Loachapoka, Alabama

Loachapoka (

Loachapoka is governed by a mayor and 5 town council members. However, in the most recent municipal election (2016), no incumbents submitted qualifying paperwork to run for re-election. Therefore, the only citizen that did qualify for the ballot became mayor-elect, as per state law, and this was confirmed by the AL Director of Elections.[3] When the mayor-elect brought the issue to light, several town, county and state officials worked together in a poorly hatched plan to improperly disqualify the only candidate to follow the law for qualification, as referenced in several newspaper articles and audio recordings of town hall meetings.^[3][4][5] The corruption portrayed in this series of events reflect a pattern of politics in Alabama that has been commonplace for many years, as reported in the Harvard Political Review.^[6]

History

Loachapoka was a

The Lee County Historical Society Museum is located in an 1845 general store in the Loachapoka historic district, located at "Pioneer Park," a six and-a-half-acre park of 9 buildings and 5 gardens reminiscent of the 1850s in east central Alabama.

Photo gallery

• 
  Loachapoka Town Hall
• 
  The post office in Loachapoka (

  ZIP code

  : 36865)
• 
  Loachapoka High School
• 
  A general store built in 1845 now serves as The Lee County Historical Society Museum
• 
  The famous Syrup Sopping sign as seen from Alabama State Route 14
• 
  Fred's Feed & Seed, located in downtown Loachapoka, also serves as a music venue and "pickin' parlor." Fred's regularly features traditional barn dances on the first and third Thursdays of every month.
• 
  The Loachapoka Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 11, 1973.
• 
  The Ruth Purdy Speake House and Historic Marker
• 
  The now-defunct Rattling Gourd Gallery, Downtown Loachapoka
• 
  The Saugahatchee Creek, which runs through the area, serves as a popular swimming hole for locals during spring and summer months.
• 
  A span across The Saugahatchee Creek

Geography

Loachapoka is located at 32°36′17″N 85°35′49″W / 32.60472°N 85.59694°W / 32.60472; -85.59694 (32.604844, -85.596890).^[8]

According to the

Demographics

Loachapoka has appeared sporadically on census records.^[11] It first appeared as a separate community on the 1880 U.S. Census and again in 1890. It did not appear in 1900–1920, although one source said it did incorporate in 1910 with 359 residents,^[12] but this is not corroborated by the census of that year. In 1930, it appeared again, citing it had been incorporated in 1926. However, it failed to appear again in 1940, presumably losing its charter during the 1930s. It did not reincorporate again until 1974.

2020 census

2000 census

As of the

There were 69 households, out of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $33,571. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $28,500 for females. The

Notable person

• Freddie Hart, country music singer and songwriter

References