Leeds

Leeds is a city located in Jefferson County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 10,455.

History

Former communities in the Leeds area included Cedar Grove and Oak Ridge. In 1881 the Georgia Pacific Railroad was constructed through the area and two of its engineers, Edward M. Tutwiler and James A. Montgomery founded the newer settlement, naming it for Yorkshire's iron center in England.

Named for an industrial city near Birmingham, England, Leeds got its own post office in 1884 and became an incorporated city on April 27, 1887. Its success as a young city came about through three major factors: The incorporation of nearby Birmingham and the beginning of iron ore production there; the building of the Georgia Pacific Railroad from Birmingham to Atlanta; and the construction of a Standard Portland Cement manufacturing plant in 1906.

Geography

Leeds is located at 33°32'44" North, 86°33'27" West. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.5 square miles. 22.4 mi² of it is land and 0.2 mi² (0.67%) of it is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,455 people, 4,301 households, and 2,989 families residing in the city. The population densit was 467.9/mi². There were 4,585 housing units at an average density of 205.2/mi². The racial makeup of the city was 81.98% White, 15.91% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,301 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,420, and the median income for a family was $46,127. Males had a median income of $32,090 versus $23,448 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,573. 13.2% of the population and 10.5% of families were below the poverty line. 22.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Famous Natives

• Charles Barkley

References

• Foscue, Virginia (1989) Place Names in Alabama. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. She cites Thomas N. Hagood's thesis "Place Name Patterns in Jefferson County, Alabama," completed for his Master's degree at Birmingham-Southern College in 1960.

External links

• Leeds official website