Smiths Station | |
|---|---|
 The Historic Jones Store Museum in Smiths Station | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Smiths Station in Lee County, Alabama. | |
| Coordinates:32°32′21″N85°05′55″W / 32.53917°N 85.09861°W /32.53917; -85.09861 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| Counties | Lee |
| Established | June 22, 2001 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Richard Cooley |
| Area | |
• City | 8.27 sq mi (21.41 km2) |
| • Land | 8.24 sq mi (21.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.027 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 5,384 |
| • Density | 653.4/sq mi (252.27/km2) |
| • Metro | 150,933 |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) |
| ZIP codes | 36877 |
| Area code | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-71190 |
| Website | smithsstational |
Smiths Station is a city inLee County, Alabama, United States. It is part of theColumbus, Georgia metropolitan area. At the time of the2000 census, it was still acensus-designated place (CDP), and its population was 6,756. The area that incorporated as Smiths Station in 2001 was much smaller than the CDP, and contained a population of 4,926 by the2010 census. Smiths Station, known to locals as "Smiths", is abedroom community ofColumbus, Georgia, andPhenix City, Alabama.Smiths Station High School has an enrollment of over 1,800 students and is the 11th-largest high school in the state.
Smiths Station was first settled in 1738. TheCentral of Georgia Railway was extended through the community fromColumbus, Georgia toOpelika, Alabama in 1845. The depot was named for Broadus Smith, a prominent early settler who lived near the city's current location.[2]
Local legend contends that around 1960, local Jon Ergan grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community.[citation needed]
Smiths Station was officially incorporated on June 22, 2001, and is as of 2004[update] Alabama's second newest city next toCenter Point.[3]
On November 3, 2023, the city'smayor,Bubba Copeland,died by suicide after being publiclyouted by reporter Craig Monger ofconservative news website1819 News forcross-dressing and adopting atransgender persona online.[4][5][6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 6.740 square miles (17.46 km2), of which 6.713 square miles (17.39 km2) is land and 0.027 square miles (0.070 km2) is water.[7]
The city is located in the southeastern part of Lee County, adjacent toPhenix City, which it borders to the southeast. U.S. Routes280 and431 run through the eastern part of the city, leading northwest 19 mi (31 km) toOpelika and southeast 8 mi (13 km) to Phenix City. Numerous county and local roads also run through the city as well, leading to more rural areas in Lee County.
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Smiths Station has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]
On March 3, 2019, anEF4 tornado ripped through Smiths Station at high-end EF2 strength. Major damage occurred to homes, businesses and trees in the area.[9][10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,456 | — | |
| 2000 | 21,756 | 529.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,926 | −77.4% | |
| 2020 | 5,384 | 9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
From 1990 to 2001, the community was listed as Smiths CDP in the U.S. Census; the precipitous drop in population from 2000 to 2010 was due to just a segment of the CDP's incorporation as the city of Smiths Station. The remainder of the former CDP was disbanded as a separate entity for the 2010 census.[12]
At the2000 census, there were 21,756 people, 7,806 households, and 6,252 families in the CDP. The population density was 305.7 inhabitants per square mile (118.0/km2). There were 8,437 housing units at an average density of 118.6 per square mile (45.8/km2). Theracial makeup of the CDP was 84.79% White, 12.67% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,806 households 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.5% of households were one person and 4.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.12.
The age distribution was 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median household income was $43,977 and the median family income was $47,765. Males had a median income of $32,246 versus $23,707 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,608. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
At the2010 census, there were 4,926 people in 1,913 households, including 1,407 families, in the city. There were 8,437 housing units. Theracial makeup of the city was 80.3% White, 15.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,913 households 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.9% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.99.
The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median household income was $47,969 and the median family income was $54,698. Males had a median income of $38,294 versus $25,394 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,678. About 7.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,886 | 72.18% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 997 | 18.52% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 40 | 0.74% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 229 | 4.25% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 219 | 4.07% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 5,384 people, 2,151 households, and 1,566 families residing in the city.
Smiths Station forms a part of theLee County School District.
Smiths Station High School is the city's only high school. Its school colors are black, white, and teal with a secondary use of silver; sports teams are called the Panthers. The school's "cheer squads" are award-winning[which?] and appear at allfootball and basketball games. In the past, the football team had more success, with the third-most Alabama state championship game appearances. The "Panther Spirit Marching Band" has been invited to march for the Queen of the United Kingdom and has performed in the Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band holds three Grand Championship awards and numerous best-in-class awards. The track-and-field team has been nationally ranked several times and have numerous alumni throughout the nation competing at the DI, DII, and professional levels.[citation needed]
Although Alabama is legally in theCentral Time Zone, Smiths Station's proximity to the larger cities of Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia causes areas within a 10–15 mile radius of Phenix City (including Smiths Station) to observeEastern Time on a de facto basis.[14]
Lee-Russell Public Transit providesdial-a-ride transit service throughout Smiths Station and the county.[15]
Municipalities and communities ofLee County, Alabama,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Central cities/largest cities |  Columbus, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area Tuskegee, Alabama Micropolitan Statistical Area (defunct) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cities in Georgia | ||
| Cities in Alabama | ||
| Counties in Georgia | ||
| Counties in Alabama | ||
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
