Editing Madrid, Alabama

{{about|the [[unincorporated area]] in Alabama|the capital of Spain|Madrid, Spain|other uses|Madrid (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Madrid, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Houston County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Madrid Highlighted 0145904.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Madrid in Houston 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        = [[Houston County, Alabama|Houston]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 4.52
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.75
|area_land_km2            = 4.52
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.75
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 164
|elevation_m              = 50
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 265
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 58.57
|population_density_sq_mi = 151.69
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|31|2|6|N|85|23|50|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36320
|area_code                = [[Area code 334|334]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-45904
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0122197
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|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>
}}
'''Madrid''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|d|r|ɪ|d}} {{respell|MAD|rid}}) is a town in [[Houston County, Alabama|Houston County]], [[Alabama]], [[United States]]. It is part of the [[Dothan, Alabama]] [[Dothan metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. At the 2010 census the population was 350,<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0145904| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Madrid town, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| accessdate=April 13, 2017}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> up from 303 in 2000.

==History==
In 1905, A. B. Steele began to build the [[Bay Line Railroad]] from [[Panama City, Florida]] to [[Dothan, Alabama]]. The Geneva Lumber Company also surveyed a country road from [[Cottonwood, Alabama]] to intersect the railroad.

In 1905, Ed Watford, a resident of Houston County, bought 180 acres at the intersection, intending for it to become a town.

At the same time, [[land speculator]] J. B. Dell and his partner W. C. Fenn, prominent people in Houston County, bought 80 acres east of Watford's property. They were able to record the acreage at the courthouse as the town of "Madrid" before Watford could. Consequently, Watford's property became known as "Watford's Addition". Madrid was named after [[Madrid|Madrid, Spain]], but Dell decided to pronounce it differently with emphasis on the "Mad".

Watford, Dell, and Fenn all had their acres surveyed and then divided into lots. However, Dell and Fenn threw a big celebration for their public action, throwing a barbecue and hiring a brass brand. This enticed many buyers to come. Watford was successful in selling his 40 acres, and Dell and Fenn were able to sell most of their 80 acres.

After the auction, Madrid started to become a prosperous town. A ready market existed in the town for [[timber]], [[turpentine]], and [[cotton]]. Many buildings, including stores and churches, began to be built in the town. Madrid also had a cotton oil mill and gin.

In 1912, Mayor Ed Watford founded the Bank of Madrid. The bank survived for 12 years before being closed in 1924.

After a prosperous beginning, Madrid's population began to precipitously decline when the [[boll weevil]] started attacking cotton crops and timber supplies were exhausted.<ref>Dowling, R.A, A Dowling Family of the South, 1959, University of Wisconsin Press, page 53, (copy available online at https://mywoodfamily.us/a_dowling_family_of_the_south.pdf)</ref><ref>Kaetz, James P. "Madrid." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Published June 12, 2017. Last modified September 22, 2020. Accessed May 1, 2022. http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3914.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/980328822/ "Madrid Victim of Boll Weevil,"] ''The Dothan Eagle'' (Dothan, Alabama), July 4, 1976, p. 63, col. 1; image copy, ''Newspapers.com'' (http://www.newspapers.com: accessed November 10, 2023).</ref>

==Geography==
Madrid is located in southwestern Houston County at {{coord|31.034941|-85.397222|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<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=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> [[U.S. Route 231]] passes through the west side of the town, leading north {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]] and south {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Cottondale, Florida]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|5.0|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 279
|1940= 229
|1950= 312
|1960= 245
|1970= 238
|1980= 172
|1990= 211
|2000= 303
|2010= 350
|2020= 265
|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}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Madrid racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0145904&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 17, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|227
|85.66%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|19
|7.17%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|2
|0.75%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|6
|2.26%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|11
|4.15%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 265 people, 117 households, and 78 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 303 people, 119 households, and 89 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|156.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 134 housing units at an average density of {{convert|69.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 82.84% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 16.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], and 0.66% from two or more races.

There were 119 households, out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $14,943, and the median income for a family was $21,563. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $16,563 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,409. About 18.1% of families and 30.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 51.5% of those 65 or over.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Houston County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:Towns in Houston County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Dothan metropolitan area, Alabama]]