Editing Rockford, Alabama

{{Short description|Town in Alabama, US}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Rockford, Alabama
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| image_skyline            = Rockford Alabama Downtown.JPG
| imagesize                = 300px
| image_caption            = Rockford, Alabama in 2011
| image_seal               =
| image_map                = Coosa County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rockford Highlighted 0165472.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Rockford in Coosa County, Alabama.
| coordinates              = {{coord|32|53|17|N|86|13|10|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Coosa County, Alabama|Coosa]]
<!-- established --------------->
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1832
| leader_title             =
| leader_name              =
| area_total_km2           = 8.60
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.32
| area_land_km2            = 8.57
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.31
| area_water_km2           = 0.03
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
| elevation_m              = 225
| elevation_ft             = 738
| population_footnotes     =
| population_total         = 349
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2   = 40.74
| population_density_sq_mi = 105.53
| timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 35136
| area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 01-65472
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0153189
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.rockfordalabama.net/}}
|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>
}}
'''Rockford''' is a town in [[Coosa County, Alabama|Coosa County]], [[Alabama]], United States. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 349. The town is the [[county seat]] of Coosa County and is part of the [[Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area|Talladega-Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Coosa County was created by an act of the Alabama State Legislature on December 18, 1832, and a site on Hatchet Creek was chosen as the county seat and given the name Lexington. In 1835 the name was changed to Rockford.<ref name=alabama>{{Cite encyclopedia
  | last = Hoskins Morton
  | first = Patricia
  | title = Coosa County
  | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Alabama
  | date = December 10, 2009
| url = http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1313
  | accessdate = January 25, 2010}}
</ref>

==Geography==
Rockford is located at {{Coord|32|53|17|N|86|13|10|W|type:city}} (32.888181, -86.219575).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The town is located in the central part of the state along [[U.S. Route 231 in Alabama|U.S. Route 231]], which runs south to north through the center of town, leading north 21&nbsp;mi (34&nbsp;km) to [[Sylacauga, Alabama|Sylacauga]] and south 28&nbsp;mi (45&nbsp;km) to [[Wetumpka, Alabama|Wetumpka]]. [[Alabama State Route 22]] meets US 231 in the center of town, leading east 18&nbsp;mi (29&nbsp;km) to [[Alexander City, Alabama|Alexander City]] and west 29&nbsp;mi (47&nbsp;km) to [[Clanton, Alabama|Clanton]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|3.3|sqmi}} of which {{convert|3.3|sqmi}} is land and 0.30% is water.<ref name=2000censusarea>{{Cite web
  | title = Geographic Comparison Table- Alabama
  | work = American Fast Facts
  | publisher = United States Census Bureau
  | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US01&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7
  | accessdate =
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200212042737/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US01&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7
  | archive-date = February 12, 2020
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

Soils are mostly well drained sandy loam of the Wedowee series. Loams and silt loams of the Baden, Tallapoosa and Fruithurst series are common on the northern outskirts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/|title=SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser &#124; California Soil Resource Lab}}</ref>

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

{{Weather box
|location = Rockford, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–2016
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 79

|Jan high F = 54.6
|Feb high F = 59.5
|Mar high F = 67.4
|Apr high F = 75.0
|May high F = 81.0
|Jun high F = 86.1
|Jul high F = 88.7
|Aug high F = 87.2
|Sep high F = 83.2
|Oct high F = 73.9
|Nov high F = 64.0
|Dec high F = 56.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 44.6
|Feb mean F = 48.6
|Mar mean F = 55.4
|Apr mean F = 62.3
|May mean F = 69.7
|Jun mean F = 75.9
|Jul mean F = 79.0
|Aug mean F = 77.9
|Sep mean F = 73.4
|Oct mean F = 63.2
|Nov mean F = 53.1
|Dec mean F = 46.9
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 34.6
|Feb low F = 37.7
|Mar low F = 43.4
|Apr low F = 49.6
|May low F = 58.3
|Jun low F = 65.6
|Jul low F = 69.2
|Aug low F = 68.7
|Sep low F = 63.7
|Oct low F = 52.5
|Nov low F = 42.2
|Dec low F = 37.1
|year low F =

|Jan record low F = -6
|Feb record low F = 6
|Mar record low F = 11
|Apr record low F = 24
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 50
|Aug record low F = 49
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 23
|Nov record low F = 12
|Dec record low F = -4

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.72
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.79
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.93
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.19
|May precipitation inch = 4.78
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.54
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.33
|Aug precipitation inch = 5.07
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.79
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.60
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.97
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.48
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.4
|Feb precipitation days = 10.1
|Mar precipitation days = 8.6
|Apr precipitation days = 8.1
|May precipitation days = 8.2
|Jun precipitation days = 9.2
|Jul precipitation days = 11.1
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 6.2
|Oct precipitation days = 6.1
|Nov precipitation days = 6.9
|Dec precipitation days = 9.8

|Jan snow inch = 0.3
|Feb snow inch = 0.1
|Mar snow inch = 0.4
|Apr snow inch = 0.2
|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 = trace
|year snow inch = 1.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.2
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|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 = 0.1

