Editing Wedowee, Alabama

{{Short description|Town in Alabama, US}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Wedowee, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = Wedowee.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Randolph County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wedowee Highlighted 0180496.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Wedowee in Randolph 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        = [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 9.13
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.52
|area_land_km2            = 9.05
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.49
|area_water_km2           = 0.08
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
|elevation_ft             = 856
|elevation_m              = 261
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 737
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 81.44
|population_density_sq_mi = 210.93
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|18|31|N|85|29|8|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36278
|area_code                = [[Area code 256|256]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-80496
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0153913
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|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>
}}
'''Wedowee''' is a town in [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County]], [[Alabama]], United States. At the 2010 census the population was 823, up from 818 in 2000. The small town is the [[county seat]] of Randolph County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It was initially incorporated in 1836, but its charter lapsed by the late 19th century. It was reincorporated in 1901.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41033935v1-8ch1.pdf|format=PDF|title=Supplement for Alabama|website=2.census.gov|access-date=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

Randolph County High School is located in Wedowee.

==History==
Wedowee, which means "old water" in the [[Creek people|Creek]] language, was named after a Muscogee Creek Indian chief. This area was historically occupied by the [[Muscogee Creek people]].

Following [[Indian Removal]] of the Creek in the 1830s to [[Indian Territory]] west of the Mississippi River by the US government, this area was settled by European Americans. The town of Wedowee was designated as the county seat of [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County]] in 1835. The county was developed for the cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop, with labor primarily done by enslaved African Americans, many of whom had been sold to the Deep South from the Upper South in the domestic slave trade.

Since the late 20th century, [[Lake Wedowee]] was created by the impoundment of the [[Tallapoosa River]]. This has enhanced the tourist drawing power of the town. Also known as the [[Lake Wedowee|R. L. Harris Reservoir]], the lake draws thousands of visitors to Wedowee every year.
<ref name="Wedowee">{{Citation | title = Small Town Historic Markers | publisher = Alabama Tourism Department | url = http://www.alabama.travel/homecoming/ | access-date = February 2, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110203101446/http://www.alabama.travel/homecoming/ | archive-date = February 3, 2011 }}</ref>

==Geography==

Wedowee is located on the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont plateau]] at {{Coord|33|18|31|N|85|29|8|W|type:city}} (33.308603, -85.485447).<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 also located in the foothills of the [[Appalachian Mountains]].

The city is located in the central part of Randolph County along [[U.S. Route 431 in Alabama|U.S. Route 431]], which is the main route through the city. U.S. 431 leads northwest 34&nbsp;mi (55&nbsp;km) to [[Oxford, Alabama|Oxford]] and southeast 13&nbsp;mi (21&nbsp;km) to [[Roanoke, Alabama|Roanoke]]. [[Alabama State Route 48]] also runs through the city, leading northeast 9&nbsp;mi (14&nbsp;km) to [[Woodland, Alabama|Woodland]] and west 16&nbsp;mi (26&nbsp;km) to [[Lineville, Alabama|Lineville]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|3.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|3.5|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} (0.85%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 130
|1910= 435
|1920= 510
|1930= 396
|1940= 525
|1950= 559
|1960= 917
|1970= 842
|1980= 908
|1990= 796
|2000= 818
|2010= 823
|2020= 737
|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><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|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}

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 818 people, 337 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|233.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 378 housing units at an average density of {{convert|107.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 68.70% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 30.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.49% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.24% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.24% from two or more races. 0.12% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 337 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% 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 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,136, and the median income for a family was $37,292. Males had a median income of $24,250 versus $22,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,638. About 17.1% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
*[[Hulond Humphries]] – part-time hog farmer; former high school principal and district superintendent.
*[[John Merrill (American politician)|John Merrill]] – politician; former [[Secretary of State of Alabama]]
*[[T. Jack Lee]] – sixth Director of the [[NASA]] [[Marshall Space Flight Center]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]], Alabama, 1989-1994
*[[Stanley O'Neal]] – former CEO of [[Merrill Lynch]]; currently on the board of [[Alcoa]]
*[[William Hugh Smith]] – [[Governor of Alabama|21st Governor of Alabama]], 1868-1870; serving during the [[Reconstruction Era of the United States|Reconstruction]] era, he was the first [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Governor of Alabama]]. He had moved with his parents to Wedowee in 1839, at the age of 13; read law under John T. Heflin of Wedowee.<ref name= "Wedowee, Alabama"  >{{Citation | title = Alabama Governors -- William Hugh Smith | publisher = Alabama Department of Archives and History | url = http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/g_smithw.html | access-date = March 24, 2011 | archive-date = May 7, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160507071225/http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/g_smithw.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> A historic marker now stands on the site of his family's home along N. Main Street ([[U.S. Route 431 in Alabama|U.S. Route 431]]) in Wedowee.
*[[Alvin Wright]] – former NFL [[defensive lineman]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Downtown Wedowee Alabama.JPG|Downtown Wedowee
File:Wedowee Alabama City Hall.JPG|Wedowee City Hall
File:Randolph County Alabama Courthouse.JPG|The [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County Courthouse]] is located in Wedowee.
File:Randolph County Alabama Historic Marker.JPG|A historic marker which describes the early history of [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County]] is located on the grounds of the Randolph County Courthouse in Wedowee.
File:Wedowee Alabama Governor William Hugh Smith Historic Marker.JPG|This historic marker marks the site of the home of [[William Hugh Smith]], [[Governor of Alabama|21st Governor of Alabama]] (1868–1870).
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1118 Wedowee article, Encyclopedia of Alabama]

{{Coord|display=title|33.308603|-85.485447}}

{{Randolph County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Randolph County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Alabama placenames of Native American origin]]