Odenville, Alabama

Geography

Odenville is located at 33°40′54″N 86°23′57″W (33.681762, -86.399295).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all land.

Odenville is located in St. Clair County and is minutes away from the cities of Birmingham and Trussville. Highway 411 transverses the town.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,131 people, 421 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density was 348.3 people per square mile (134.4/km²). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 141.3 per square mile (54.5/km²). This figure is now much higher, but not yet recorded, due to a continued infux of population due to desirable location, affordable real-estate and good schools.The racial makeup of the town was 95.93% White, 1.95% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 421 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,473, and the median income for a family was $40,694. Males had a median income of $31,429 versus $21,736 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,330. About 5.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

70% were high school graduates or higher, and 7.2% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,585 people, 1,341 households, and 1,033 families residing in the town. The population density was 1120.3 people per square mile (426.8/km²). There were 1,476 housing units at an average density of 461.3 per square mile (175.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.2% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,341 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,936, and the median income for a family was $61,646. Males had a median income of $45,652 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,464. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The first school in Odenville (then called Hardin's Shop) was a log, one-room school building built in 1864. Odenville has had other community schools in the area since the middle of the 19th century, including the Friendship School, Low Gap School and Branchville School. The first Odenville School, a wooden structure established by Mr. Jim Hardin and Thay Bayer, burned in 1907. Students had to meet in churches during construction of a new school. On July 18, 1908 the original St. Clair County High School building was constructed. A historic monument engraved with the names of the original county leaders responsible for the construction of this first high school stands in front of what is now Odenville Middle School. This school was a K-12 school. The building itself was a field stone building and was used until the 1950s, and still stands and is used by the St. Clair County Schools transportation department. On May 1 of the same (1908) year it was awarded the first high school in St. Clair County, meaning it graduated twelfth-graders. When doors were opened SCCHS had only 25 students. There were also several elementary one-room schoolhouses in the area during that period. They were closed over an extended period. As each one closed, their student body combined with St. Clair County High. The last one to close was the Friendship Community School. In 1912, SCCHS held its first graduation ceremony.

In the 1970s a separate large elementary building was constructed separating the elementary from secondary students. By 1998, a newer, larger elementary building had to be constructed due to climbing enrollment.

Today, SCCHS is led by Principal Mike Howard and Assistant Principal Brandon Taylor and Co-Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Carl Mims. In 2007, construction of a new high school building was completed and students were moved in. This building was one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the state of Alabama. This brought more students, and more room to hold those students along with new opportunities for students, parents and administrators. Enrollment continues to climb.

Odenville's schools are part of the St. Clair County School system, led by superintendent Jenny Seals.

Notable people