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00017020&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: Rockford 3 ESE, AL (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = June 16, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00017020&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: Rockford, AL (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = June 16, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Birmingham
|access-date = June 16, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 171
|1890= 240
|1920= 274
|1930= 320
|1940= 394
|1950= 373
|1960= 328
|1970= 603
|1980= 494
|1990= 461
|2000= 428
|2010= 477
|2020= 349
|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|accessdate=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|accessdate=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Rockford racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0165472&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|254
|72.78%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|75
|21.49%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|17
|4.87%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|3
|0.86%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 349 people, 261 households, and 164 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|census]] of 2000, there were 428 people, 189 households, and 113 families residing in the town.<ref name=2000census>{{Cite web
  | title = Fact Sheet- Rockford town, Alabama
  | work = American Fast Facts
  | publisher = United States Census Bureau
  | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=rockford&_cityTown=rockford&_state=04000US01&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y
  | accessdate =
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200212053612/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=rockford&_cityTown=rockford&_state=04000US01&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y
  | archive-date = February 12, 2020
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|129.6|PD/sqmi}}.  There were 226 housing units at an average density of {{convert|68.5|/sqmi}}.<ref name=2000censusarea/> The racial makeup of the town was 65.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 32.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.64% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.<ref name=2000census/>

There were 189 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.<ref name=2000census/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.<ref name=2000census/>

The median income for a household in the town was $20,000, and the median income for a family was $32,125. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $17,031 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,350. About 24.3% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=2000census/>

==Education==
Public education in Rockford is provided by the Coosa County Board of Education. There are four schools located in Rockford: Central High School (grades 9 through 12), Central Middle School (grades 5 through 8), Central Elementary School (grades (K through 4), and Coosa County Science and Technology Center (grades 9 through 12).

==Fred the Town Dog==
In 1993, a sick and bedraggled dog wandered into Rockford. The animal was called "Fred" and was nursed back to health by town residents. For the next ten years, Fred was the town mascot.

Fred gained popularity through a regular newspaper column, "A Dog's Life," about his activities and encounters, and then national recognition after he was profiled on [[cable television|cable TV's]] ''[[Animal Planet]]''.

Fred died on December 23, 2002, in a Birmingham animal hospital, from a mysterious animal bite. He was buried behind the town's old [[jailhouse]]. A full-size grave marker, donated by a Montgomery businessman, was added in May 2003. Fred was inducted into the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web

  | title = Fred the Town Dog
  | work = RoadsideAmerican.com
  | date =
  | url = http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pet/fredtowndog.html
  | doi =
  | accessdate = January 25, 2010}}
</ref>

In 2014, the story was turned into a [[short film]] [[documentary]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=A dog wanders into an Alabama town and changes the residents' lives forever. {{!}} Fred: The Town Dog - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016BmZ9MvjE&feature=youtu.be|access-date=July 14, 2020|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> titled ''Fred: The Town Dog''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3392710/|title=Fred: The Town Dog (2014)|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=January 30, 2019}}</ref>

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Coosa County Alabama Courthouse.JPG|The [[Coosa County, Alabama|Coosa County]] Courthouse is located in Rockford which is the county seat of Coosa County.
File:2021-03-18_Rockford,_AL_-_Town_Hall.jpg|Rockford Town Hall
File:2021-03-18_Rockford,_AL_-_Post_Office.jpg|Rockford Post Office ([[ZIP code]]: 35136)
File:2021-03-18_Rockford,_AL_-_Coosa_County_law_Enforcement_Center.jpg|The [[Coosa County, Alabama|Coosa County]] Law Enforcement Center located in Rockford.
File:2021-03-18_Rockford,_AL_-_Event_Center.jpg|The Rockford Event Center
File:Coosa County Alabama Jail.JPG|The old [[Coosa County, Alabama|Coosa County]] Jailhouse is located in Rockford. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Alabama#Coosa County|National Register of Historic Places]] on June 20, 1974.
File:2021-03-18_Rockford,_AL_-_Women's_Club_House.jpg|The Rockford Women's Club House was built in 1932 and added to the [[Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]] on March 13, 1996.
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[James K. Parsons]], [[Major general (United States)|major general]] in the [[United States Army]] who received the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for heroism in [[World War I]]
* Lewis E. Parsons, Jr., United States Attorney for the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|Northern District of Alabama]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.rockfordalabama.net/}}

{{Coosa County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Coosa County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1832]]
[[Category:Alexander City micropolitan area]]