Cullman, Alabama
Cullman, Alabama | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 01-18976 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 2404166[3] | |
Website | cullmanal.gov |
Cullman is the largest city and county seat of Cullman County, Alabama, United States. It is located along Interstate 65, about 50 miles (80 km) north of Birmingham and about 55 miles (89 km) south of Huntsville. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 18,213,[4] with an estimated population of 19,251 in 2022.[5]
History
Before European colonization, the area that today includes Cullman was originally in the territory of the Cherokee Nation. The region was traversed by a trail known as the Black Warrior's Path, which led from the Tennessee River near the present location of Florence, Alabama, to a point on the Black Warrior River south of Cullman. This trail figured significantly in Cherokee history, and it featured prominently in the American Indian Wars prior to the establishment of the state of Alabama and the relocation of several American Indian tribes, including the Creek people westward along the Trail of Tears. During the Creek War in 1813, General Andrew Jackson of the U.S. Army dispatched a contingent of troops down the trail, one of which included the frontiersman Davy Crockett.[6]
In the 1820s and the 1830s, two toll roads were built linking the Tennessee Valley to present-day
During the Civil War, the future location of Cullman was the site of the minor Battle of Day's Gap. On April 30, 1863, Union forces under the command of Colonel Abel Streight won a victory over forces under Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. This battle was part of a campaign and chase known collectively as Streight's Raid. Although Streight got the upper hand in this battle, Forrest would have the last laugh. In one of the more humorous moments of the war, Streight sought a truce and negotiations with Forrest in present-day Cherokee County near present-day Gaylesville. Although Streight's force was larger than Forrest's, while the two were negotiating, Forrest had his troops march repeatedly in a circuitous route past the site of the talks. Thinking himself to be badly outnumbered, Streight surrendered to Forrest.[7]
Cullman itself was founded in 1873 by Colonel
Five German families moved to the area in March 1873; in 1874, the town was incorporated and named after Colonel Cullmann (with the town name being Americanized to 'Cullman' with one 'n'). Over the next 20 years, Cullmann encouraged around 100,000 Germans to immigrate to the United States, with many settling in the Cullman area. Cullmann drew on his military engineering training in laying out and planning the town. During this period, Cullman underwent considerable growth. German continued to be widely spoken, and Cullmann himself was the publisher of a German-language newspaper. When Cullmann died in 1895, at the age of 72, his funeral was marked by the attendance of Governor William C. Oates.[9] The site Cullmann selected for his headquarters is now his gravesite.
German immigrants also founded St. Bernard's Monastery, on the grounds of which is the Ave Maria Grotto, containing 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous religious structures of the world. It is Cullman's principal tourist attraction.[11]
From the 1890s until the 1950s, Cullman was a sundown town, where African Americans were not allowed to live.[12][13][14] The Ku Klux Klan would maintain a presence in the county throughout the civil rights movement, erecting signs that deterred African Americans from being within the county at night. This subsequently led to a rise in population of Colony, Alabama which was a safe haven for the discriminated.
For many years Cullman was a college town, with
During the 20th century, Cullman developed a more diverse economy, including several manufacturing and distribution facilities. The City of Cullman regularly ranks as a top 'micropolitan' city in the nation.[16]
Cullman gained national attention in early 2008, when a special election was held to fill a vacancy in the Alabama House of Representatives. The district that included Cullman elected James C. Fields, an African-American, in that special election.[17]
Cullman's German heritage was repressed during
Geography
Cullman is located on top of the Brindley Mountain plateau at 34°10′35″N 86°50′25″W / 34.17639°N 86.84028°W (34.1764162, -86.8403857).[20] This is a close offshoot of the long geographic ridge called Sand Mountain, a southmost extension of the Appalachian Mountains. The elevation is 814 feet (248 m), close to the watershed between the Tennessee River and the Black Warrior River. Cullman provides its own town water supply from a city-owned lake within the city limits, Lake Catoma.[21]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.046 square miles (62.28 km2), of which 22.704 square miles (58.80 km2) is land and 1.342 square miles (3.48 km2), is water.[2]
New zoning laws and alcohol ordinances have allowed for greater expansion and growth in the downtown Cullman area.[22]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Climate data for Cullman, Alabama (Saint Bernard) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
