Editing Thomaston, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Thomaston, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Marengo County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Thomaston Highlighted 0175936.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Marengo County, Alabama
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|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        = [[Marengo County, Alabama|Marengo]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web|title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 11, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.01
|area_land_km2            = 
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.01
|area_water_km2           = 
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 187
|elevation_m              = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0175936&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Thomaston town, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 326
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 161.95
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|32|16|10|N|87|37|30|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36783
|area_code                = [[Area code 334|334]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-75936
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0127881
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|townofthomaston.com}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}

[[Image:Thomaston Colored Institute 02.JPG|thumb|The [[Thomaston Colored Institute]] in Thomaston. On the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]

'''Thomaston''' is a town in [[Marengo County, Alabama|Marengo County]], [[Alabama]], United States. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] the population was 326,<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 417 at the 2010 census.

==History==
Thomaston was [[plat]]ted in 1901 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref name="Democrat-Reporter">{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9JE1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=oxMGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3029%2C608370 | title=French colonists settled Linden when it became county seat | publisher=The Democrat-Reporter | work=Sep 21, 2006 | date=September 21, 2006 | access-date=October 28, 2015 | author=Jones, Joel D. | pages=2}}</ref> Thomaston was named for C. B. Thomas, a town promoter.<ref name="Democrat-Reporter" /> A post office called Thomaston has been in operation since 1892.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=AL&county=Marengo&searchtext=&pagenum=4 | title=Marengo County | website=Postalhistory.com| access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref> It was incorporated on November 15, 1901.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruralswalabama.org/attraction/old-ln-depot-thomaston-al/|title=Old L&N Depot at Thomaston, AL (built c. 1900-1901, listed on the NRHP)|website=RuralSWAlabama.org|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

===Historic sites===
Thomaston has one historic district, the [[Thomaston Central Historic District]], which encompasses the core of the town. Additionally, there are three individually listed properties on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: the [[Thomaston Colored Institute]], [[C. S. Golden House]], and [[Patrick Farrish House]].<ref name="NRHP">{{cite web|title=Alabama: Marengo County |work=Nationalhistoricalregister.com|
url=http://www.nationalhistoricalregister.com/al/marengo/state.html|access-date=March 5, 2008}}</ref> The town is home to the [[Alabama Rural Heritage Center]], and the Thomaston Community Market, (both now defunct), both community projects of Auburn University's [[Rural Studio]]. Thomaston is also home to the Alabama Whitetail Records Museum.

==Geography==
Thomaston is located in eastern Marengo County at {{coord|32.269495|-87.624865|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<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> [[Alabama State Route 28]] (Second Avenue) passes through the town, leading west {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Linden, Alabama|Linden]], the [[county seat]], and southeast {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Camden, Alabama|Camden]]. [[Alabama State Route 25|State Route 25]] (Range Street) crosses SR 28 in the center of town and leads north {{convert|32|mi}} to [[Greensboro, Alabama|Greensboro]] and south {{convert|29|mi}} to [[Thomasville, Alabama|Thomasville]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Thomaston has a total area of {{convert|2.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land. The town drains west to Michigan Creek, which flows north to Chickasaw Bogue and is part of the [[Tombigbee River]] watershed.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 309
|1920= 372
|1930= 377
|1940= 345
|1950= 1027
|1960= 857
|1970= 824
|1980= 679
|1990= 497
|2000= 383
|2010= 417
|2020= 326
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|website=Census.gov|access-date=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|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Thomaston town, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Thomaston town, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0175936&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Thomaston town, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0175936&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|183
|164
|43.88%
|50.31%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|222
|159
|53.24%
|48.77%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|6
|0
|1.44%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|2
|0
|0.48%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|3
|3
|0.72%
|0.92%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1
|0
|0.24%
|0.00%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''417'''
|'''326'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 383 people, 163 households, and 105 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|190.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 212 housing units at an average density of {{convert|105.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 50.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 48.56% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], and 1.31% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 163 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.2% 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 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,972, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $32,404 versus $21,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,390. About 22.1% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 43.2% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
'''Amelia L. Johnson High School''' is a small public school in Thomaston serving students from PK to high school. It is one of three high schools in Marengo County. Most of its students are African American and economically disadvantaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/alabama/districts/marengo-county/amelia-l-johnson-high-school-245|title=Amelia L. Johnson High School |website=Usnews.com|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

==Government==
Thomaston is governed by an elected mayor and council of five. Police protection is provided by the Thomaston Police Department. Thomaston has a small volunteer fire department. A rural health clinic is located in Thomaston and can handle small emergencies. It is open weekdays to offer medical care.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.townofthomaston.com}}
*[http://www.ruralheritagecenter.com/ Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation]

{{Marengo County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Marengo County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1892]]