Montgomery Overview

•May 16, 2008 • Leave a Comment

Montgomery is the capital and second most populous city in the Southern U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. The city population was 201,568 as of the 2000 census. Montgomery is the primary city of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2000 population of 346,528.

The city was incorporated in 1819, as a merger of two towns situated along the Alabama River. It became the state capital in 1846. In February 1861, Montgomery was selected as the first capital of the Confederate States of America, until the seat of government moved to Richmond, Virginia in May of that year. During the mid-20th century, Mongtomery was a primary site in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Today, in addition to housing many Alabama government agencies, Montgomery has a large military presence due to Maxwell Air Force Base, public universities Alabama State University and Auburn University-Montgomery, high-tech manufacturing including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and cultural attractions like the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

Demographics

Historical populations

Census

Pop.

1820

6,604

1830

12,695

92.2%

1840

24,574

93.6%

1850

29,711

20.9%

1860

35,904

20.8%

1870

43,704

21.7%

1880

52,356

19.8%

1890

56,172

7.3%

1900

72,047

28.3%

1910

82,178

14.1%

1920

80,853

-1.6%

1930

98,671

22.0%

1940

114,420

16.0%

1950

138,965

21.5%

1960

169,210

21.8%

1970

167,790

-0.8%

1980

197,038

17.4%

1990

209,085

6.1%

2000

223,510

6.9%

As of the census of 2000, there were 201,568 people, 100,784 households, and 100,784 families residing in the city. The 2006 Census Bureau estimate places the population at 201,998.

The population density was 1,297.3 people per square mile (500.9/km²). There were 86,787 housing units at an average density of 558.5/sq mi (215.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.63% Black, 47.67% White, 0.25% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 78,384 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,627, and the median income for a family was $44,297. Males had a median income of $31,877 versus $25,014 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,385. About 13.9% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Montgomery is served by Interstate 65 and Interstate 85. I-65 is the primary north–south freeway through the city leading between Nashville, TN and Mobile, including Birmingham and Huntsville, while I-85, another north–south (running east–west in the city) freeway, leads northeast to Atlanta, and serves as the southern terminus of the route. Montgomery is also served by other major highways which loop around the city: U.S. Highway 31, U.S. Highway 80, U.S. Highway 82, U.S. Highway 231, U.S. Highway 331 and State Route 152. The Alabama Department of Transportation is planning the Outer Montgomery Loop to ease traffic congestion in the city. It will connect Interstate 85 to U.S. Highway 80. The Montgomery Area Transit provides public transportation with buses serving the city. The major airport serving Montgomery is Dannelly Field, otherwise known as the Montgomery Regional Airport.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Montgomery County is served by the Montgomery Public Schools system.

Private schools

Private elementary schools:

  • Green Gate School
  • Holy Cross Episcopal School
  • Our Lady Queen of Mercy School, Montgomery
  • Saint Bede School, Montgomery

Private elementary and middle schools:

  • Bethany Christian Academy

Private high schools:

  • Canterbury High School

Private middle and high schools:

  • St. Jude High School

Private K-12 schools:

  • Alabama Christian Academy
  • Calvary Christian Academy
  • Churchill Academy
  • Eastwood Christian School
  • Evangel Christian Academy
  • Hooper Academy, Hope Hull
  • Macon-East Montgomery Academy, Cecil
  • Montgomery Academy
  • Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

Metropolitan Area

Main article: Montgomery Metropolitan Area

The Montgomery Metro area includes the following nearby towns:

  • Autaugaville
  • Benton
  • Billingsley
  • Coosada
  • Deatsville
  • Eclectic
  • Elmore
  • Fort Deposit
  • Gordonville
  • Hayneville
  • Lowndesboro
  • Millbrook
  • Pike Road
  • Prattville
  • Tallassee
  • Wetumpka
  • White Hall
  • Shorter
  • Tuskegee
  • Union Springs

Neighborhoods

Allendale/Myrtlewood

Arrowhead

Bellwood

Beauvoir

Brentwood

Brighton Estates

Capitol Heights

Carriage Hills

Centennial Hill

Chisholm

Cloverdale

Cloverdale-Idlewild

Copperfield

County Downs

Dalraida

Deer Creek

Deerfield

Downtown

Edgewood

Elsmeade

Cottage Hill

Cross Creek

Forest Hills

Forest Park

Fox Hollow

Garden District

Gay Meadows

Georgetown

Glad Lane Estates

Glynnwood

Green Acres

Grove Park

Halcyon

Halcyon Forest

Halcyon Oaks

Halcyon South

Halcyon Summit

Highland Gardens

Highland Park

Hillwood

Lake Forest

Lakeview Heights

Lockwood

McGehee Estates

McGehee Place

Melrose

Midtown

Mobile Hights

Morningview

Normandale

Old Alabama Town

Oak Park

Old Cloverdale

Regency Park

Ridgefield

Ridgecrest

Rosemary

Rosemont

Rosemont Gardens

Somerhill

Somerset

Southlawn

Smiley Court

Spring Valley

Sturbridge

Taylor Crossing

Taylor Downs

Taylor Lakes

Towne Lake

Tulane Court/Gardens

Trenholm Court

Vaughn Meadows

West Woods

Woodley Park

Woodmere

Wyndridge

Wynlakes

Source: Montgomery, Alabama in Wikipedia

 
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