104 (40) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
98 (37) |
89 (32) |
80 (27) |
110 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 70.4 (21.3) |
75.4 (24.1) |
81.2 (27.3) |
86.0 (30.0) |
90.1 (32.3) |
94.8 (34.9) |
97.1 (36.2) |
96.9 (36.1) |
94.4 (34.7) |
87.1 (30.6) |
79.4 (26.3) |
71.8 (22.1) |
98.9 (37.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.3 (11.3) |
57.2 (14.0) |
65.2 (18.4) |
73.7 (23.2) |
80.5 (26.9) |
86.7 (30.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
89.6 (32.0) |
84.7 (29.3) |
74.6 (23.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
55.1 (12.8) |
72.7 (22.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 41.9 (5.5) |
46.1 (7.8) |
53.4 (11.9) |
61.5 (16.4) |
69.1 (20.6) |
76.0 (24.4) |
79.4 (26.3) |
79.4 (26.3) |
73.4 (23.0) |
62.1 (16.7) |
51.1 (10.6) |
44.4 (6.9) |
61.5 (16.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
34.9 (1.6) |
41.6 (5.3) |
49.4 (9.7) |
57.8 (14.3) |
65.3 (18.5) |
69.2 (20.7) |
69.2 (20.7) |
62.1 (16.7) |
49.7 (9.8) |
38.9 (3.8) |
33.7 (0.9) |
50.3 (10.1) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 11.1 (−11.6) |
15.6 (−9.1) |
21.2 (−6.0) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
40.4 (4.7) |
52.3 (11.3) |
59.0 (15.0) |
57.7 (14.3) |
46.0 (7.8) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
16.7 (−8.5) |
8.9 (−12.8) |
Record low °F (°C) | −17 (−27) |
−7 (−22) |
5 (−15) |
21 (−6) |
30 (−1) |
40 (4) |
48 (9) |
48 (9) |
34 (1) |
19 (−7) |
2 (−17) |
−5 (−21) |
−17 (−27) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.72 (145) |
5.86 (149) |
5.68 (144) |
5.43 (138) |
4.93 (125) |
4.86 (123) |
4.58 (116) |
3.93 (100) |
4.61 (117) |
3.91 (99) |
4.94 (125) |
5.87 (149) |
60.32 (1,530) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.1 (2.8) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.4 | 9.7 | 10.4 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 9.8 | 105.1 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
Source: NOAA[24][25] |
Severe weather
Downtown was significantly damaged by an EF4 tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak. Hitting on April 27, it destroyed many buildings in downtown and in an east-side residential area, but caused no fatalities. The twister moved northeast towards Arab and Guntersville, killing two Cullman County residents and at least four others.[26] Cullman has since rebuilt and revitalized the downtown area.
Education
The
- Cullman Primary School (pre-K – second grade)
- East Elementary (third – fifth grade)
- West Elementary (third – sixth grade)
- John G. Cullman Middle School (sixth and eighth grades)
- Cullman High School (ninth – twelfth grade)
Other schools in Cullman include:
- Benedictineboarding and day school (ninth – twelfth grade)
- Saint Bernard Middle School (seventh and eighth grade)
- Sacred Heart Elementary School (pre-K – sixth grade)
- Saint Paul's Lutheran School (Pre-K – sixth grade)
- Cullman Christian School (pre-K – twelfth grade)
Cullman is also the home of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 426 | — | |
1890 | 1,017 | 138.7% | |
1900 | 1,255 | 23.4% | |
1910 | 2,130 | 69.7% | |
1920 | 2,467 | 15.8% | |
1930 | 2,786 | 12.9% | |
1940 | 5,074 | 82.1% | |
1950 | 7,523 | 48.3% | |
1960 | 10,883 | 44.7% | |
1970 | 12,601 | 15.8% | |
1980 | 13,084 | 3.8% | |
1990 | 13,367 | 2.2% | |
2000 | 13,995 | 4.7% | |
2010 | 14,775 | 5.6% | |
2020 | 18,213 | 23.3% | |
2022 (est.) | 19,251 | [5] | 5.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[27] 2020 Census[4] |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percent |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
15,883 | 87.21% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
236 | 1.3% |
Native American
|
29 | 0.16% |
Asian
|
291 | 1.6% |
Pacific Islander
|
4 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed
|
731 | 4.01% |
Latino
|
1,039 | 5.7% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 18,213 people, 7,445 households, and 4,614 families residing in the city.[29] There were 8,023 housing units.
2010 census
The population density was 765.0 inhabitants per square mile (295.4/km2). There were 6,957 housing units at an average density of 365.1 per square mile (141.0/km2). The
As of the 2010 census, there were 14,775 people and 6,957 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,164, and the median income for a family was $41,313. Males had a median income of $32,863 versus $21,647 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,484. About 9.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.
Cullman was ranked among Bloomberg Businessweek's 50 Best Places to Raise Your Kids in 2012[30] based on the city's educational and economic factors, crime level, air quality, amenities, and ethnic diversity.
Media
Radio stations
- WFMH 1340 AM (Sports/Talk)
- WKUL 92.1 FM (Country/Talk)
- WRJM-LP 95.5 FM (CHR/AAA/Variety)
- Southern Gospel)
- WXJC-FM101.1 FM (Gospel/Talk)
Newspapers
- The Cullman Times (daily)
- The Cullman Tribune (daily)
Television
Cullman is in the TV broadcasting areas of Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama.
