Newbern, Alabama

Newbern, Alabama
Newbern is a town in Hale County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 133.
History
The community was named for New Bern, North Carolina. It incorporated in 1854.
The Rural Studio of Auburn University is based in Newbern; its architecture student practitioners work under the supervision of faculty on designing and building affordable housing and similar projects to support the population of rural areas in Alabama.
Mayoral dispute
In November 2020, a controversy arose as the only candidate to file for the mayoral election, Patrick Braxton, was obstructed from assuming office by the previous officeholder (Woody Stokes III) and the town council. It is alleged that a proper election has not been held in Newbern in decades, with the mayorship being passed from "one friend to another". As of June 2023, Stokes remains the acting mayor, with Braxton unable to carry out any duties. In response, Braxton filed a federal civil rights suit, arguing that the actions of the town council constitute racial disenfranchisement. This is further compounded by the fact that despite being a majority black town, executive offices in Newbern have historically been exclusively held by white people.
Geography
Newbern is located at (32.594818, -87.535431).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.
The town is located in the geographic region known as the Black Belt, related to the fertile soil which attracted developers of cotton plantations in the antebellum years, and also to the population of enslaved African Americans who worked at those sites. Many areas of the rural Black Belt are still majority African American in population.
Demographics
2020 census
Newbern is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 231 people, 91 households, and 59 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 110 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 22.94% White and 77.06% Black or African American.
There were 91 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,682, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $11,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,476. About 17.5% of families and 31.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 33.3% of those 65 or over.
Notable people
Frank Allen, former Major League Baseball player
Anthony Bryant, former NFL player
Herb Jones, NBA player
Henry Watson, Jr., owned a cotton plantation in Newbern
Gallery
The below photographs were taken in Newbern as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey in the 1930s:
References
External links
Rural Studio
"He became the first Black mayor of Newbern, Alabama. A white minority locked him out of town hall. Now, Mayor Patrick Braxton has filed a federal lawsuit he hopes will make things right." by Lee Hedgepeth in "Tread", June 5, 2023
Towns in Hale County, Alabama
Towns in Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama metropolitan area
1854 establishments in Alabama
Populated places established in 1854