
}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 2,424 people, 938 households, and 662 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|675.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,084 housing units at an average density of {{convert|302.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 52.43% White, 46.20% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.33% Asian, and 0.87% from two or more races.  1.07% 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 938 households 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.8% of households were one person and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.<ref name="GR2" />

The age distribution was 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% 65 or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.<ref name="GR2" />

The median household income was $22,303 and the median family income was $30,733. Males had a median income of $38,964 versus $17,857 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,536.  About 23.8% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="GR2" />

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 2,123 people, 877 households, and 555 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|589.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,013 housing units at an average density of {{convert|281.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 51.1% White, 46.7% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. 2.0% 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=August 2, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

Of the 877 households 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.3% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 20.8% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% 65 or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median household income was $20,145 and the median family income was $35,714. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,701. About 31.1% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 41.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Linden Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0143240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|833
|43.16%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|1,034
|53.58%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|1
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|45
|2.33%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|17
|0.88%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,930 people, 672 households, and 349 families residing in the city.

==Transportation==
*[[Image:US 43.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 43]]
*[[Image:Alabama 28.svg|25px]] [[State Route 28 (Alabama)|State Route 28]]
*[[Image:Alabama 69.svg|25px]] [[State Route 69 (Alabama)|State Route 69]]

Linden is accessed by way of one U.S. Highway: [[U.S. Route 43|US 43]] which runs north-south through the city as Main Street connecting the city to [[Demopolis, Alabama|Demopolis]] to the north and [[Thomasville, Alabama|Thomasville]] to the south. [[Alabama State Route 28|SR&nbsp;28]] runs east-west through the city as Coats Avenue connecting the city to [[U.S. Route 80 in Alabama|US 80]] to the northwest and the towns of [[Thomaston, Alabama|Thomaston]] and [[Camden, Alabama|Camden]] to the southeast. [[Alabama State Route 69|SR&nbsp;69]] runs north-south through the city cosigned with US 43 before leaving US 43 at the far south end of town heading southwest towards [[Myrtlewood, Alabama|Myrtlewood]] and connecting to [[Butler, Alabama|Butler]] by way of [[Alabama State Route 10|SR&nbsp;10]].

In her 2021 State of the State address, Governor [[Kay Ivey]] confirmed that her administration would be moving forward with a long proposed plan to expand US 43 to four lanes from "[[Thomasville, Alabama|Thomasville]] to [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]." Upon completion, the expansion to US 43 will most likely pass around Linden by way of a bypass.<ref name=AL.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.al.com/news/2021/03/in-west-alabama-skepticism-turns-into-optimism-for-a-new-us-43.html |title=In West Alabama, 'skepticism' turns into 'optimism' for a new U.S. 43 |publisher=AL.com |location=Birmingham, Alabama|date=March 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630034338/https://www.al.com/news/2021/03/in-west-alabama-skepticism-turns-into-optimism-for-a-new-us-43.html }}</ref>

==Media==
''[[The Linden Leader]]'', a weekly newspaper, is based in Linden.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85044910/ | title=About The Democrat-reporter. (Linden, Ala.) | publisher=Library of Congress | access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref>

==Education==
The city runs its own citywide school system, [[Linden City Schools]].  It also had one private school, [[Marengo Academy]], founded in 1969; one of many [[segregation academies]] as they are known, which cropped up in the South after segregation was made illegal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbcfinc.org/thevillage/2014/05/15/brown-60-years-later-segregation-academies-in-the-deep-south/|title = Brown 60 Years Later: Segregation Academies in the Deep South » Congressional Black Caucus Foundation » Advancing the Global Black Community by Developing Leaders Informing Policy and Educating the Public|date = May 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="marheritage2">Marengo County Heritage Book Committee. ''The Heritage of Marengo County, Alabama'', page 29. Clanton, Alabama: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2000.  {{ISBN|1-891647-58-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Scarborough|first=Alex|title=Linden school transfer policy ensures segregation|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110925/NEWS/110929833?p=1&tc=pg|access-date=March 3, 2013|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=September 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Scarborough|first=Alex|title=Linden, a town divided by race|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110925/news/110929835?p=2&tc=pg|access-date=March 3, 2013|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> Marengo Academy closed in 2019.

== Notable people==
*[[Ralph Abernathy]], civil rights leader
*[[William J. Alston]], [[United States Representative]] to the [[Thirty-first United States Congress|Thirty-first Congress]]
*[[Frank Evans (baseball)|Frank Evans]], professional baseball player in the [[Negro league baseball|Negro leagues]]
*[[Autherine Lucy Foster]], civil rights trailblazer; first African-American student at the University of Alabama<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carney Smith|first=Jessie|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1501340|title=Jones, Vivian Malone (1942-2005), civil rights activist|date=April 2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|series=American National Biography Online|doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1501340}}</ref> 
*[[Sean Richardson (American football)|Sean Richardson]], [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|safety]] for the [[Green Bay Packers]]
*[[Roy Rogers (basketball)|Roy Rogers]], professional [[basketball]] player and coach

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.lindenalabama.net}}

{{Marengo County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Marengo County, Alabama]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1823]]
[[Category:1823 establishments in Alabama]]