Leighton, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Leighton is a town in Colbert County
, Alabama
, United States
. It is part of the Florence
- Muscle Shoals
Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals
". At the 2000 census the population was 849. Leighton has been hit by several tornadoes in the 2000s including a damaging EF2 on May 8, 2008 that was caught on tape flipping over many cars and damaging buildings, the town is also the birthplace of American soul musician Percy Sledge
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 849 people, 360 households, and 235 families residing in the town. The population density
was 857.8 people per square mile (331.1/km²). There were 414 housing units at an average density of 418.3 per square mile (161.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.41% White
, 55.12% Black
or African American
and 0.47% Native American
. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 360 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 75.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,500, and the median income for a family was $28,036. Males had a median income of $27,625 versus $18,393 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,680. About 22.7% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.5% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
:
Colbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
, 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...
. It is part of the Florence
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
- Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals
The Shoals
The Shoals is a metropolitan area in northwestern Alabama, officially known as the Florence-Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Area, including the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield, and the counties of Lauderdale and Colbert...
". At the 2000 census the population was 849. Leighton has been hit by several tornadoes in the 2000s including a damaging EF2 on May 8, 2008 that was caught on tape flipping over many cars and damaging buildings, the town is also the birthplace of American soul musician Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
.
Geography
Leighton is located at 34°41′59"N 87°31′51"W (34.699642, -87.530699).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 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 849 people, 360 households, and 235 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 857.8 people per square mile (331.1/km²). There were 414 housing units at an average density of 418.3 per square mile (161.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.41% 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...
, 55.12% 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...
and 0.47% 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...
. 0.94% 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 360 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% 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, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 75.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,500, and the median income for a family was $28,036. Males had a median income of $27,625 versus $18,393 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 $12,680. About 22.7% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.5% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Leighton is served by three schools in the Colbert County School SystemColbert County Schools
Colbert County Schools is the school system serving Colbert County, Alabama. As of 2007 Billy Hudson was superintendent.-Member schools:*Cherokee Elementary School*Cherokee High School* Hatton Elementary School*Leighton Elementary School...
:
- Hatton Elementary (K-6)
- Leighton Elementary (K-6)
- Colbert County High School (7-12) http://www.colbert.k12.al.us/cchs/index.html