Hardaway, Alabama Explained

Official Name:Hardaway, Alabama
Pushpin Map:Alabama#USA
Pushpin Label:Hardaway
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alabama
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Macon
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:253
Coordinates:32.2867°N -85.8489°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:36039
Area Code:334
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:119711

Originally called Dick's Creek, the town received its name following the completion of the railroad by engineer and professor Col. Robert A. Hardaway (who lived in the community for some time with his family). Hardaway is an unincorporated community in Macon County, Alabama, United States, located 12.9miles southwest of Tuskegee. Hardaway has a post office with ZIP code 36039.[1] [2]

Demographics

From 1900 to 1920, Hardaway was listed as a village in 1900 & 1910 and as an incorporated town on the U.S. Census in 1920. It did not appear on the census after that point, likely due to disincorporation.

Hardaway Baptist Church

Originally named Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church was constructed at a location near Hardaway Cemetery sometime prior to 1880. Sometime between the years 1889 and 1893 the church was moved to where it sits today. Weekly services are no longer held. The church has since be recognized as a Alabama Historic Site and held annual Hardaway Baptist Church Reunions until around 2018.

The Railroad

On November 27, 1891 a railroad was completed and the first steam locomotive came through. The person responsible for the railroad construction was Robert Hardaway. Before the railroad was brought to the town merchants needed to intercept the train in Fitzpatrick, Alabama to gather supplies. The arrival of the train startled many of the residents of the community. The railroad was removed sometime around 2003.

The Hardaway Post Office

It is unknown when the post office was constructed, but it is documented that the name was officially changed from Dick's Creek Post Office to Hardaway Post Office on Oct 6, 1892 following the completion of the rail and the renaming of the town. During the Civil War the post office received via horseback and was located in a log house where postmaster John M. F. Parker lived.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code. 2012-02-15. United States Postal Service. 2012.
  2. Web site: Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code. United States Postal Service. June 5, 2013. October 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201017172656/https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt008.cfm. dead.