Centreville

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City of Centreville
Centreville seal.jpg
Incorporated 1832
Population 2,778
Mayor Tom Bamberg
School district Bibb County Schools
Government

Centreville City Council
Centreville Fire Department
Centreville Police Department

Web site centrevillealabama.com
Centreville locator map.png
Locate with Google Maps

Centreville (incorporated in 1832) is the seat of Bibb County and, with a population of 2,778, its second largest city after neighboring Brent.

The current city limits enclose a total area of 9.7 square miles, virtually all land. Attractions include the Centreville Historic District, the Brent-Centreville Library, the Cahaba Falls Golf Course and Country Club, Bibb County High School, the Bibb Medical Center, and the Bibb County Airport. WBIB-AM broadcasts from the city.

History

The original settlement on the banks of the Cahaba River was called Falls of the Cahawba and represented the furthest possible reach for riverboats coming up from the Alabama River at Cahawba.

It was made the county seat in 1819 and renamed Centreville Court House in 1822 when the post office was established and the county seat moved to Bibbville. Sarah Chotard obtained a patent to the land and laid out the present street grid. The courthouse returned to Centreville in 1829 and the municipality was incorporated on January 21, 1832.

Despite the promise of commerce with the port of Mobile, the Cahaba proved a treacherous route, and only rarely did steamboats actually land at Centreville, including the years 1836, 1844, 1845, 1847 and 1849. One riverboat, The Duke, was constructed in Centreville in 1883 specifically for the river, but was quickly made obsolete by the coming of the rail era. The Tennessee & Alabama Central Railroad bridged the river just above Centreville in 1849.

The current Bibb County Courthouse was constructed in 1902.

Government

Centreville is led by a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is Tom Bamberg. The City Council, representing five districts, is made up of Kenny Hicks, David Steele, Ken Cottingham, Don Mack and Chuck Martin. The council meets at the Centreville City Hall at 1270 Walnut Street.

Bibb County Courthouse

The city maintains its own police and fire departments. The Centreville Municipal Court holds monthly sessions presided over by Judge Bryan Brinyark.

Centreville's park board administers the 30-acre Cahaba River Historical Park and the Ross F. Gray Memorial Park.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,778 people residing in the city's 1,066 occupied housing units, for an average household of 2.6 persons. The population density was 286.4/mi², with housing units at an average density of 109.9/mi². The racial makeup of the city was 72.2% White and 23.7% African American. 3.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000, there were 953 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,842, and the median income for a family was $43,309. Males had a median income of $32,250 versus $21,654 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,449. About 14.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

  • Foscue, Virginia O. (1989) Place Names in Alabama. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 081730410X
  • "Centreville, Alabama" (April 4, 2011) Wikipedia - accessed April 4, 2011

External links

Bibb County
Topics

Communities | County Commission | Schools | Sheriff

Cities

Brookwood | Ashby | Blocton | Brent | Centreville (seat) | Six Mile | Woodstock | Vance | West Blocton