Editing Owens Cross Roads, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Owens Cross Roads, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = OCRflyover.png
| photo2a = Old-Hwy-431-north-al.jpg{{!}}View of Old 431 in the center of Owens Cross Roads
| photo2b = Fields of Owens Cross Roads.jpg{{!}}A field in Owens Cross Roads
| photo3a = Neighborhood Pond.jpg{{!}}A neighborhood pond in Owens Cross Roads
| photo3b = An Owens Cross Roads Neighborhood.jpg{{!}}An Owens Cross Roads neighborhood street
| photo4a = Cross at Redemption Church.jpg{{!}}View on a Sunday morning at Redemption Church
| size = 280
}}
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = '''Clockwise from top:'''{{flatlist|
* Overlooking Owens Cross Roads US 431
* Old Highway 431 in the Center of Owens Cross Roads
* A field in Owens Cross Roads
* A neighborhood pond
* A neighborhood street
* Sunday morning sunrise
}}
|image_flag               = Flag of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama.png
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Madison County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Owens Cross Roads Highlighted 0157504.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Owens Cross Roads in Madison County, Alabama
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Tony Craig
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = October 9, 1967<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates |publisher=Alabama League of Municipalities |url=https://almonline.org/Assets/Files/AboutUs/Alabama_Municipalities_Incorporation_Dates.pdf |access-date=March 11, 2024}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 11, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 20.642
|area_land_km2            = 20.338
|area_water_km2           = 0.306
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.970
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.852
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.118
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 2917
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/owens-cross-roads-al-population|date=June 28, 2024|title=Owens Cross Roads demographic profile|publisher=Worldpopulationreview|accessdate=June 28, 2024}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 2594
|population_density_km2   = 129.1
|population_density_sq_mi = 334
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 178
|elevation_ft             = 584
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|35|10|N|86|27|31|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 35763
|area_code                = [[Area codes 256 and 938|256 and 938]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-57504
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2407060<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407060}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://owenscrossroadsal.org/|owenscrossroadsal.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Owens Cross Roads''' is a town in [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]], [[Alabama]], United States, and is included in the [[Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area]]. It was incorporated on October 9, 1967.<ref name=eoa>Christopher Maloney, "[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3605 Owens Cross Roads]," ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'', July 1, 2014.</ref> The population was 2,594 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Owens_Cross_Roads_town,_Alabama?g=160XX00US0157504 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 11, 2024}}</ref> It is home to Brazelton Cemetery.

==History==
The area has a history that can be dated back to the early 1800’s. Pioneers had drifted into the area from Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia with names such as Wood, Parker, Craig, Craft, Maples, Carpenter and Brannum, but a gentleman named Thomas J. Owens had migrated from Virginia and was the first to build his family home near an intersection of two roads.

The name Owens Cross Roads was very appropriately chosen since the Owens home was at “the cross roads”. The community grew in size at a steady pace over the years as a large frame business house was erected near the intersection, containing a post office (established 1861<ref name="Owens Cross Roads">{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3605|title=Owens Cross Roads}}</ref>), general store and blacksmith shop.<ref name="owenscrossroadsal.org">{{Cite web|url=https://owenscrossroadsal.org/about-ocr/about/|title = History of OCR – Owens Cross Roads, Alabama}}</ref> Owens Cross Roads first appeared on maps in 1850.<ref name="Owens Cross Roads"/>

Following the Civil War, the population grew as businesses sprang up and a new school was erected to replace the original log schoolhouse. With the turn of the 20th century came new growth to the neighboring towns of Huntsville and Guntersville, making Owens Cross Roads a welcome stop for travelers between the two larger towns. The town relied heavily on cotton cultivation throughout much of its early history, with some crop diversification coming in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name="Owens Cross Roads"/>

===Incorporation===
[[File:OCRPublicSafety.jpg|thumb|left|Owens Cross Roads Police and Volunteer Fire on a scene]]
Incorporated in 1967, the Owens Cross Roads City Hall sits facing Highway 431 South, a busy corridor of modern life. The city proudly boasts of having the first Blue Ribbon School in Madison County, a highly praised Volunteer Fire Department and a Police Department dedicated to serve and protect the citizens of Owens Cross Roads.<ref name="owenscrossroadsal.org"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Overlooking Owens Cross Roads, AL from Green Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|Looking off Green Mountain to the Owens Cross Roads area below.]]
Owens Cross Roads is located at {{coord|34|35|10|N|86|27|31|W|type:city}} (34.586071, -86.458561).<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 situated in a broad valley carved by the [[Flint River (Alabama)|Flint River]]. Rugged hills and mountains surround the town, including Green Mountain to the west, and [[Keel Mountain (Alabama)|Keel Mountain]] to the east. [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] lies across Green Mountain to the northwest, [[New Hope, Alabama|New Hope]] lies just to the southeast, and [[Paint Rock, Alabama|Paint Rock]] lies across Keel Mountain to the northeast. [[U.S. Route 431]] passes through Owens Cross Roads, connecting the town with Huntsville and [[Guntersville, Alabama|Guntersville]].
Owens Cross Roads met the threshold to become a city in 2020 with the population exceeding 2,000 persons under Alabama law <ref>{{cite web |title=Code of Alabama |url=http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/CodeOfAlabama/1975/Coatoc.htm |website=Code of Alabama 11-40-6 |publisher=Alabama Legislature |access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.970|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|7.852|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.118|sqmi|km2}}, is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1970 = 767
| 1980 = 804
| 1990 = 695
| 2000 = 1124
| 2010 = 1521
| 2020 = 2594
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 2917
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=July 3, 2023|title=Owens Cross Roads demographic profile|publisher=Worldpopulationreview|accessdate=June 28, 2024}}</ref>
| 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|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Owens Cross Roads racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0157504&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 17, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percent
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,992
|76.79%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|201
|7.75%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|35
|1.35%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|29
|1.12%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|4
|0.15%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|212
|8.17%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|121
|4.66%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 2,594 people, 978 households, and 718 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Owens%20Cross%20Roads%20town,%20Alabama%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> There were 1,032 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 1,521 people, 593 households, and 409 families in the town. The population density was {{convert|183|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 650 housing units at an average density of {{convert|78.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 91.5% White, 3.6% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 593 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.0% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% 65 or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.

The median household income was $40,625 and the median family income was $43,750. Males had a median income of $43,889 versus $33,393 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,542. About 23.6% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 60.9% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 1,124 people, 443 households, and 329 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 145.8 people per square mile (56.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 62.5 per square mile (24.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 95.64% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.71% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.71% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% 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 443 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,856, and the median income for a family was $45,167. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $22,917 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,534. About 4.6% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The local school district is [[Madison County Schools (Alabama)|Madison County Schools]].<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=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 1, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01089_madison/DC20SD_C01089_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Edward Troye]], painter<ref name=eoa />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Owens Cross Roads, Alabama}}
* [https://owenscrossroadsal.org/ City of Owens Cross Roads – Official Website]

{{Madison County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Madison County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area]]