Grove Hill, Alabama

Grove Hill is a town in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,570.[2] It is the county seat of Clarke County and home of the Clarke County Museum.

Grove Hill, Alabama
Town
Clarke County Courthouse in Grove Hill
Location of Grove Hill in Clarke County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 31°42′22″N 87°46′27″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Clarke
Government
• Type	Mayor/Council
• Mayor	Cynthia Jackson
Area [1]
• Total	7.60 sq mi (19.68 km^2)
• Land	7.59 sq mi (19.66 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km^2)
Elevation	505 ft (154 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	1,570
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	1,738
• Density	228.99/sq mi (88.41/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	36451
Area code(s)	251
FIPS code	01-32080
GNIS feature ID	0155087
Website	grovehillalabama.com

History

The area that is now Grove Hill was originally inhabited by Creek and Choctaw Indians. The county seat of Clarke County was established at what later became Grove Hill in 1832 as the spot was most central to the rest of the county. Known variously as Smithville, then Macon, the name Grove Hill was selected around 1850 for the large grove of oak trees on the plateau. The town was officially incorporated and chartered in 1929.[4] In 1853, a yellow fever epidemic struck the town, killing many residents, almost wiping out the town.[5]

The Grove Hill area has numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places including the Alston-Cobb House, Bush House, John A. Coate House, Cobb House, Dickinson House, Fort Sinquefield, and the Grove Hill Courthouse Square Historic District.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.0 square miles (13 km²), all land.[2]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	200		—
1880	176		−12.0%
1890	225		27.8%
1930	491		—
1940	730		48.7%
1950	1,443		97.7%
1960	1,834		27.1%
1970	1,825		−0.5%
1980	1,912		4.8%
1990	1,551		−18.9%
2000	1,438		−7.3%
2010	1,570		9.2%
Est. 2019	1,738	[3]	10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 2013 Estimate[8]

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 1,570 people, 615 households, and 402 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 56.6% White, 41.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 582 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% 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 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.

Education

Public Education is provided by the Clarke County School System. Located in Grove Hill are Clarke County High School (grades 9 through 12), Wilson Hall Middle School (grades 5 through 8), and Grove Hill Elementary School (grades K though 4).

There is one private school in Grove Hill. Clarke Preparatory School provides education for grades K through 12.

Media

Radio station

WBMH 106.1 FM (Classic Country)

Notable people

• Lemuel J. Alston, U.S. Representative from South Carolina who lived in Grove Hill from 1816 until his death in 1836
• Doug Barfield[10] – Auburn University football coach
• Zechariah Bettis, politician who served as the Probate Judge of Clarke County, Alabama during the American Civil War
• John W. Cranford – Representative for Texas.[11]
• Grant Gillis – Major League Baseball player[12]
• Marc Keahey, Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 22nd district
• F. David Mathews – United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Cliff Nobles – Pop musician

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "The Grove Hill Area Chamber of Commerce". Retrieved January 15, 2010.
5. Owen, Thomas McAdory; Marie Bankhead Owen (1921). History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 1. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 716.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. Barfield back in hometown
11. • United States Congress. "Grove Hill, Alabama (id: C000876)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
12. "Grant Gillis". Baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 16, 2013.

External links

• The Town of Grove Hill and the Grove Hill Area Chamber of Commerce Web site