Eclectic, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Eclectic, Alabama |settlement_type = Town |image_skyline = Eclectic, Alabama Downtown.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Downtown Eclectic |image_flag = Flag of Eclectic, Alabama.png |image_seal = |image_map = File:Elmore County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Eclectic Highlighted 0122816.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Eclectic in Elmore County, Alabama  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Alabama}} |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Elmore  |established_date = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name =  |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> |area_total_km2 = 10.85 |area_land_km2 = 10.65 |area_water_km2 = 0.20 |area_total_sq_mi = 4.19 |area_land_sq_mi = 4.11 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.08  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_total = 1193 |population_footnotes = |population_density_km2 = 112.01 |population_density_sq_mi = 290.13  |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_ft = 528 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |coordinates = {{coord|32|37|48|N|86|02|19|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}} |coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 36024 |area_code = 334 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 01-22816 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2406420<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406420}}</ref> |footnotes = |website = http://www.townofeclectic.com }}

'''Eclectic''' is a town in Elmore County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1907.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eclectic | website=Encyclopedia of Alabama | date=2024-09-06 | url=https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/eclectic/ | access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> At the 2020 census, the population was 1,193. It is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.

==History== Eclectic was founded by Dr. M. L. Fielder, a practitioner of eclectic medicine, hence the name.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yzk9g9TuMNYC&pg=PA4 | title=A Place Called Peculiar: Stories about Unusual American Place-Names | publisher=Courier Dover Publications | author=Gallant, Frank K. | year=2012 | pages=4| isbn=9780486483603 }}</ref> It has been noted on lists of unusual place names.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29zh3dIgmv8C&pg=PR9 | title=Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places | publisher=Adams Media | author=Parker, Quentin | year=2010 | pages=ix | isbn=9781440507397 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The first post office in Eclectic was established in 1879.<ref>Helbock, Richard W. (2007) ''United States Post Offices, Volume VIII - The Southeast'', p. 76. Scappoose, Oregon: La Posta Publications</ref>

==Geography== The town is located along Alabama State Route 63, which runs from south to north through the center of town, leading northeast {{convert|26|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Alexander City and southwest {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the unincorporated community of Claud. Alabama State Route 170 connects the town to Wetumpka, the Elmore County seat, {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the southwest.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|4.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|4.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (1.17%) is water.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1910= 315 |1920= 555 |1930= 678 |1940= 606 |1950= 715 |1960= 926 |1970= 1184 |1980= 1124 |1990= 1087 |2000= 1037 |2010= 1001 |2020= 1193 |2024= 2954 |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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522161634/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|archive-date=May 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> | align = right }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 1,193 people, 446 households, and 330 families residing in the town.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A22816&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 39.6 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A22816&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A22816&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

Among households in Eclectic, 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.4% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 520 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+Eclectic racial composition<ref name="Census2020PL"/> !Race !Num. !Perc. |- |White (non-Hispanic) |910 |76.28% |- |Black or African American (non-Hispanic) |189 |15.84% |- |Native American |1 |0.08% |- |Asian |6 |0.5% |- |Other/Mixed |65 |5.45% |- |Hispanic or Latino |22 |1.84% |} ===2010 census=== At the 2010 census there were 1,001 people, 399 households, and 266 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|238.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 438 housing units at an average density of {{convert|104.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 86.4% White, 11.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 22, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> Of the 399 households 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.6% of households were one person and 15.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median household income was $34,750 and the median family income was $42,188. Males had a median income of $35,815 versus $27,684 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,181. About 8.6% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census=== At the 2000 census there were 1,037 people, 409 households, and 280 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|244.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 459 housing units at an average density of {{convert|108.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 78.11% White, 19.19% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> Of the 409 households 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 29.1% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 30.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median household income was $30,906 and the median family income was $31,855. Males had a median income of $29,554 versus $18,162 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,131. About 20.5% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education== It is in the Elmore County Public School System.<ref name=Censusmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01051_elmore/DC20SD_C01051.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elmore County, AL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01051_elmore/DC20SD_C01051_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Notable people== *Ben Grubbs, former offensive guard for Auburn University *Ludd M. Spivey, president of Florida Southern College from 1925 to 1957

==Gallery==

<gallery class="center" widths="150px"> File:Eclectic Alabama Welcome Sign.JPG|Eclectic's welcome sign File:Eclectic Alabama Public Library.JPG|Eclectic Public Library File:Eclectic Alabama Mural.JPG|A mural in downtown Eclectic </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080313062006/http://www.elmoreeda.com/ Elmore County Corporate Development website(ECEDA)]

Category:Towns in Elmore County, Alabama Category:Towns in Alabama Category:Montgomery metropolitan area Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1907