Editing Prattville, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Autauga and Elmore counties, Alabama, U.S.}}
{{Redirect|Prattville}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Prattville
| settlement_type                 = [[City (Alabama)|City]]
| image_skyline                   = Prattv.jpg
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = Flag of Prattville, Alabama.png
| image_seal                      = CityofPrattvilleLogo-C.png
| nickname                        = The Fountain City
| motto                           = "The Preferred Community"
| image_map                       = File:Autauga County and Elmore County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Prattville Highlighted 0162328.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Prattville in Autauga County and Elmore County, Alabama.
| coordinates                     = {{coord|32|27|33|N|86|27|5|W|region:US-AL}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_name1               = [[Alabama]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Alabama|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga]], [[Elmore County, Alabama|Elmore]]
| established_title               = Founded
| established_date                = 1839
| government_type                 = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor-council]]
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = Bill Gillespie Jr ([[Non-partisan]])
| 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>
| area_total_km2                  = 94.00
| area_total_sq_mi                = 36.29
| area_land_km2                   = 91.71
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 35.41
| area_water_km2                  = 2.29
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.88
| elevation_m                     = 100
| elevation_ft                    = 328
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 37781
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| population_density_km2          = 411.96
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1066.96
| timezone                        = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
| utc_offset                      = −6
| timezone_DST                    = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = −5
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code                     = 36066-36068
| area_code_type                  = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code                       = [[Area code 334|334]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 01-62328
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0125246
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.prattvilleal.gov/}}
}}

'''Prattville''' is a city located within both [[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga]] and [[Elmore County, Alabama|Elmore]] counties in the [[U.S. state|State]] of [[Alabama]], United States, but serves as the [[county seat]] of Autauga County. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 37,781. Nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to the many artesian wells in the area, Prattville is part of the [[Montgomery Metropolitan Area]]. It was founded by [[Daniel Pratt (industrialist)|Daniel Pratt]].

==History==
Prattville was founded in 1839 by industrialist and architect [[Daniel Pratt (industrialist)|Daniel Pratt]]. The area was largely inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and a few settlers when Pratt, a native of [[Temple, New Hampshire]], first observed the Autauga Creek in the 1830s. He purchased approximately {{convert|1,000|acre|km2}} from Joseph May at $21.00 an acre, and set out to build his manufacturing facilities and the town along the banks of Autauga Creek. The location was chosen because the creek could supply power to the [[cotton gin]] manufacturing equipment. The town became an industrial center and rapidly grew. In 1868, it was named the county seat for Autauga County.<ref>{{cite web | title = Autauga County| work = Autauga County Heritage Association| url = http://www.autaugacountyheritage.com/Autauga_County.html| access-date =December 21, 2009 }}</ref>

Prattville contains several sites on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], including the [[Daniel Pratt Historic District]], [[Bell House (Prattville, Alabama)|Bell House]] and [[Montgomery-Janes-Whittaker House|Buena Vista]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Prattville is located at {{coord|32.462235|N|86.461264|W|format=dms|display=title|type:city(33960)}} (32.462235, -86.461264).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|33.8|mi2|km2}} of which {{convert|32.9|mi2|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.9|mi2|km2}}  (3.09%) is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2013|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=February 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> The city is located northwest of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] and along [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|Interstate 65]] and [[U.S. Route 82 in Alabama|U.S. Route 82]]. I-65 runs north to south east of downtown, with access from exits 179 and 181, both in the Elmore County portion of the city. I-65 leads southeast {{convert|14|mi|km|abbr=on}} to downtown Montgomery and north {{convert|82|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]. US 82 runs south with I-65 to downtown Montgomery, and northwest {{convert|89|mi|km|abbr=on}} to [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 672
|1870= 1346
|1880= 977
|1890= 724
|1900= 1929
|1910= 2222
|1920= 2316
|1930= 2331
|1940= 2664
|1950= 4385
|1960= 6616
|1970= 13116
|1980= 18647
|1990= 19587
|2000= 24303
|2010= 33960
|2020= 37781
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Prattville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0162328&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|25,592
|67.74%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|7,906
|20.93%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|114
|0.3%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|856
|2.27%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|19
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,778
|4.71%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,516
|4.01%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 37,781 people, 14,069 households, and 9,658 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,960 people, 12,711 households, and 9,305 families residing in Prattville. The population density was {{convert|1033.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 13,541 housing units at an average density of {{convert|412.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.5% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], 16.7% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (U.S. census)|Native American]], 1.4% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.1% from [[Race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 12,711 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $45,728, and the median income for a family was $51,774. Males had a median income of $36,677 versus $22,978 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,832. 8.3% of the population and 6.4% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 9.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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

