Editing Ozark, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Other uses|Ozark (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ozark
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Ozark, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Ozark, Alabama.png
|image_map                = File:Dale County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ozark Highlighted 0157648.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Ozark in Dale County, Alabama.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- established --------------->
| established_title       = Settled
| established_date        = 1822
| established_title1      = Incorporated
| established_date1       = October 27, 1870
| established_title2      = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date2       = 
| established_title3      = 
| established_date3       = 
| extinct_title           = 
| extinct_date            = 
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
|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        = [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale]]
|government_type          = Mayor/City Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Mark Blankenship
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 88.94
|area_total_sq_mi         = 34.34
|area_land_km2            = 88.33
|area_land_sq_mi          = 34.10
|area_water_km2           = 0.61
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.23
|elevation_ft             = 417
|elevation_m              = 127
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 14368
|population_footnotes     = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 162.66
<!--2014-->
|population_density_sq_mi = 421.30
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|31|26|53|N|85|38|31|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 36360–36361
|area_code                = [[Area code 334|334]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-57648
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0152832
|website                  = {{URL|www.ozarkalabama.us}}
|footnotes                = 
|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|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027191413/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''Ozark''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale County]], [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], the population of the city was 14,907.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0157648| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ozark city, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 2, 2015}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Ozark is the principal city of the [[Dale County, Alabama|Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area]], as well as a part of the Dothan-Ozark [[Dothan metropolitan area#Combined Statistical Area|Combined Statistical Area]]. Ozark was originally a part of [[Enterprise–Ozark micropolitan area]] before being split,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326160047/http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 26, 2010 |title=Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-01) |format=[[comma-separated values|CSV]] |work=2009 Population Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 23, 2010 |access-date=March 24, 2010 }}</ref> and for a longer while was part of the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark [[Dothan metropolitan area#Combined Statistical Area|combined statistical area]] but Enterprise later became its own separate primary [[statistical area (United States)|statistical area]] in later censuses.<ref name="CSA1">{{cite map |title=Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark, AL Combined Statistical Area |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ/ec2012/csa/EC2012_330M200US222M.pdf |website=www.2census.gov |publisher=[[US Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214064444/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ/ec2012/csa/EC2012_330M200US222M.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OMB_20-01">{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bulletin-20-01.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 20-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas|date=March 6, 2020|publisher=[[United States Office of Management and Budget]]|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420165403/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bulletin-20-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Fort Novosel]], the primary flight training base for [[United States Army Aviation Branch|Army Aviation]], abuts Ozark.

==History==
The Ozark area was originally inhabited by the [[Muscogee people]]. It is said that Ozark received its name after a traveler visited and was reminded of the [[The Ozarks|Ozark Mountains]] in [[Arkansas]].

The first known European settler in Ozark was John Merrick Sr., a veteran of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], in 1822. In honor of him, the town was named Merricks. It was later changed to Woodshop, which was its name when the town received its post office. The first appearance of the name Ozark was in 1855, when the citizens requested a name change.<ref name=watson>{{Cite book
  | last = Watson
  | first = Fred Shelton
  | title = Forgotten trails: a history of Dale County, Alabama, 1824–1966
  | publisher = Banner Press
  | year = 1968
  | location = Birmingham, Alabama
  | pages = 288}}</ref>

The county seat was moved from [[Newton, Alabama|Newton]] to Ozark 1870.<ref name=watson/><ref name=alabama>{{Cite encyclopedia
  | last = Hoskins Morton
  | first = Patricia
  | title = Dale County
  | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Alabama
  | date = December 10, 2010
  | url = http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1327
  | access-date = February 1, 2010
  | archive-date = June 21, 2010
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100621203225/http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1327
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

Ozark is home to four sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: the [[Claybank Log Church]], the [[Samuel Lawson Dowling House]], the [[Old Train Depot]], and the [[J. D. Holman House]].

==Geography==
Ozark is located at {{coord|31|26|53|N|85|38|31|W|type:city}} (31.448169, -85.642009).<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|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is part of the [[Wiregrass Region]].

Major highways that run through the city include [[U.S. Route 231 in Alabama|U.S. Route 231]] and Alabama State Routes [[Alabama State Route 27|27]] and [[Alabama State Route 249|249]]. US 231 runs northwest to southeast through the city, leading northwest {{convert|34|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Troy, Alabama|Troy]] and southeast {{convert|23|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]]. SR 27 leads east {{convert|31|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Abbeville, Alabama|Abbeville]] and southwest {{convert|19|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Enterprise, Alabama|Enterprise]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|34.5|sqmi}} of which {{convert|34.2|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}}  (0.70%) is water.

