Gordo, Alabama

Gordo is a town in Pickens County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,750, up from 1,677 in 2000. It was the second largest town in Pickens County as of 2010, taking the title from Reform, which it previously held in 1960 and 1970. The town incorporated in 1900.[3]

Gordo, Alabama
Town
Location of Gordo in Pickens County, Alabama
Coordinates: 33°19′17″N 87°54′13″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyPickens
Government
 • MayorCraig Patterson
Area
 • Total3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2)
 • Land3.25 sq mi (8.42 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
282 ft (86 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,750
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
1,614
 • Density496.16/sq mi (191.58/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35466
Area code205, 659
FIPS code01-30736
GNIS feature ID0119169
Websitewww.townofgordo.org

History

A post office called Gordo has been in operation since 1847.[4] The name of the town likely commemorates the 1847 Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War.[5]

20th century to present

In 2016, Black disabled veteran Sean Worsley was arrested in Pickens County for possession of prescription medical marijuana by Police Officer Carl Abramo of the Gordo Police Department. Worsley was arrested after stopping at a gas station when Abramo allegedly heard loud music and "observed a black male get out of the passenger side vehicle". In 2020, Mr. Worsley was extradited from his home state in Arizona to Pickens County, where he was sentenced by a judge to 60 months in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections.[6][7]


Geography

Gordo is located at 33°19′17″N 87°54′13″W (33.321461, -87.903729).[8]

The city is located in west central Alabama along U.S. Route 82, which runs northwest to southeast through the town. It leads southeast 22 mi (35 km) to Northport and 23 mi (37 km) to Tuscaloosa. It runs northwest 8 mi (13 km) to Reform and 37 mi (60 km) to Columbus, Mississippi. Alabama State Route 86 runs west 14 mi (23 km) to Carrollton, the Pickens county seat. Alabama State Route 159 runs north 31 mi (50 km) to Fayette.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2), of which 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) is land and 0.31% is water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1910707—
1920642−9.2%
193081126.3%
194093415.2%
19509521.9%
19601,71480.0%
19701,99116.2%
19802,1126.1%
19901,918−9.2%
20001,677−12.6%
20101,7504.4%
2019 (est.)1,614[2]−7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
2013 Estimate[10]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,750 people living in the town. 58.9% were White, 37.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from some other race and 2.0% of two or more races, or were aliens. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 1,677 people, 728 households, and 474 families living in the town. The population density was 527.1 people per square mile (203.6/km2). There were 810 housing units at an average density of 254.6 per square mile (98.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 58.91% White, 40.31% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.30% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 728 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the age distribution of the population showed 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,813, and the median income for a family was $35,714. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $21,029 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,937. About 17.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Education in Gordo is overseen and governed by the Pickens County Board of Education. Students of Gordo and its surrounding areas are served by Gordo Elementary School and Gordo High School.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3293
  4. "Pickens County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. "Towns have unusual beginning". Cherokee County Herald. February 22, 1989. pp. 7B. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  6. Crowder, Carla (2020-06-30). "A Disabled Black Veteran with Prescribed Medical Marijuana in His Car Played Air Guitar while Pumping Gas in Alabama. Now He's Going to Prison". Alabama Appleseed. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  7. Armus, Teo (2020-07-14). "A disabled black veteran drove through Alabama with medical marijuana. Now he faces five years in prison". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

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