Arab, Alabama
City
StateAlabama
CountiesMarshall, Cullman
IncorporatedDecember 10, 1892[1]
Named forArad Thompson
Unit prefImperial
Area total34.843 km²
Area land34.499 km²
Area water34.454 km²
Area total13.453 sq mi
Area land13.320 sq mi
Area water0.133 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total8461
Population density249.9 km²
Population density647 sq mi
Population est8623
Pop est as of2022
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC−6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC−5)
Elevation1040 ft
Coordinates34°19′52″N 86°30′35″W
ZIP Code35016
Area codes256 and 938
FIPS code01-02116
GNIS feature ID2403104[2]
Sales tax12.5%[3]
Websitearabcity.org

Arab (/eI.ræb/) is a city mostly in Marshall County, with a portion in Cullman County,[4] in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located 10 miles (16 km) from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 8,461 at the 2020 census.[5]

History

What is now Arab was established by Stephen Tuttle Thompson in the 1840s and was originally known as "Thompson's Village".[6] The current name of the town was an unintentional misspelling by the United States Postal Service in 1882 of the city's intended name, taken from Arad Thompson, the son of the town founder, who had applied for a post office that year. "Arad" was one of three names sent to the Postal Service for consideration, the others being "Ink" and "Bird." Arab has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[7] Arab was incorporated on December 10, 1892.[8]

Arab was a sundown town, with a sign warning Blacks not to stay in Arab after dark[9] and, historically, even barring them during the day.[10] Ku Klux Klan material was disseminated in Arab in 2014 and 2015.[11]

Geography

Arab is located at an elevation of 1,100 feet (340 m) on top of Brindlee Mountain, near the southwest end of the Appalachian Plateau.[12] The city is primarily in southern Marshall County; a small portion extends south into Cullman County. U.S. Route 231 runs north-to-south through Arab, and State Route 69 runs east-to-west, through the city's business district. US 231 leads north 31 miles (50 km) to Huntsville and south 32 miles (51 km) to Oneonta, while SR 69 leads east 13 miles (21 km) to Guntersville and southwest 23 miles (37 km) to Cullman.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.453 square miles (34.84 km2), of which 13.320 square miles (34.50 km2) are land and 0.133 square miles (0.34 km2), or 0.99%, are water. The city lies on the Tennessee Valley Divide, with the north side draining either west to Cotaco Creek or east to Shoal Creek, both tributaries of the Tennessee River, while the south half of the city drains to the headwaters of the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, part of the Tombigbee River watershed.

Demographics

City of Arab

Arab was incorporated as a town in 1892, but it did not first report a population on the census until the 1920 U.S. Census.[13]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,461 people, 3,484 households, and 2,300 families residing in the city; the population density was 635.2 inhabitants per square mile (245.3 /km2).[14][15]

The median age was 42.2 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.7 males age 18 and over.[14]

85.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.5% lived in rural areas.[16]

Of the 3,484 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 15.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 3,739 housing units, of which 6.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.[14]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[15]
RaceNumberPercent
White7,72891.3%
Black or African American400.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native510.6%
Asian1061.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander40.0%
Some other race821.0%
Two or more races4505.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3043.6%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,050 people in 3,359 households, and 2,257 families residing in the city. The population density was 620 inhabitants per square mile (240 /km2). There were 3,693 housing units at an average density of 284.1 square miles (736 km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,359 households 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of households were one person and 14.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median household income was $42,435 and the median family income was $64,432. Males had a median income of $44,401 versus $40,062 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,986. About 13.3% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 7,174 people in 3,012 households, and 2,075 families residing in the city. The population density was 561.8 inhabitants per square mile (216.9 /km2). There were 3,223 housing units at an average density of 252.4 square miles (654 km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.66% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,012 households 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of households were one person and 13.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median household income was $36,716 and the median family income was $45,761. Males had a median income of $32,425 versus $24,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,035. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arab Precinct/Division (1920–)

Arab Precinct (Marshall County 26th Precinct) first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census. In 1960, it was changed to the Arab Census Division as part of a general reorganization of counties.[17] The census division only includes the Marshall County portion of the town of Arab. The Cullman County portion is in the Baileyton-Joppa Census Division.[18]

Government

Arab has a mayor-council form of city government consisting of five council members and a mayor. City elections occur every four years. Council seats are at-large and are not associated with districts. Arab City Schools is the public school district. Arab has its own paid police department. Their fire department has one station, sitting on top of Marshall County 911 center. Both are paid departments.

Infrastructure

Utilities

Electricity service in Arab is provided through Arab Electric Cooperative, which buys power through the Tennessee Valley Authority. Water service in Arab is provided through Arab Water Works, which gets water from Browns Creek in Guntersville Lake. Natural gas is also provided in Arab, through Marshall County Gas District, which is based out of Guntersville.

Transportation

Education

Residents are in the Arab City School District, regardless of county.[19][20]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates". Alabama League of Municipalities. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Arab (AL) sales tax rate". Archived September 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Arab city, AL". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  5. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived March 20, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ^ James P. Kaetz, "Arab Archived September 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Alabama, 2013.
  7. ^ Parker, Quentin (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An Insider's Guide to 201 of the World's Weirdest and Wildest Places. Adams Media. ISBN 978-1440504549.
  8. ^ Foscue, Virginia (1988). Place Names in Alabama. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-1859092965.
  9. ^ Loewen, James W. (2005). Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. New York: The New Press. pp. 347, 380. ISBN 156584887X.
  10. ^ Windham, Ben. "Cullman's 'Sundown Town' Image Worthy of Study". The Tuscaloosa News. Archived November 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  11. ^ Kern, Kelsey. "KKK Propaganda Found in Arab for the Second Time in Months". WHNT-TV. Archived November 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived August 24, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/06229686v1-7ch01.pdf Archived September 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine , p.23
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  17. ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf Archived August 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 1960 AL Census
  18. ^ "Alabama: 2010 Summary Population and Housing Characteristics 2010 Census of Population and Housing". www.census.gov. December 2012. Archived 2021-12-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  19. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marshall County, AL". U.S. Census Bureau. p. 17 (PDF p. 18/29). Retrieved 2024-09-26. - Text list
  20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cullman County, AL". U.S. Census Bureau. p. 6 (PDF p. 7/29). Retrieved 2024-09-26. - Text list
  21. ^ Campbell, Anthony (October 17, 2018). "Marshall County's Liles Burke Now a Federal Judge". Advertiser-Gleam. Archived July 28, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  22. ^ Maze, Steve. "Vernon Derrick". Arab Today Archives. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  23. ^ Moore, David (March 11, 2009). "Mary Hollis' friends invited to memorial service Sunday". The Arab Tribune. Archived September 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  24. ^ Cohoon, Rick. "Jill King biography". AllMusic. Archived September 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  25. ^ Stein, Kelsey (December 8, 2013). "Slain country musician Wayne Mills' funeral in Arab will be live-streamed online Sunday afternoon". Alabama Media Group. Archived December 6, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 30, 2014.