There are two low-power broadcasting stations in Cullman:
Health care
- Cullman Regional Medical Center[31] – a 115-bed hospital
Transportation
- Interstate 65
- U.S. Highway 31
- U.S. Highway 278
- State Route 69
- State Route 157
- CSX Transportation (railroad)
- Folsom Field municipal airport
Notable people
- JoJo Billingsley, singer/songwriter
- Wesley Britt, former NFL player
- Paul Burnum, former basketball and baseball coach
- Paul Bussman, member of the Alabama Senate
- Caleb Clay, former MLB pitcher
- Melinda Dillon, actress[32]
- Jamelle Folsom, First Lady of Alabama 1948 – 1951 and 1955 – 1959[33]
- James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, Governor of Alabama 1947 – 1951 and 1955 – 1959
- Lieutenant Governor of Alabama1987-1993 and 2007-2011
- Morgan Smith Goodwin, actress
- Roger Hallmark, country musician
- Kurt Heinecke, composer and voice actor
- Charles Kleibacker, fashion designer
- Jordan Lee, bass fisherman
- Harold E. Martin, journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner
- William C. Martin, physicist
- Julian L. McPhillips, candidate for Attorney General of Alabama in 1978
- David Miller, NFL player
- Kassie Miller, singer/songwriter
- Talmadge Prince, stock car racing driver
- Josh Rutledge, former MLB player
- Shallow Side, rock music band formed in 2011
- Grant Sikes, internet personality
- Frank Stitt, chef
- Channing Tatum, actor/model
- Keegan Thompson, MLB pitcher
- Wayne Trimble, American football player
- Zac Tubbs, American football player
- Holly Williams, country music singer
- Larry Willingham, NFL player
References
- ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cullman, Alabama
- ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c "City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022". United States Census Bureau. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Fulenwider, Dan. "Cullman County, Alabama History: The Black Warrior's Path". Cullman County, Alabama. Archived from the original on September 27, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ^ Partain, Rich. "Streight's Raid". co.cullman.al.us. Archived from the original on September 27, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ^ Although some sources state that Cullmann had earlier Americanized his name from "Kullmann," Stanley Johnson, his only surviving American descendant, told The Cullman Times in 1998 that there are no German records indicating the name "Kullmann", and that "Cullmann" had always been the correct spelling. "Cullman: Moving Forward while Treasuring the Past". The Cullman Times. 1998.
- ^ a b Johnson, Stanley. "Founding of Cullman". co.cullman.al.us. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ^ Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical. Birmingham: Smith & Deland. 1888.
- ^ "The Ave Maria Grotto". www.minorsights.com. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ "The Race Problem". The Free Press. Ozark, Alabama. December 8, 1898. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
It is our recollection that it was once 'against the law' for a negro to live in Cullman in this state.
- ^ Z. B. "No title". Scottsboro Progressive Age. Scottsboro, Alabama. Reprinted in "A Bit of Gossip About Things Away From Home". The Tribune-Gazette. Cullman, Alabama. March 2, 1899. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
In Cullman there are many handsome homes kept up in the best city style, and the people are so hospitable and social that visitors cannot help but fall in love with the place. Many of the older people speak no English at all, and will not allow it spoken in their families, and negroes are not allowed to live there at all. It seems very strange to find such a town in Alabama.
- ^ Rawls, Phillip (February 9, 2011). "Senator defends call to 'empty the clip'". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
She said the remarks were especially troubling because [Scott] Beason chose to make them in Cullman, an overwhelmingly white city that once was known as a 'sundown town' because blacks feared being there after sunset.
- ^ "History of St Bernard Prep". stbernardprep.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ^ "Cullman makes best micropolitan rankings list". Cullman Times.
- ^ Nossiter, Adam (February 21, 2008). "Race Matters Less in Politics of South". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ^ "Oktoberfest history Oktoberfest". Cullman, Alabama Oktoberfest. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Cheers: Home of dry Oktoberfest goes wet". Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press. November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "City of Cullman". www.cullmancity.org. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ "About - Downtown Cullman". Downtown Cullman. Retrieved May 15, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Culman, Alabama". Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Saint Bernard, AL". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "National Weather Service Huntsville, AL - Cullman County Survey Information". Srh.noaa.gov. March 17, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "The Best Places to Raise Your Kids 2012". Archived from the original on July 26, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ "Cullman Regional Medical Center | Cullman, Alabama". Cullman Regional Medical Center.
- ^ Wahls, Robert (October 28, 1962). "90-Day Wonder: An Unknown Only Three Months Ago, 23-year-old Actress Melinda Dillon Shot to Stardom in Broadway Debut". New York Daily News. Sec. 2, pg. 16. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "Former Ala. first lady Jamelle Folsom dies at 85". Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press. December 2, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.[permanent dead link]