{{Weather box
|location = Prattville, 1991–2020 simulated normals (200 ft elevation)
|collapsed = 
|single line = y
|precipitation colour  =green
|Jan precipitation mm  =133.86
|Feb precipitation mm  =136.54
|Mar precipitation mm  =138.12
|Apr precipitation mm  =113.19
|May precipitation mm  =101.52
|Jun precipitation mm  =126.30
|Jul precipitation mm  =129.33
|Aug precipitation mm  =115.45
|Sep precipitation mm  =96.01
|Oct precipitation mm  =79.12
|Nov precipitation mm  =105.25
|Dec precipitation mm  =137.01
|Jan high C = 14.2
|Feb high C = 16.8
|Mar high C = 21.0
|Apr high C = 24.8
|May high C = 28.9
|Jun high C = 31.9
|Jul high C = 33.1
|Aug high C = 33.0
|Sep high C = 30.8
|Oct high C = 25.6
|Nov high C = 19.8
|Dec high C = 15.4
|Jan mean C  =8.3
|Feb mean C  =10.6
|Mar mean C  =14.5
|Apr mean C  =18.2
|May mean C  =22.7
|Jun mean C  =26.4
|Jul mean C  =27.7
|Aug mean C  =27.5
|Sep mean C  =24.9
|Oct mean C  =19.2
|Nov mean C  =13.2
|Dec mean C  =9.6
|Jan low C = 2.5
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 7.9
|Apr low C = 11.6
|May low C = 16.5
|Jun low C = 20.8
|Jul low C = 22.3
|Aug low C = 22.0
|Sep low C = 19.1
|Oct low C = 12.8
|Nov low C = 6.5
|Dec low C = 3.8
|Jan dew point C =3.1
|Feb dew point C =4.8
|Mar dew point C =7.6
|Apr dew point C =11.5
|May dew point C =16.2
|Jun dew point C =20.1
|Jul dew point C =21.9
|Aug dew point C =21.5
|Sep dew point C =18.8
|Oct dew point C =13.3
|Nov dew point C =7.7
|Dec dew point C =4.9
|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 14, 2023}}</ref>
 | date=March 14, 2023}}

===Severe weather===
On February 17, 2008, Prattville was hit by an [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF3]] [[tornado]] which destroyed more than 45 homes and businesses and damaged over 700. Twenty-nine people were injured with no fatalities. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $85 million in insured and uninsured damages.<ref>{{cite web | title =Tornadoes touch down across Southeast: 29 people injured in Alabama town; 200 homes, 100 businesses damaged | work =NBC News | url =https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23213687 | access-date =January 25, 2010 }}</ref>

==Education==
Most of Prattville (the Autauga County portion) is part of the [[Autauga County School System]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01001_autauga/DC20SD_C01001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801034701/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01001_autauga/DC20SD_C01001.pdf |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Autauga County, AL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01001_autauga/DC20SD_C01001_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> and has eight schools, including [[Prattville High School]] and the Autauga County Technology Center.<ref>{{cite web | title = Autauga County Technology Center | url = http://www.autaugacountyschool.org/ACBOE%20Schools/ACTC/actc.htm | access-date = December 21, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100116055724/http://www.autaugacountyschool.org/ACBOE%20Schools/ACTC/actc.htm | archive-date = January 16, 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The Elmore County portion is in the [[Elmore County Public School System]].<ref name=Censusmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01051_elmore/DC20SD_C01051.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801030446/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01051_elmore/DC20SD_C01051.pdf |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elmore County, AL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01051_elmore/DC20SD_C01051_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Prattville Christian Academy and [[Autauga Academy]] are private schools based in the city. [[East Memorial Christian Academy]] was located in an [[unincorporated area]] of [[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga County]], near Prattville, until it was closed down.<ref>"[http://www.emcawildcats.org/wordpress/index.php Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821170908/http://emcawildcats.org/wordpress/index.php |date=2013-08-21 }}." [[East Memorial Christian Academy]]. Retrieved on August 3, 2013. "1320 Old Ridge Road Prattville, Alabama 36066"</ref>

==Emergency services==
Fire protection and Emergency Medical Services in Prattville are provided by the Prattville Fire Department.

Law enforcement agency is the Prattville Police Department.

==Media==
Prattville is part of the [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] [[media market|television market]]. [[WOW!]] (formerly [[Knology]]) and [[Charter Communications|Charter]] provide [[cable television]] service. [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]] provide [[direct broadcast satellite]] television including both local and national channels to area residents. Prattville is also served by the twice-weekly ''Prattville Progress'' newspaper.<ref name="Prat#1">{{cite web|url=http://www.prattvilleprogress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=progress|title=The Prattville Progress|publisher=The Prattville Progress|access-date=September 19, 2009|archive-date=September 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920140918/http://www.prattvilleprogress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=PROGRESS|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Recreation==
The city has become a popular [[golf]] destination, featuring the Capitol Hill golf courses (part of the [[Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail]]). Its Senator Course hosted the Navistar (now Yokohama Tire) LPGA Classic on the [[LPGA|LPGA Tour]] from [[2007 LPGA Tour|2007]] through [[2012 LPGA Tour|2012]] when Navistar ended its sponsorship. There was no LPGA event at this course in 2013. The [[2014 LPGA Tour|2014]] event, now known as the [[Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic]] after its new sponsor, was scheduled for September 18–21.

[[High Point Town Center]] is a large shopping center built in Prattville between 2007 and 2008. 10,000-capacity [[Stanley-Jensen Stadium]] is located in Prattville. It is mainly used for football and soccer.

