Jacksonville, Alabama

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Jacksonville, Alabama
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Calhoun County and the state of Alabama


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Alabama
subdivision_name2 = Calhoun
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 21.4
area_total_sq_mi = 8.3
area_land_km2 = 21.4
area_land_sq_mi = 8.3
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
elevation_ft = 709
elevation_m = 216
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8404
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 392.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1012.5
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 33 |latm = 48 |lats = 57 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 45 |longs = 38 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 36265
area_code = 256
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 01-38272
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0159857
footnotes =
website =

Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 8,404. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Founded in 1833 on land purchased from Creek Indian Chief Ladiga. First called Drayton, it was renamed to honor President Andrew Jackson in 1834. There are a few Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until 1899 when it moved to Anniston.

Geography

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, Jacksonville is located at 33°48'56.758" North, 85°45'37.681" West (33.815766, -85.760467)GR|1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,404 people, 3,274 households, and 1,735 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,018.5 people per square mile (393.3/km²). There were 3,605 housing units at an average density of 436.9/sq mi (168.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.20% White, 20.18% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,274 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,726, and the median income for a family was $48,137. Males had a median income of $32,351 versus $22,534 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,035. About 13.0% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jacksonville is the home of Jacksonville State University, a public, coeducational university with an enrollment of approximately 9,000 students. It offers degrees in business, communication, education, family sciences, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and technology in addition to continuing education programs. The university's campus is located a few blocks north of the square.

Jacksonville is also home to two public schools (Jacksonville High School and Kitty Stone Elementary School) and a Christian school called Jacksonville Christian Academy (JCA)http://www.JCAThunder.net The public schools are run by the Jacksonville City Schools system.

Restaurants & Entertainment

Jacksonville is a center for the college bar activity in Northeast Alabama. Brother's Bar hosted Allman Bros. (unannounced) performances in the 1970s and is a popular venue for local musicians. Pelham's (formerly Fuller's, Gaterz, and the Galley Tavern) is another establishment JSU students often frequent. Pelham's is located on the southwest corner of the city square in the middle of town. Brother's Bar is just south of the square.

Other restaurant-style bars are scattered across town: Struts, Cooter Brown's, and Jefferson's. You can order alcohol at all three. In addition to several fast-food chain restaurants, there are also a few local establishments of different tastes including Cecil's Place and the Rocket BBQ. Cuban, Mexican, Scandanavian, Italian, and Chinese restaurants are also available. In early 2007, Java Jolt, a coffee house, opened as well. With a new Tuscan restaurant.

As for entertainment the university has a couple of plays each year. There is a musical and an opera from the music department. A few organizations that have plays and some stars reside close to Jacksonville.

Media

Newspaper
* [http://www.jaxnews.com/ The Jacksonville News] - Weekly, locally-owned newspaper.
* [http://www.thechanticleeronline.com/ The Chanticleer] - Student-run newspaper of Jacksonville State University.

Television
* [http://www.tv24.tv/ WJXS TV 24] - Local news, sports and programming.

AM Radio
* [http://alabama810.com/ WCHA Alabama 810] - Local news, sports and Classic Country music.

FM Radio
* [http://www.jsu.edu/92j/ WLJS 91.9] - College radio, limited NPR station.

Notable Residents

*Harvey Jackson III, notable Alabama historian.

*Rick Bragg, won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 while working for The New York Times.

*Allen Shelton, notable author. professor at Buffalo State College. A southern exile in Buffalo, NY

Philip A. Viscasillas, LTC, USAF, Ret. SS, DFC, PH, AM w/13OLC "Soldier, scholar, statesman." Original NYC

References

External links

* [http://www.jacksonville-al.org/ City of Jacksonville]
* [http://www.jacksonville.k12.al.us/ Jacksonville City Schools]
* [http://www.kittystone-elem.org/ Kitty Stone Elementary School]
* [http://www.jacksonville-hs.org/ Jacksonville High School]
* [http://www.jsu.edu/ Jacksonville State University]