Crossville, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Crossville is a town in DeKalb County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,431. Crossville is located on top of Sand Mountain
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6 square miles (15.5 km²), all of it land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,431 people, 539 households, and 365 families residing in the town. The population density
was 237.8 people per square mile (91.8/km2). There were 593 housing units at an average density of 98.5 per square mile (38.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White
, 0.07% Black
or African American
, 0.49% Native American
, 0.14% Asian
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 0.56% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 539 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,394, and the median income for a family was $44,667. Males had a median income of $27,708 versus $20,461 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,326. About 11.0% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
, Georgia
and Alabama come together. It is situated on a sandstone plateau range known colloquially as Sand Mountain
, but, the native peoples had called Raccoon Mountain (this is noted several places, including on page 478 of the History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Vol. 1, by Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen_. It holds some historical significance for having figured tangentially in the Creek War
.. The area's soil, game, climate, and proximity to rivers and streams proved attractive to settlers, the majority of whom were drawn there from neighboring states following the expulsion of the indigenous
Creeks..
Sand Mountain lay in an area that included disputed borders between the Creeks and the Cherokee. While Alabama became a state in 1819, until the 1830s, much of Northern Alabama was still officially Cherokee territory. However, White settlement in the area increased steadily, coming to a head with the gold rush in the nearby mountains of Northwest Georgia. While gold supplies began to dwindle, soon eclipsed by the California Gold Rush, the settlement by White farmers continued and played prominently in the expulsion of Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw nations from the area. That expulsion is called the Trail of Tears, considered an act of genocide because of the thousands who died on the journey, and the forced removal of native peoples from their home territories. (There are numerous references which corroborate this. Also, in nearby Fort Payne, which lies across the valley and at the foot of next-door Lookout Mountain, there is a historical sign marking the town as one of the starting points for the Trail of Tears, and also the area where Sequoyah lived, who developed the Cherokee alphabet.)
During the times of slavery, Crossville, Sand Mountain and Dekalb County, where Crossville is located, were not major slave areas. This can be verified by a study of census roles which reveal a mostly poor area, where people worked and survived by the labor of their own hands, rather than the forced labor of captive Africans and their descendents. Leading up to the Civil War, DeKalb County was typical of Southern Mountain counties in that it voted against secession from the United States. This can be corroborated by a study of the roster of the votes on this issue, county by county. In fact, there was serious discussion among Northern Alabama and East Tennessee counties about forming a proposed state of Nickajack, rather than going along with secession (^ Fleming, Walter L., Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama. New York: Columbia University Press, 1905, pp 109–111.).
During the Civil War, Dekalb county families, particularly families from mountain terrains such as Sand and Lookout Mountain tended, at first, to avoid fighting, since it was considered a "rich man's war", and not of particular interest to mountain people. However, as the war progressed, many Dekalb County families fought for Union cavalries, notably, the First Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry and the First Alabama Cavalry United States Volunteers. One example of this can be seen by looking at the rosters of Southern unionists who fought for the First Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry, which can be found at http://www.reocities.com/chedar0001/videtterosters.html or that are provided on this webpage regarding the First Alabama: http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/ . A perusal of the rosters will reveal family names that to this day are prominent in the area. Also, the following reference shows that the Cavalry heavily drew from Sand Mountain families: ^ Potter, Johnny, First Tennessee & Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Roster, 1863–1864, Mountain Press, 1995. The First Alabama Cavalry was particularly notable in that it was one of the few units that was actually integrated (http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/roster/colored.asp ).
Crossville's name, given to it by James A. Copeland (1880-1964 -- not to be confused with outlaw James Copeland
), was meant to reflect its many crossroads.
In the mid-19th century, mail was brought through Crossville from Rome, Georgia
and Guntersville, Alabama
via stagecoach
. Soon the town had its first U.S. Post Office, with A.C. Copeland serving as the first postmaster
. In 1888, George Wyatt Justice established the first business in Crossville, and in 1903, W.B. Jones installed machinery for his cotton mills.
