Gilbertown, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Gilbertown is a town in Choctaw County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2000 census the population was 187.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 187 people, 90 households, and 54 families residing in the town. The population density
was 232.9 people per square mile (90.3/km²). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 138.3 per square mile (53.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.63% White
, 10.70% Black
or African American
, 1.07% Native American
, and 1.60% from two or more races.
There were 90 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,492. About 15.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.4% of those sixty five or over.
Local events include the Choctaw County Heritage Festival, which takes place usually between May 30 and June 3. Gilbertown is the site of the first producing oil well in Alabama.
on January 2, 1944, near Gilbertown. Drilling started January 10, 1944 and struck in chalk of the Selma Group
approximately one month later at 2,580 feet.
Choctaw County, Alabama
Choctaw County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established on December 29, 1847 and named for the Choctaw tribe of American Indians. As of 2010 the population was 13,859. The county seat is Butler.- History :...
, 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 187.
Geography
Gilbertown is located at 31°52'36.034" North, 88°19'15.265" West (31.876676, -88.320907).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 187 people, 90 households, and 54 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 232.9 people per square mile (90.3/km²). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 138.3 per square mile (53.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.63% 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...
, 10.70% 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...
, 1.07% 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...
, and 1.60% from two or more races.
There were 90 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $21,250 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 $18,492. About 15.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.4% of those sixty five or over.
Local events include the Choctaw County Heritage Festival, which takes place usually between May 30 and June 3. Gilbertown is the site of the first producing oil well in Alabama.
1st Oil Well in Alabama
The permit to drill the 1st Oil, the A. R. Jackson Well No. 1, was granted to the Hunt Oil CompanyHunt Oil Company
Hunt Oil Company is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It has its main oil production activities in the United States, Canada, and Yemen. It also participates in the liquefied natural gas production projects in Yemen and Peru .Together with Magnum Hunter Resources...
on January 2, 1944, near Gilbertown. Drilling started January 10, 1944 and struck in chalk of the Selma Group
Selma Group
The Selma Group is a geological formation in North America, within the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The strata date from the Santonian to the Maastrichtian stages of the Late Cretaceous. The group is composed of, in ascending order, the Mooreville Chalk Formation, Demopolis...
approximately one month later at 2,580 feet.