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 (34.987052, -86.843228). It is the northernmost settlement in the state of Alabama. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land.

2000 Census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,034 people, 460 households, and 276 families residing in the town. The population density was 506.8 people per square mile (195.7/km²). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 248.0 per square mile (95.8/km²). 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% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 460 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the town was $28,352, and the median income for a family 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.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,194 people, 505 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density was 517 people per square mile (195.1/km²). There were 578 housing units at an average density of 289 per square mile (109.1/km²). 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, .6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 505 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% 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 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the town was $32,196, and the median income for a family 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.

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 person