Editing Moulton, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Moulton, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Moulton-Lawrence-County-Courthouse-al.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Lawrence County Courthouse
|image_seal               =
|image_map                = File:Lawrence County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Moulton Highlighted 0151600.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Moulton in Lawrence County, Alabama.
|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        = [[Lawrence County, Alabama|Lawrence]]
|government_type          =
|leader_title             =
|leader_name              =
|established_title          = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = December 17, 1819<ref name="alabama-law-1823">A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama: Containing The Statutes and Resolutions in Force at the end of the General Assembly in January 1823.  Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828.  Title 62. Chapter XXXV. Pages 813-814. [https://books.google.com/books?id=JvtKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA813 "An Act to Incorporate the Town of Moulton, in the County of Lawrence.—Passed  December 17, 1819." (Google Books)]</ref>
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 15.56
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.01
|area_land_km2            = 15.53
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.99
|area_water_km2           = 0.04
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|elevation_ft             = 643
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 3398
|population_metro         =
|population_density_km2   = 218.87
|population_density_sq_mi = 566.90
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|28|56|N|87|17|8|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35650
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-51600
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2404314<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404314}}</ref>
|footnotes                =
|website                  = {{URL|https://cityofmoultonal.com/}}
|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>
}}
'''Moulton''' is a city in [[Lawrence County, Alabama|Lawrence County]], [[Alabama]], and is included in the [[Decatur, Alabama Metropolitan Area|Decatur Metropolitan Area]], as well as the [[Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area]]. Although it incorporated in 1819,<ref name=history>[https://cityofmoultonal.com/history/index.html History], City of Moulton official site. Accessed September 27, 2018.</ref> along with its rival of [[Courtland, Alabama|Courtland]], to compete for the honor of county seat, it did not first appear on the U.S. Census rolls until 1900. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 3,471, its record high. The city has been the [[county seat]] of Lawrence County since 1820. It has been the largest community in the county since the 1920 U.S. Census.<ref>1820-2010 U.S. Censuses research on Lawrence County, Alabama Communities</ref>

==History==

By the time Alabama became a state in 1819, an inn had been erected at the site of what is now Moulton to serve migrants along the various early paths that passed through the area.  Shortly after Alabama achieved statehood, both Moulton and Courtland (to the north) incorporated and competed for the county seat of Lawrence County.  Governor [[Thomas Bibb]] awarded the seat to Moulton as the most centrally located of the two within the county.<ref>"[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2939 Moulton]," ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'', August 8, 2018.</ref>  The city is named for Lieutenant Michael Moulton, a soldier killed while fighting under General [[Andrew Jackson]] at the [[Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814)|Battle of Horseshoe Bend]] in 1814.<ref name=history />

==Geography==
Moulton is located at {{coord|34|28|56|N|87|17|8|W|type:city}} (34.482307, -87.285621).<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>  The city is concentrated along [[Alabama State Route 33]] southwest of [[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]].  [[Alabama State Route 24]] passes through the northern part of the city, and [[Alabama State Route 157]] passes through its eastern section.  The [[William B. Bankhead National Forest]] lies to the southwest of Moulton.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Moulton has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (abbreviated ''Cfa'').

{{Weather box
|location = Moulton, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 79

|Jan avg record high F = 69.8
|Feb avg record high F = 74.2
|Mar avg record high F = 80.6
|Apr avg record high F = 84.7
|May avg record high F = 88.8
|Jun avg record high F = 93.4
|Jul avg record high F = 95.5
|Aug avg record high F = 95.7
|Sep avg record high F = 92.9
|Oct avg record high F = 86.3
|Nov avg record high F = 78.2
|Dec avg record high F = 70.7
|year avg record high F = 97.3

|Jan high F = 50.6
|Feb high F = 54.8
|Mar high F = 63.4
|Apr high F = 72.0
|May high F = 79.1
|Jun high F = 85.8
|Jul high F = 88.4
|Aug high F = 88.4
|Sep high F = 83.6
|Oct high F = 73.5
|Nov high F = 61.9
|Dec high F = 53.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 40.3
|Feb mean F = 43.8
|Mar mean F = 51.9
|Apr mean F = 60.3
|May mean F = 68.3
|Jun mean F = 75.3
|Jul mean F = 78.4
|Aug mean F = 77.8
|Sep mean F = 72.1
|Oct mean F = 61.0
|Nov mean F = 50.1
|Dec mean F = 42.9
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 30.0
|Feb low F = 32.9
|Mar low F = 40.3
|Apr low F = 48.6
|May low F = 57.4
|Jun low F = 64.9
|Jul low F = 68.4
|Aug low F = 67.2
|Sep low F = 60.7
|Oct low F = 48.5
|Nov low F = 38.3
|Dec low F = 32.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 12.6
|Feb avg record low F = 16.9
|Mar avg record low F = 22.4
|Apr avg record low F = 31.7
|May avg record low F = 42.3
|Jun avg record low F = 54.1
|Jul avg record low F = 60.6
|Aug avg record low F = 58.8
|Sep avg record low F = 45.8
|Oct avg record low F = 32.1
|Nov avg record low F = 22.3
|Dec avg record low F = 18.2
|year avg record low F = 9.9