The first church established in the Crossville area was a Methodist Episcopal Church
called Pine Bark Church, formed just prior to the American Civil War
. The community's first Baptist
church was established in 1892 at Union Grove
. In 1925, several people started meeting at the high school and formed the First Baptist Church of Crossville. A new sanctuary was built in 1926.
Crossville established its first school, a one-room structure with a single teacher and approximately 50 students, in the late 19th century at Bryant's Chapel Church. The first banking institution was established in 1914 by N.W. Black and Boyce Rains. Soon after, Crossville was granted provisional incorporation, and Charlie J. Crump was appointed first mayor
. Little progress was made during his tenure, and the incorporation's dissolution followed quickly thereafter. The town was incorporated a second time on December 21, 1942. Dr. Luther F. Erwin was chosen mayor, and the town government established ordinances and privilege licenses were levied. Collection enforcement was lax, however, resulting in insufficient resources to maintain basic town services. Following this, C.W. (Bill) Russell was elected mayor. He hired Colonel Mack Kilcrease as a legal adviser to mayor and council. This group worked together to establish a solid town government with taxation, collection and basic town services that would become the foundation for the Town of Crossville.
s, are located in Crossville. Both are members of the DeKalb County School System
.
Crossville, as of the school year 2010-2011, is a 4A school and has the largest classification in Dekalb County. The school colors are black and gold
DeKalb County, Alabama
As of the 2010 Census DeKalb County had a population of 71,109. The median age was 37.5. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 81.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander , 9.9% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At the 2000 census the population was 1,431. Crossville is located on top of Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain may refer to:* Sand Mountain, a ski resort, in the fictional city of Bikini Bottom* Sand Mountain , the fourth-highest point in Florida* Sand Mountain , a Singing sand dune in Nevada...
.
Geography
Crossville is located at 34°17′12"N 85°59′27"W (34.286752, -85.990814).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6 square miles (15.5 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census Crossville had a population of 1,862. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 87.2% non-Hispanic white, 0.4% black, 1.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.3% from some other race, 2.4% from two or more races and 8.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,431 people, 539 households, and 365 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 237.8 people per square mile (91.8/km2). There were 593 housing units at an average density of 98.5 per square mile (38.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.49% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.98% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 539 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,394, and the median income for a family was $44,667. Males had a median income of $27,708 versus $20,461 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,326. About 11.0% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Crossville is a farming community in Northeast Alabama, nestled in the area where TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Alabama come together. It is situated on a sandstone plateau range known colloquially as Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain (Alabama)
Sand Mountain is a sandstone plateau in northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. It is part of the southern tip of the Appalachian mountain chain. Geologically a continuation of Walden Ridge, Sand Mountain is part of the Cumberland Plateau, separated from the main portion of the plateau by...
, but, the native peoples had called Raccoon Mountain (this is noted several places, including on page 478 of the History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Vol. 1, by Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen_. It holds some historical significance for having figured tangentially in the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
.. The area's soil, game, climate, and proximity to rivers and streams proved attractive to settlers, the majority of whom were drawn there from neighboring states following the expulsion of the indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Creeks..
Sand Mountain lay in an area that included disputed borders between the Creeks and the Cherokee. While Alabama became a state in 1819, until the 1830s, much of Northern Alabama was still officially Cherokee territory. However, White settlement in the area increased steadily, coming to a head with the gold rush in the nearby mountains of Northwest Georgia. While gold supplies began to dwindle, soon eclipsed by the California Gold Rush, the settlement by White farmers continued and played prominently in the expulsion of Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw nations from the area. That expulsion is called the Trail of Tears, considered an act of genocide because of the thousands who died on the journey, and the forced removal of native peoples from their home territories. (There are numerous references which corroborate this. Also, in nearby Fort Payne, which lies across the valley and at the foot of next-door Lookout Mountain, there is a historical sign marking the town as one of the starting points for the Trail of Tears, and also the area where Sequoyah lived, who developed the Cherokee alphabet.)
