Samson, Alabama Explained

Official Name:Samson
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Name1:Alabama
Subdivision Name2:Geneva
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Clay King
Area Total Km2:9.40
Area Total Sq Mi:3.63
Area Land Km2:9.37
Area Land Sq Mi:3.62
Area Water Km2:0.02
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Elevation Ft:200
Elevation M:61
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1874
Population Density Km2:199.98
Population Density Sq Mi:517.97
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Coordinates:31.1125°N -86.0478°W
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:36477
Area Code:334
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:01-67800
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0153310
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]

Samson is a city in Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,874, a decline from the figure of 1,940 tabulated in 2010. Samson incorporated in 1905 (according to the 1910 U.S. Census), although other sources cited 1906.[2]

During the Great Depression, the T.S. Faulk and Company Store in downtown Samson purchased a large shipment of snuff, which remained stationary at the town's depot for an extended period of time. This led to Samson being nicknamed "Snuff City, U.S.A." The nickname is commemorated today with a New Year's drop of a Rooster snuff can.

In an attempt to shed this moniker, several community groups decided to plant extensive beds of red roses along all the roads leading into Samson. With this planting, they hoped the new slogan "City of a Million Roses" would take root. However, as the roses gradually disappeared, the old slogan resurfaced.

The town's current motto is "Samson...We Grow Friendly People." A Samson High School student devised the slogan during a high school contest. This contest received more than 50 entries, and the student emerged as the winner, earning $100. The contest committee deemed his slogan, "Samson-we grow friendly people," as a representation of the agricultural aspect and the amicability of the town. [3]

Geography

Samson is located at 31.1125°N -86.0478°W (31.112574, -86.047865).[4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6sqmi, of which 3.6sqmi is land and 0.28% is water.

Demographics

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 2,071 people, 894 households, and 575 families living in the city. The population density was 572.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,016 housing units at an average density of 280.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 77.11% White, 20.42% Black or African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.63% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 2.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[5] Of the 894 households 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 33.3% of households were one person and 16.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median household income was $18,594 and the median family income was $25,188. Males had a median income of $25,767 versus $16,719 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,834. About 29.2% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.1% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 1,940 people, 814 households, and 513 families living in the city. The population density was 538.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 968 housing units at an average density of 268.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 17.9% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 5.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 8.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[6] Of the 814 households 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 32.3% of households were one person and 13.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median household income was $18,768 and the median family income was $25,060. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $19,682 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,606. About 31.6% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.7% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Samson racial composition[7] !Race!Num.!Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)1,23665.96%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)30016.01%
Native American160.85%
Asian40.21%
Other/Mixed854.54%
Hispanic or Latino23312.43%
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,874 people, 763 households, and 434 families residing in the city.

Notable people

2009 shooting

See main article: Geneva County shootings. On March 10, 2009, in the Alabama towns of Kinston, Samson and Geneva, the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history took place in Geneva County. Twenty-eight-year-old Michael McLendon began this massacre by killing his mother and burning down her house in Kinston. He then headed east about 10 miles on Highway 52 and went on an hour-long shooting spree with two high-powered weapons in downtown Samson and a few of its neighborhoods. McLendon then headed to Geneva. McLendon killed ten people and wounded six others in the shooting rampage before committing suicide. In response, troops from nearby Fort Rucker were deployed to the streets of Samson, where they manned barricades and guarded a makeshift morgue. This was later determined to be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions.[9]

Reportedly, McLendon had talked to a confidant about being depressed and frustrated with his inability to become a Marine or a police officer.

Authorities also said McLendon admitted in a two-page, handwritten letter that he had killed his mother and planned to commit suicide. He mentioned a family dispute over a legal issue but did not reveal plans to kill anyone else. Investigators said they found the letter in a mailbox. They would not disclose its intended recipient.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: Samson.
  3. Web site: City of Samson . January 5, 2024 . www.cityofsamson.com.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2015.
  7. Web site: Explore Census Data. December 17, 2021. data.census.gov.
  8. Web site: Success Stories . Cityofsamson.com . June 9, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130125054135/http://www.cityofsamson.com/success.html . January 25, 2013 .
  9. http://www.military.com/news/article/troop-use-after-ala-shootings-illegal.html?col=1186032310810 "Troop use After Ala. Shootings Illegal"
  10. Web site: March 13, 2009 . Ala. shooter was depressed over failures . January 5, 2024 . NBC News . en.