Sipsey, Alabama Explained

Official Name:Sipsey, Alabama
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Name1:Alabama
Subdivision Name2:Walker
Area Total Sq Mi:0.48
Area Land Sq Mi:0.48
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Elevation Ft:430
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:363
Population Density Sq Mi:754.68
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Coordinates:33.8231°N -87.0861°W
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:35584
Area Code:205, 659
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:01-70704
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0153455
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:1.25
Area Land Km2:1.24
Area Water Km2:0.00
Population Density Km2:291.68

Sipsey is a town in Walker County, Alabama, United States. In the 2010 census, the population was 437, down from the previous 552 in the year 2000.

Geography

Sipsey is located at 33.8231°N -87.0861°W (33.823108, -87.086127).[2]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5sqmi, all land.

History

Sipsey was founded in the early 1912-13 as a company town for the DeBardeleben Coal Company, founded by coal magnates Henry T. DeBardeleben, Milton Fies, and Nicholas M. Norris.[3] It was incorporated as a town on August 14, 1965.[4]

Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 552 people, 212 households, and 149 families residing in the town. The population density was 1124.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 239 housing units at an average density of 486.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 68.12% White, 31.34% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% from other races, and 0.18% from two or more races. 0.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 212 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was distributed this way in terms of age — 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,000, and the median income for a family was $26,500. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,644. About 23.3% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 31.3% of those age 65 or over.

The town elected its first black female Mayor in 2012. Mayor Belinda McCain is striving for economic development and green development for Sipsey.

Sipsey is served by a full-time police department under the supervision of Chief John B. Jackson, Jr., and a volunteer fire and rescue department under the supervision of Chief Rodney Morgan.

References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  3. Pat Morrison, Walker County, Alabama, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2004
  4. Book 82, Page 64 Walker County, Alabama.
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.