During the times of slavery, Crossville, Sand Mountain and Dekalb County, where Crossville is located, were not major slave areas. This can be verified by a study of census roles which reveal a mostly poor area, where people worked and survived by the labor of their own hands, rather than the forced labor of captive Africans and their descendents. Leading up to the Civil War, DeKalb County was typical of Southern Mountain counties in that it voted against secession from the United States. This can be corroborated by a study of the roster of the votes on this issue, county by county. In fact, there was serious discussion among Northern Alabama and East Tennessee counties about forming a proposed state of Nickajack, rather than going along with secession (^ Fleming, Walter L., Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama. New York: Columbia University Press, 1905, pp 109–111.).
During the Civil War, Dekalb county families, particularly families from mountain terrains such as Sand and Lookout Mountain tended, at first, to avoid fighting, since it was considered a "rich man's war", and not of particular interest to mountain people. However, as the war progressed, many Dekalb County families fought for Union cavalries, notably, the First Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry and the First Alabama Cavalry United States Volunteers. One example of this can be seen by looking at the rosters of Southern unionists who fought for the First Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry, which can be found at http://www.reocities.com/chedar0001/videtterosters.html or that are provided on this webpage regarding the First Alabama: http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/ . A perusal of the rosters will reveal family names that to this day are prominent in the area. Also, the following reference shows that the Cavalry heavily drew from Sand Mountain families: ^ Potter, Johnny, First Tennessee & Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Roster, 1863–1864, Mountain Press, 1995. The First Alabama Cavalry was particularly notable in that it was one of the few units that was actually integrated (http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/roster/colored.asp ).
Crossville's name, given to it by James A. Copeland (1880-1964 -- not to be confused with outlaw James Copeland
James Copeland
James Copeland was an American outlaw during the early nineteenth century whose crimes took place mostly in Mississippi and Alabama. He was born in Jackson County, Mississippi. James Copeland killed, robbed, and beat many people in his time. He was the co-leader of a gang known as the Wages and...
), was meant to reflect its many crossroads.
In the mid-19th century, mail was brought through Crossville from Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
and Guntersville, Alabama
Guntersville, Alabama
Guntersville is a city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,197. The city is the county seat of Marshall County. Guntersville is located in a HUBZone as identified by the...
via stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
. Soon the town had its first U.S. Post Office, with A.C. Copeland serving as the first postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
. In 1888, George Wyatt Justice established the first business in Crossville, and in 1903, W.B. Jones installed machinery for his cotton mills.
The first church established in the Crossville area was a Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
called Pine Bark Church, formed just prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The community's first Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church was established in 1892 at Union Grove
Union Grove, Alabama
Union Grove is a town in Marshall County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Union Grove is located approximately three miles from Guntersville Lake and six miles from Arab. Electricity service in Union Grove is provided through Arab...
. In 1925, several people started meeting at the high school and formed the First Baptist Church of Crossville. A new sanctuary was built in 1926.
Crossville established its first school, a one-room structure with a single teacher and approximately 50 students, in the late 19th century at Bryant's Chapel Church. The first banking institution was established in 1914 by N.W. Black and Boyce Rains. Soon after, Crossville was granted provisional incorporation, and Charlie J. Crump was appointed first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Little progress was made during his tenure, and the incorporation's dissolution followed quickly thereafter. The town was incorporated a second time on December 21, 1942. Dr. Luther F. Erwin was chosen mayor, and the town government established ordinances and privilege licenses were levied. Collection enforcement was lax, however, resulting in insufficient resources to maintain basic town services. Following this, C.W. (Bill) Russell was elected mayor. He hired Colonel Mack Kilcrease as a legal adviser to mayor and council. This group worked together to establish a solid town government with taxation, collection and basic town services that would become the foundation for the Town of Crossville.
Education
Crossville Elementary and Crossville High, home of the LionLion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, are located in Crossville. Both are members of the DeKalb County School System
DeKalb County School System (Alabama)
The DeKalb County School System controls the schools that serve DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. The administrative offices of the system are located in Rainsville. As of 2007 Charles D...
.
Crossville, as of the school year 2010-2011, is a 4A school and has the largest classification in Dekalb County. The school colors are black and gold