Ardmore, Alabama
History
The settlement was originally named Austin, after Alex Austin, who selected the location as a site for a station along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The railroad company later renamed the town Ardmore, for the community of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Ardmore, Alabama was incorporated in 1922.
Geography
Ardmore is located at 34°59′13″N 86°50′36″W / 34.98694°N 86.84333°W (34.987052, -86.843228). It is the northernmost settlement in the state of Alabama. The town is concentrated along Alabama State Route 53, which runs south to north along Ardmore Avenue before veering east along the state line, where it runs congruent with Tennessee State Route 7 on Main Street. Interstate 65, which connects Nashville and Birmingham, passes just west of Ardmore.
Main Street is the state line. The road heading northbound/westbound is in Tennessee, while southbound/eastbound is in Alabama.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.050 square miles (5.31 km), of which 2.042 square miles (5.29 km) is land and 0.008 square miles (0.021 km), is water.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | 266 | — | |
1940 | 381 | 43.2% | |
1950 | 408 | 7.1% | |
1960 | 439 | 7.6% | |
1970 | 761 | 73.3% | |
1980 | 1,096 | 44.0% | |
1990 | 1,090 | −0.5% | |
2000 | 1,034 | −5.1% | |
2010 | 1,194 | 15.5% | |
2020 | 1,321 | 10.6% | |
2022 (est.) | 1,393 | 5.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
Ardmore first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as an incorporated town.
2020 census
Race | Number | Percent |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 1,144 | 86.6% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 33 | 2.5% |
Native American | 4 | 0.3% |
Asian | 8 | 0.61% |
Other/Mixed | 76 | 5.75% |
Hispanic or Latino | 56 | 4.24% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 1,321 people, 571 households, and 344 families residing in the town. There were 636 housing units.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census there were 1,194 people, 505 households, and 333 families in the town. The population density was 517 inhabitants per square mile (200/km). There were 578 housing units at an average density of 289 per square mile (112/km). The racial makeup of the town was 94.3% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.3%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 505 households 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36, and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 24.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% 65 or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median household income was $32,196 and the median family income was $36,779. Males had a median income of $31,600 versus $37,841 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,931. About 13.0% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 1,034 people, 460 households, and 276 families in the town. The population density was 506.8 inhabitants per square mile (195.7/km). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 248.0 per square mile (95.8/km). The racial makeup of the town was 96.23% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 1.74% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 460 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 36.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25, and the average family size was 2.96.
The age distribution was 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median household income was $28,352 and the median family income was $40,673. Males had a median income of $29,531 versus $19,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,447. About 10.7% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 30.7% of those age 65 or over.
Historic Demographics
Census Year |
Population & Racial Majority |
State Place Rank |
County Place Rank |
White (White, Non- Hispanic 1980- |
Black | Hispanic (1980- |
Native American |
Asian | Pacific Islander (1980- |
Other | 2 or More Races (2000- |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 | 266 (-) | 248th (-) | 2nd (-) | ||||||||
1940 | 381 ↑ | 219th ↑ | 2nd X | ||||||||
1950 | 408 ↑ | 260th ↓ | 2nd X | ||||||||
1960 | 439 ↑ | 259th ↑ | 2nd X | ||||||||
1970 | 761 ↑ | 238th ↑ | 2nd X | ||||||||
1980 | 1,096 ↑ | 238th X | 2nd X | 1,073 ↑ 97.9% | 8 (-) 0.7% | 10 (-) 0.9% | 2 (-) 0.2% | 2 (-) 0.2% | 1 (-) 0.1% | ||
1990 | 1,090 ↓ | 250th ↓ | 2nd X | 1,065 ↓ 97.7% | 18 ↑ 1.7% | 6 ↓ 0.6% | 1 ↓ 0.1% | ||||
2000 | 1,034 ↓ | 277th ↓ | 2nd X | 988 ↓ 95.6% | 9 ↓ 0.9% | 18 ↑ 1.7% | 5 ↑ 0.5% | 8 (-) 0.8% | 1 (-) 0.1% | 12 (-) 1.2% | 4 (-) 0.4% |
2010 | 1,194 ↑ | 282nd ↓ | 4th ↓ | 1,119 ↑ 93.7% | 23 ↑ 1.9% | 16 ↓ 1.3% | 9 ↑ 0.8% | 11 ↑ 0.9% | 1 X 0.1% | 7 ↓ 0.6% | 17 ↑ 1.4% |
Education
It is in the Limestone County School District.
There is a high school in Ardmore, Alabama called “Ardmore High School” and it has around 1,008 students. The high school consists of two separate parts: the middle school, where grades six through eight attend, and the high school, where grades nine through twelve attend. The school was founded in 1915; the five acres of land cost a total of five dollars and was generously donated to the school. Residents of Ardmore helped construct the school building for an entire year. The original school building was only two stories tall. There were classrooms, a library, and a study hall area on the first floor, and they put a stage on the second floor of the building.
In 1917, the doors of the school opened to welcome its first students. Ten years later, Ardmore High School received its accreditation.
The school's mission statement since its opening has been: "The mission and purpose of Ardmore High School is to provide appropriate learning opportunities that promote academic, physical, and ethical growth of students enabling them to become productive citizens in an ever-changing society."
In popular culture
Ardmore is the setting of a song by Old Crow Medicine Show called "Alabama High-Test," on the album Tennessee Pusher.
Notable People
- David Fanning, country music singer, songwriter, and record producer
- Lee Hodges, PGA Tour golfer
Photo Gallery
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Ardmore road signs at the state line
-
Downtown Ardmore
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Ardmore town hall
-
Ardmore airport
References
Notes
- ^ 1st year Ardmore reported on census
- ^ (-)Indicates no immediate prior population figure or rank
- ^ Racial demographics not reported for places of less than 1,000 on the 1930-70 censuses.
- ^ X Indicates no change in rank
- ^ Tied for 260th place with Pine Hill
- ^ With addition of "Hispanic" to census, which could also be a person of any race, both population totals and percentages will add up to more than the total population.
- ^ From 1980 onwards, White population only reported on chart as "Non-Hispanic White/One Race", which will be less than the overall White population that would also include White Hispanics, which would be counted under Hispanic exclusively.
- ^ Lost 2nd place to Madison & Huntsville (3rd), both of which have annexed from the adjacent Madison County. Ardmore, however, remains 2nd largest place wholly within Limestone County.
References
- ^ Kaetz, James P., "Ardmore", Encyclopedia of Alabama, retrieved October 14, 2018
- ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ardmore, Alabama
- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022". United States Census Bureau. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Bayne (April 6, 2014). "Iconic rocket due for repair". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ Foscue, Virginia. Place Names in Alabama. University: U of Alabama Press, 1989.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "EXTREME SETTLEMENTS: A COMPREHENSIVE LIST". Weekend Roady. May 2, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch02.pdf, 1930 AL Census
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33973538v1ch03.pdf, 1940 AL Census
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch04.pdf, 1950 AL Census
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721510v1p2ch2.pdf, 1960 AL Census
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_al-01.pdf, 1970 AL Census
- ^ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_alABC-01.pdf, 1980 AL Census
- ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-2.pdf, 1990 AL Census
- ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-2.pdf, 2000 AL Census
- ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-2.pdf, 2010 AL Census
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Limestone County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 1, 2022. - Text list
- ^ Ardmore High School
- ^ Ardmore High, About
- ^ "Old Crow has the ideal medicine for a bad case of glitz: great music". Huntsville Times. September 17, 2009. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
External links
- Media related to Ardmore, Alabama at Wikimedia Commons