{{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Florala, Alabama | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = File:Downtown Florala, Alabama.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Downtown Florala | image_seal = | image_map = File:Covington County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Florala Highlighted 0126848.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Florala in Covington County, Alabama. <!-- Location --> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Alabama}} | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Covington <!-- Government --> | established_date = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = <!-- Area --> | 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 = 28.44 | area_total_sq_mi = 10.98 | area_land_km2 = 27.28 | area_land_sq_mi = 10.53 | area_water_km2 = 1.16 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.45 <!-- Population --> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 1923 | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = 70.49 | population_density_sq_mi = 182.59 <!-- General information --> | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = −6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = −5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 246 | coordinates = {{coord|31|00|27|N|86|18|40|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> <!-- Area/postal codes and others --> | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 36442 | area_code = 334 | area_code_type = Area code | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 01-26848 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2406502<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406502}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://www.cityofflorala.com/}} | footnotes = }} '''Florala''' is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florala, AL - Official Website |url=https://www.cityofflorala.com/ |access-date=November 8, 2025 |website=www.cityofflorala.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alabama's Official Travel Guide |url=https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/florala |access-date=November 8, 2025 |website=alabama.travel |language=en}}</ref> At the 2020 census, the population was 1,923.
==Geography== Florala is located along the Alabama–Florida state line. It is bordered by the town of Lockhart to the west and the town of Paxton, Florida, to the south.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|28.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|27.3|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.2|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 4.07%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0101708| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212164115/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0101708| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Florala town, Alabama| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> Lake Jackson lies on the state line, half in Florala. Florala City Park occupies all of the lake's shoreline in Alabama.
===Climate=== The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the town of Florala has a humid subtropical climate (''Cfa''). As of 2023, the USDA hardiness zone for Florala is Zone 9A.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map {{!}} USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=planthardiness.ars.usda.gov}}</ref>{{Weather box <!-- Infobox begins --> | single line = Y |collapsed = Y | location = Florala, Alabama (Florala Municipal Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2006–2020
|Jan record high F = 83 |Feb record high F = 84 |Mar record high F = 89 |Apr record high F = 94 |May record high F = 99 |Jun record high F = 104 |Jul record high F = 102 |Aug record high F = 103 |Sep record high F = 103 |Oct record high F = 100 |Nov record high F = 91 |Dec record high F = 81
<!-- Average high temperatures --> | Jan high F =62.2 | Feb high F =66.2 | Mar high F =73.1 | Apr high F =79.4 | May high F =86.6 | Jun high F =90.3 | Jul high F =91.8 | Aug high F =91.7 | Sep high F =88.5 | Oct high F =80.0 | Nov high F =71.3 | Dec high F =63.6 <!-- Mean daily temperature --> | Jan mean F =51.3 | Feb mean F =54.7 | Mar mean F =61.0 | Apr mean F =67.0 | May mean F =74.7 | Jun mean F =80.1 | Jul mean F =82.1 | Aug mean F =82.0 | Sep mean F =78.4 | Oct mean F =68.4 | Nov mean F =59.1 | Dec mean F =52.9 <!-- Average low temperatures --> | Jan low F =40.5 | Feb low F =43.3 | Mar low F =48.8 | Apr low F =54.6 | May low F =62.7 | Jun low F =70.0 | Jul low F =72.4 | Aug low F =72.4 | Sep low F =68.3 | Oct low F =56.7 | Nov low F =46.9 | Dec low F =42.3
|Jan record low F = 12 |Feb record low F = 20 |Mar record low F = 28 |Apr record low F = 35 |May record low F = 43 |Jun record low F = 58 |Jul record low F = 59 |Aug record low F = 62 |Sep record low F = 50 |Oct record low F = 34 |Nov record low F = 19 |Dec record low F = 22
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. --> | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch =5.28 | Feb precipitation inch =5.00 | Mar precipitation inch =5.28 | Apr precipitation inch =5.00 | May precipitation inch =3.78 | Jun precipitation inch =6.01 | Jul precipitation inch =6.35 | Aug precipitation inch =5.17 | Sep precipitation inch =5.18 | Oct precipitation inch =3.61 | Nov precipitation inch =4.31 | Dec precipitation inch =4.85
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = |Feb precipitation days = |Mar precipitation days = |Apr precipitation days = |May precipitation days = |Jun precipitation days = |Jul precipitation days = |Aug precipitation days = |Sep precipitation days = |Oct precipitation days = |Nov precipitation days = |Dec precipitation days =
|Jan snow inch = |Feb snow inch = |Mar snow inch = |Apr snow inch = |May snow inch = |Jun snow inch = |Jul snow inch = |Aug snow inch = |Sep snow inch = |Oct snow inch = |Nov snow inch = |Dec snow inch = |year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = |Feb snow days = |Mar snow days = |Apr snow days = |May snow days = |Jun snow days = |Jul snow days = |Aug snow days = |Sep snow days = |Oct snow days = |Nov snow days = |Dec snow days =