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

{{Weather box
|location = Ozark, 1991–2020 simulated normals (400 ft elevation)
|collapsed = 
|single line = y
|precipitation colour  =green
|Jan precipitation mm  =128.21
|Feb precipitation mm  =125.41
|Mar precipitation mm  =131.72
|Apr precipitation mm  =122.73
|May precipitation mm  =86.33
|Jun precipitation mm  =132.32
|Jul precipitation mm  =158.32
|Aug precipitation mm  =132.60
|Sep precipitation mm  =109.73
|Oct precipitation mm  =79.17
|Nov precipitation mm  =102.82
|Dec precipitation mm  =134.27
|Jan high C = 15.4
|Feb high C = 17.6
|Mar high C = 21.6
|Apr high C = 25.2
|May high C = 29.3
|Jun high C = 31.8
|Jul high C = 32.7
|Aug high C = 32.4
|Sep high C = 30.5
|Oct high C = 26.1
|Nov high C = 20.7
|Dec high C = 16.7
|Jan mean C  =9.4
|Feb mean C  =11.4
|Mar mean C  =14.9
|Apr mean C  =18.6
|May mean C  =23.0
|Jun mean C  =26.3
|Jul mean C  =27.3
|Aug mean C  =27.0
|Sep mean C  =24.9
|Oct mean C  =19.8
|Nov mean C  =14.1
|Dec mean C  =10.7
|Jan low C = 3.3
|Feb low C = 5.1
|Mar low C = 8.3
|Apr low C = 12.0
|May low C = 16.8
|Jun low C = 20.7
|Jul low C = 21.9
|Aug low C = 21.6
|Sep low C = 19.2
|Oct low C = 13.5
|Nov low C = 7.5
|Dec low C = 4.8
|Jan dew point C =4.6
|Feb dew point C =6.2
|Mar dew point C =8.5
|Apr dew point C =12.2
|May dew point C =16.4
|Jun dew point C =20.5
|Jul dew point C =22.0
|Aug dew point C =21.8
|Sep dew point C =19.6
|Oct dew point C =14.2
|Nov dew point C =9.0
|Dec dew point C =6.4
|source 1 = PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web
  | url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
  | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University
  | publisher=Northwest Alliance for Computational Science & Engineering (NACSE), based at Oregon State University
  | access-date=March 15, 2023
  | archive-date=July 25, 2019
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
  | url-status=live
  }}</ref>
  | date=March 15, 2023}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 512
|1890= 1195
|1900= 1570
|1910= 2229
|1920= 2518
|1930= 3103
|1940= 3601
|1950= 5238
|1960= 9534
|1970= 13555
|1980= 13188
|1990= 12922
|2000= 15119
|2010= 14907
|2020= 14368
|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=June 7, 2014|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131601/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 14,907 people, 6,209 households, and 4,064 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|440|PD/sqmi}}. There were 6,920 housing units at an average density of {{convert|201.1|/sqmi}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 64.8% White, 30.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,209 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 12.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median household income was $41,079 and the median family income was $52,061. Males had a median income of $41,513 versus $28,227 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,103. About 13.6% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ozark racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0157648&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 17, 2021|website=data.census.gov|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217201655/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0157648&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|8,147
|56.7%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|4,760
|33.13%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|65
|0.45%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|151
|1.05%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|8
|0.06%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|671
|4.67%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|566
|3.94%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,368 people, 5,946 households, and 3,651 families residing in the city.

==Education==
Ozark is served by the [[Ozark City Schools]]. Schools located in the city are [[Carroll High School (Alabama)|Carroll High School]] (grades 9 through 12), Carroll Career Center (grades 9 through 12), D.A. Smith Middle School (grades 6 through 8), Harry N. Mixon Intermediate School (grades 3 through 5), and Joseph W. Lisenby Primary School (grades k through 2.)

[[Dale County School District]] is headquartered in Ozark,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dalecountyboe.org/|title=Home|publisher=Dale County School District|accessdate=July 4, 2022|quote=202 South Highway 123, Ozark, AL 36360|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703001113/https://www.dalecountyboe.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> but does not include Ozark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01045_dale/DC20SD_C01045.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dale County, AL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 4, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910025154/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01045_dale/DC20SD_C01045.pdf|url-status=live}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01045_dale/DC20SD_C01045_SD2MS.txt Text list] - "Fort Rucker School District" refers to DoDEA schools.</ref>

There is one private school in Ozark, Harvest Christian School for K-12.

Post-secondary education is available at [[Enterprise State Community College]]'s Alabama Aviation Center at Ozark. Programs are offered in aviation maintenance technology.

<gallery>
Image:Carroll_at_District.JPG|Carroll High School Band 2009
Image:Carroll_Football_2007.jpg| Carroll High School Marching Band "Pride of the Wiregrass" 2007
</gallery>

==Media==
===Radio stations===
*[[WDBT (FM)|WDBT]] 103.9 FM ([[Talk radio|News/Talk]])
*[[WOAB]] 104.9 FM ([[Adult standards]])
*[[WOZK]] 900 AM ([[Middle of the road (music)|MOR]])

===Newspaper===
* ''The Free Press'' (1896–1900)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Free Press Archive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-free-press/4958/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910025254/https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-free-press/4958/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[The Southern Star (Alabama)|The Southern Star]]''- weekly

==Notable people==
* [[Steve Clouse]], state representative
* [[Larry Donnell]], [[tight end]] for the [[New York Giants]]
* [[Wilbur Jackson]], [[National Football League]] [[running back]] (1974–1982), [[San Francisco 49ers|SF49ers]], [[Washington Redskins]] 
* [[Meg McGuffin]], [[Miss Alabama]] 2015
* [[Steve McLendon]], [[nose tackle]]/[[defensive end]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
* [[Byron Mitchell]], former [[super middleweight]] [[boxing]] champion
*[[Marc Ronan]], [[Major League Baseball]] [[catcher]]
* [[Naseeb Saliba]], co-founder of [[Tutor-Saliba Corporation]]
* [[Josh Savage]], professional football player

==See also==
*[[Ozark Civic Center]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.ozarkalabama.us}}

{{Coord|display=title|31.448169|-85.642009}}

{{Dale County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ozark, Alabama|*]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1822]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Dale County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Enterprise–Ozark micropolitan area]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:1822 establishments in Alabama]]