Editing Rainbow City, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Other places|Rainbow City (disambiguation){{!}}Rainbow City}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Rainbow City, Alabama
|official_name            = City of Rainbow City
|settlement_type          = City
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Rainbow City, Alabama.png
|image_seal               = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Rainbow City, Alabama.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|image_map                = File:Etowah County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rainbow City Highlighted 0163288.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Rainbow City in Etowah County, Alabama
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 67.13
|area_total_sq_mi         = 25.92
|area_land_km2            = 66.25
|area_land_sq_mi          = 25.58
|area_water_km2           = 0.88
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.34
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 518
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 10191
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 153.83
|population_density_sq_mi = 398.41
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|56|38|N|86|3|42|W|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 35901, 35906
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-63288
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2404588<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404588}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.rbcalabama.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>
}}
'''Rainbow City''' is a city in [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah County]], Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3220|title=Rainbow City|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama}}</ref> The population was 9,602 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0163288| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Rainbow City city, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=January 22, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213055842/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0163288| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is part of the [[Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
This city was named after [[U.S. Highway 411]], called Rainbow Drive, which runs through the middle of the city.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sqYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d9YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1642%2C3237680 | title=Names often lend special air to places | work=[[Gadsden Times]] | date=June 17, 1984 | access-date=May 20, 2015 | author=Smith, Katie | pages=B1}}</ref>

[[Hernando de Soto]]'s troops were the first visitors to the area in 1540. In 1818, families from [[the Carolinas]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] began to migrate to the area and homestead land near the [[Coosa River]], calling the area "Coosa Bend". This area was later called "Morgan's Cross Road", located at the intersection of the Gadsden-Ashville Road and Gilbert's Ferry Road.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.rbcalabama.com/history/ |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=City of Rainbow City |language=en-US}}</ref>

John Sheffield Jones, the grandson of an original settler, donated $1,000 and the land for the construction of the first John S. Jones Elementary School. This school later burned to the ground; a new elementary school was built and serves the Rainbow City area today.<ref name=":0" />

On April 2, 1831, a church was organized at the Harmony Meeting House. A few years later, the first [[Baptist]] association was organized. Harmony was one of the first five members in the association. The adjoining cemetery, Old Harmony Cemetery, has been declared a historic landmark.<ref name=":0" />

==Education==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
The city is served by the Etowah County Board of Education. The city has one public elementary school, and shares a middle and high school with neighboring Southside. There is also a private school for the city.

John S. Jones is one of several elementary schools in the area. It houses grades K-5.

===Southside High School===
Southside is the shared high school for the area of Southside and Rainbow City. It houses grades 9–12.

=== Westbrook Christian School ===
Westbrook is a private school that houses grades PreK-12.

==Geography==
Rainbow City is located in southern Etowah County at {{coord|33|56|38|N|86|3|42|W|type:city}} (33.943964, −86.061546).<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> It is bordered to the northeast by [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]], the [[county seat]], to the southeast by the [[Coosa River]], across which is the city of [[Southside, Alabama|Southside]], and to the southwest, across Little Canoe Creek, by the town of [[Steele, Alabama|Steele]] in [[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair County]].<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Chocolate to Rainbow City: the dialectics of black and gay community formation in postwar Washington, D.C., 1946-1978 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2142/26383 |publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |date=August 26, 2011 |first=Kwame A. |last=Holmes}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 411]] (Rainbow Drive) is the main road through the city, leading northeast {{convert|6|mi|0}} to the center of Gadsden and southwest {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Ashville, Alabama|Ashville]]. [[Alabama State Route 77]] (Grand Avenue) crosses US 411 in the center of Rainbow City, leading northwest {{Convert|4|mi|0}} to [[Interstate 59]] at Exit 181 and south {{convert|26|mi}} to [[Lincoln, Alabama|Lincoln]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Rainbow City has a total area of {{convert|66.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|65.9|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.4|km2|order=flip}}, or 0.58%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 1625
|1970= 3107
|1980= 6299
|1990= 7673
|2000= 8428
|2010= 9602
|2020= 10191
|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>
}}

===2000 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 2000, there were 8,428 people, 3,586 households, and 2,517 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|335.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,824 housing units at an average density of {{convert|152.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.09% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.51% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.45% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,586 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,216, and the median income for a family was $50,844. Males had a median income of $38,278 versus $26,483 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,860. About 6.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 23, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 9,602 people, 4,113 households, and 2,721 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|333.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,534 housing units at an average density of {{convert|179.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 7.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 2.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,113 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,236, and the median income for a family was $60,000. Males had a median income of $45,593 versus $32,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,422. About 10.5% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Rainbow City racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0163288&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|7,984
|78.34%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,113
|10.92%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|24
|0.24%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|323
|3.17%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|7
|0.07%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/mixed]]
|458
|4.49%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|282
|2.77%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 10,191 people, 3,847 households, and 2,508 families residing in the city.

==Politics and government==
The current mayor of Rainbow City is Joe Taylor,<ref>{{cite web|title=Office of the Mayor|website=Rainbow City Alabama official website|url=http://www.rbcalabama.com/mayor/}}</ref> who was first elected in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rainbow City History|website=Rainbow City Alabama official website|url=http://www.rbcalabama.com/history/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Calhoun running for third term as RBC mayor|date=July 27, 2012|author=Joshua Price|url=https://gadsdenmessenger.com/2012/07/27/calhoun-running-for-third-term-as-mayor/}}</ref> The Current City Council consists of Anita Bedwell, Randy Vice, Clark Hopper, Jeff Prince, and Jameson Jenkins.

==Transportation==
Etowah County Rural Transportation provides [[dial-a-ride]] bus service throughout the city and county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etowahcounty.org/department/rural-transportation/|title=Etowah County Rural Transportation|access-date=November 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Brodie Croyle]], former [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] quarterback and retired NFL player
*[[Patrick Nix]], former [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] quarterback and current high school football coach in [[Pinson, Alabama|Pinson Valley]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120823165629/http://www.rbcalabama.com/index.shtml Rainbow City official website]

{{Coord|display=title|33.943964|-86.061546}}

{{Etowah County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Etowah County, Alabama]]