==Transportation==
Major highways that pass through the city include:
*{{jct|state=AL|I|65}}
*{{jct|state=AL|US|31}}
*{{jct|state=AL|US|82}}
*{{jct|state=AL|AL|14}}

Prattville also has a small [[Prattville–Grouby Field|airport]] about 3.5 miles from downtown.

Autauga County Rural Transportation provides [[dial-a-ride]] transit service in the city and county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.autaugaco.org/Default.asp?ID=148|title=Autauga County Rural Transportation|access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>

==Historical markers==

===Happy Hollow===
[[File:Happy Hallow Marker.jpg|thumb|Historical Marker]]Known for the signature hill that turns into a steep curve, located on present-day 6th Street, Happy Hollow was the center of African American life in Prattville in the 1950s. This marker was erected to honor the spirit of "equality" that resonated in Happy Hollow.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/aha/markers/autauga.html |title=Alabama Historical Association Marker Program: Autauga County |access-date=January 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202110052/http://www.archives.state.al.us/aha/markers/autauga.html |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Marlon Anderson]], [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[Kaitlan Collins]], journalist
* [[Evan Crawford (baseball)|Evan Crawford]], [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[John Coleman Darnell]], [[Egyptologist]]<ref>{{cite news |work= [[Yale Daily News]]|first= Catherine|last= Killingsworth|date= December 7, 2007|title= Profile – Man, Myth, or Legend?|url= https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2007/12/07/profile-man-myth-or-legend/|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170929044040/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2007/12/07/profile-man-myth-or-legend/|archive-date= September 29, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Steve Gainer]], Cinematographer
* [[Bobby Greenwood (American football)|Bobby Greenwood]], [[National Football League|NFL]] [[offensive tackle]]
* [[Roman Harper]], [[National Football League|NFL]] player.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alvin |last=Benn |title=Prattville turns out to welcome Saints star home |date=February 28, 2010 |url=http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100228/NEWS01/2280333/Prattville-turns-out-to-welcome-Saints-star-home |newspaper=Montgomery Advertiser |access-date=March 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813195153/http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100228/NEWS01/2280333/Prattville-turns-out-to-welcome-Saints-star-home |archive-date=August 13, 2014 }}</ref>
* [[C. M. Hazen]], head coach for the [[Richmond Spiders football|University of Richmond football]] team from 1882 to 1888
* [[O. J. Howard]], former Tight End for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]]. He was drafted 1st Round 19th Overall to the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]
* [[Randy Hunt (baseball)|Randy Hunt]], former [[Major League Baseball]] [[catcher]]
* [[Charlie Lucas]], sculptor
* [[Nick Perry (safety)|Nick Perry]], NFL player and coach
* [[Wilson Pickett]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[soul music|soul]] singer and songwriter "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"
* [[Tommy Shaw]], member of the band [[Styx (band)|Styx]]
* [[Brandon Taylor (writer)|Brandon Taylor]], author
* [[Daniel Holcombe Thomas]], chief judge of the [[U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama]] from 1966 to 1971
* [[Trust Company (band)|Trust Company]], [[alternative rock]]/[[post-grunge]] band
* [[Kevin Turner (running back)|Kevin Turner]], [[National Football League|NFL]] player
* [[Ernie Wingard]], [[pitcher]] for the [[St. Louis Browns]] from 1924 to 1927
* [[Zac Woodfin]], [[National Football League|NFL]] player.

==Popular culture==
[[Gabriel García Marquez]] mentions Prattville in his well-known work ''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]''; Prattville is referred to as the original city of Jack Brown, the founder of the banana company.<ref>''One Hundred Years of Solitude'', page 124</ref>

== Folklore ==
A popular ghost-story known as "The Black Lady," inspired by deaths caused by poor working conditions in the nearby factories of downtown Prattville, is a popular phenomenon described by most as a black, ghastly figure that goes across the nearby dam during the night hours of 1 am to 4 am and has been featured on the ghost hunting show, ''[[Deep South Paranormal]]''.

This story, and additional Prattville ghost stories are cited by Digital Alabama.<ref name="digitalalabama">{{cite web | url=https://digitalalabama.com/alabama-haunted-places/haunted-places-in-alabama/12361 | access-date=January 27, 2020 | title=Haunted Places in Alabama | publisher=Digital Alabama | website=digitalalabama.com | date=October 25, 2018}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Autauga County Courthouse March 2010 02.jpg|Autauga County Courthouse
File:Bell House Prattville March 2010 01.jpg|[[Bell House (Prattville, Alabama)|Bell House]]
File:First Methodist Prattville March 2010.jpg|Prattville First Methodist Church
</gallery>

=== 1938 flooding ===
<gallery>
File:Alabama - Prattville - NARA - 23936371 (cropped).jpg
File:Alabama - Prattville - NARA - 23936369 (cropped).jpg
File:Alabama - Prattville - NARA - 23936367 (cropped).jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Prattville, Alabama}}
{{Portal|United States}}
* {{Official website|http://www.prattvilleal.gov/}}

{{Autauga County, Alabama}}
{{Elmore County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Prattville, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Autauga County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Elmore County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Montgomery metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Alabama]]