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00063870&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Florala MUNI AP, AL |access-date = March 4, 2023 }} </ref> |source 2 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2> {{cite web |url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = xmACIS2 |access-date = March 4, 2023 }} </ref> }}
==Demographics== {{US Census population |1910= 2439 |1920= 2633 |1930= 2580 |1940= 2999 |1950= 2713 |1960= 3011 |1970= 2701 |1980= 2165 |1990= 2075 |2000= 1964 |2010= 1980 |2020= 1923 |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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522161634/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2014|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2014 }}</ref> | align = right }}
===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" |+Florala racial composition<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%3A26848&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> !Race !Num. !Perc. |- |White (non-Hispanic) |1,481 |77.02% |- |Black or African American (non-Hispanic) |296 |15.39% |- |Native American |3 |0.16% |- |Asian |11 |0.57% |- |Other/Mixed |70 |3.64% |- |Hispanic or Latino |62 |3.22% |} As of the 2020 census, Florala had a population of 1,923, and there were 352 families residing in the town.<ref name="Census2020PL"/><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%3A26848&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 46.1 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 80.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
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%3A26848&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 810 households in Florala, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.2% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 1,017 housing units, of which 20.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,980 people, 839 households, and 514 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|180.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of {{convert|105.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% White, 15.8% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 839 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,833, and the median income for a family was $36,435. Males had a median income of $24,000 versus $20,100 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,344. About 15.7% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
===2000 census=== 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 1,964 people, 898 households, and 527 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|187.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of {{convert|105.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.75% White, 15.68% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 898 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $17,377, and the median income for a family was $21,176. Males had a median income of $27,569 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,495. About 29.3% of families and 32.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over. ==Etymology== The name is a portmanteau of '''Flor'''ida and '''Ala'''bama.
==History== In 1818, Andrew Jackson stopped at the lake with his soldiers, and thus Lake Jackson is named after him. Since 1870, Florala has served as the home of the world's oldest consecutive annual Masonic Day celebration, through Florala's Fidelity Masonic Lodge #685 (beginning with Chapel Hill and Lake City Lodge #377), and Chapter #441 of the Order of the Eastern Star. The celebration is in honor of St. John's Day, June 24, 1717, when the first Grand Masonic Lodge in England was established. The celebration is held each year on the Friday before June 24 and concluding on the Saturday after the 24th.
==Education== It is within the Covington County Board of Education school district.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01039_covington/DC20SD_C01039.pdf|title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Covington County, AL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|place=Suitland, Maryland|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=2026-04-18}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01039_covington/DC20SD_C01039_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
Florala High School is in Florala.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cov.k12.al.us/o/fhs|title=Home|publisher=Florala High School|access-date=2026-04-18|quote=22114 Begonia St Florala, AL 36442}}</ref>
There was formerly a Florala City Middle School.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gurspan|first=Mike|url=https://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Old-Florala-Middle-School-Building-Controversy-377187021.html|title="Old" Florala Middle School Building Controversy|publisher=WTVY-TV|date=2016-04-26|access-date=2026-04-18}}</ref>
==Notable people== *Sgt. Rodney J. Evans (1948–1969), awarded the Medal of Honor after being killed in Vietnam while exposing himself to enemy fire in order to protect his men. *R. Barbara Gitenstein, first female and past president of The College of New Jersey; grew up in Florala. *Mark Gitenstein, Ambassador to Romania; brother to Barbara Gitenstein. *Ray Goolsby, former Major League Baseball player for the Washington Senators. *Ernie Manning, former Major League Baseball pitcher, right fielder, and third baseman for the St. Louis Browns. *Dwight Stone, who played for the NY Jets, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers; born in Florala on January 28, 1964.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141011224126/http://www.floralahistory.com/ Florala History]}} *[http://alapark.com/Florala/ Florala State Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625104638/http://alapark.com/Florala/ |date=June 25, 2014 }}
{{Covington County, Alabama}}
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Category:Towns in Alabama Category:Towns in Covington County, Alabama