|Jan record low F = -13
|Feb record low F = -8
|Mar record low F = 0
|Apr record low F = 23
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 41
|Jul record low F = 52
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 35
|Oct record low F = 25
|Nov record low F = 12
|Dec record low F = -5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.33
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.63
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.72
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.45
|May precipitation inch = 5.18
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.57
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.06
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.25
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.05
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.21
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.37
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.39
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.9
|Feb precipitation days = 11.6
|Mar precipitation days = 12.7
|Apr precipitation days = 9.7
|May precipitation days = 10.4
|Jun precipitation days = 10.6
|Jul precipitation days = 11.3
|Aug precipitation days = 9.6
|Sep precipitation days = 7.6
|Oct precipitation days = 7.6
|Nov precipitation days = 8.9
|Dec precipitation days = 12.0

|Jan snow inch = 0.5
|Feb snow inch = 0.9
|Mar snow inch = 0.5
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.2
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.4
|Feb snow days = 0.4
|Mar snow days = 0.2
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.3

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00015635&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Moulton 2, AL
|access-date = June 16, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=hun
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Huntsville
|access-date = June 16, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 290
|1910= 354
|1920= 519
|1930= 639
|1940= 752
|1950= 1384
|1960= 1716
|1970= 2470
|1980= 3197
|1990= 3248
|2000= 3260
|2010= 3471
|2020= 3398
|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}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Moulton racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0151600&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,474
|72.81%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|416
|12.24%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|99
|2.91%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|20
|0.59%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|1
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|223
|6.56%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|165
|4.86%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,398 people, 1,457 households, and 815 families residing in the city.

===2010 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 2010, there were 3,471 people, 1,482 households, and 912 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|552.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,486 housing units at an average density of {{convert|251.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 13.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 4.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.1% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,482 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,639, and the median income for a family was $49,243. Males had a median income of $52,279 versus $30,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,696. About 8.3% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Media==
Moulton is home to one radio station, [[WALW-LP]] (97.9 FM)

The county's only newspaper, ''The Moulton Advertiser'', resides in Moulton.<ref>''[http://www.moultonadvertiser.com The Moulton Advertiser]'', official site. Accessed September 27, 2018.</ref>

In the 1976 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, [[Stay Hungry]], the character Newton, played by [[Roger Mosley]], references Moulton as a place where he wishes to move and own a large chicken farm.

==Transportation==
===State highways===
* {{jct|state=AL|AL|24}}
* {{jct|state=AL|AL|33|name1=Market Street}}
* {{jct|state=AL|AL|36}}
* {{jct|state=AL|AL|157}}

==Notable people==
* [[Jim Blevins]], former Head Football Coach at [[Jacksonville State University]] from 1965 to 1968.
* [[Edward B. Almon]], U.S. Representative representing [[Alabama's 8th congressional district]] from 1915 to 1933.
* [[Lucas Black]], actor, notably in ''Friday Night Light''s and ''Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift''
* [[Mary Lee Cagle]], one of the first influential women and pastors in the [[Church of the Nazarene]]
* [[Kimberley Conrad]] (born 1963), American model and actress, wife of [[Hugh Hefner]] (1989-2010), mother to two of his children, former [[Playboy playmate]] (January 1988) and Playmate of the Year (1989)
* [[Asa Hodges]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] from [[Arkansas]].
* [[John Wallace Jones]], Mayor of [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] from 1854 to 1858.
* [[Thomas Minott Peters]], lawyer and botanist
* [[Phillip Roddey]], [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] in the [[Confederate States Army|army]] of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the [[American Civil War]]
* [[David Stewart (American football)|David Stewart]], [[American football]] [[offensive tackle]]; graduated from Lawrence County High School.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Moulton, Alabama}}

{{Lawrence County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Lawrence County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Decatur metropolitan area, Alabama]]
[[Category:Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]