Montgomery

Montgomery () is the capital, second most populous city, and the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County.  It is located southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. The city population was 201,568 as of the 2000 census.  Montgomery is the primary city of the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, which had a 2000 population of 346,528, making it the fourth largest in the state. As of 2009 the estimated population of Montgomery is 202,124.http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US0151000&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Montgomery&_cityTown=Montgomery&_state=04000US01&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
The city was incorporated in 1819, as a merger of two towns situated along the Alabama River. It became the state capital in 1846. In February 1861, Montgomery was selected as the first capital of the Confederate States of America, until the seat of government moved to Richmond, Virginia in May of that year. During the mid-20th century, Montgomery was a primary site in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery marches.
Today, in addition to housing many Alabama government agencies, Montgomery has a large military presence due to Maxwell Air Force Base, public universities Alabama State University, Troy University (Montgomery campus), and Auburn University-Montgomery, private colleges/universities Faulkner University, Huntingdon College, and ABA-accredited law school Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, high-tech manufacturing including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and cultural attractions like the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
==History==
Prior to European colonization, the left bank of the Alabama River was inhabited by the Alibamu tribe of Native Americans.  The Alibamu and the Coushatta who lived on the opposite side the river were adept mound builders.  Present-day Montgomery is built on the site of two Alibamu towns: Ikanatchati (or Ecunchatty or Econachatee), meaning "red earth"; and Towassa, built on a bluff called Chunnaanaauga Chatty.  The first Europeans to come through central Alabama were Hernando de Soto and his expedition, who came through Ikanatchati and camped for one week in Towassa in 1540.
The next recorded European movements in the area happened well over a century later, when an expedition from Carolina went down the Alabama River in 1697.  The first permanent European settler in the Montgomery area was James McQueen, a Scottish trader who came to the area in 1716.
After McQueen's arrival, European immigration to the area was slow in coming; Abraham Mordecai of Pennsylvania arrived in 1785 and later brought the first cotton gin to Alabama.  Following the end of the Creek War in August 1814, the Creek tribes were forced to give the majority of their lands to the US, including most of central and southern Alabama.
In 1816, Montgomery County was formed, and its lands were sold off the next year at the federal land office in Milledgeville, Georgia.  The first group of settlers to come to the Montgomery area was headed by General John Scott.  The group founded Alabama Town about downstream from present-day downtown.  In June 1818, county courts were moved from Fort Jackson to Alabama Town.  Soon after, Andrew Dexter founded New Philadelphia, the present-day eastern part of downtown.  Dexter envisioned his town would one day grow to prominence; he set aside a hilltop known as "Goat Hill" as the future location for the state capitol building.  New Philadelphia soon prospered, and Scott and his associates built a new town adjacent, calling it East Alabama Town.  The towns became rivals, but merged on December 3, 1819, and were incorporated as the city of Montgomery.
Due in large part to the cotton trade, the newly united Montgomery grew quickly.  In 1822, the city became the county seat, and a new courthouse was built at the present location of Court Square, at the foot of Market Street (now Dexter Avenue).Owen, p. 1038 The state capital was moved from Tuscaloosa to Montgomery, on January 28, 1846.
As state capital, Montgomery began to have a great influence over state politics, but would also play a prominent role on the national stage. Beginning February 4, 1861, representatives from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina met in Montgomery to form the Confederate States of America.  Montgomery was named the first capital of the nation, and Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President on the steps of the State Capitol.  On April 12, 1865, following the Battle of Selma, Major General James H. Wilson captured Montgomery for the Union.
In 1886 Montgomery became the first city in the United States to install city-wide electric street cars along a system that was nicknamed the Lightning Route.  The system made Montgomery one of the first cities to "depopulate" its residential areas at the city center through transportation-facilitated suburban development.
Montgomery was thrust into the spotlight of the early African-American Civil Rights Movement. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  The Montgomery Improvement Association was created by Martin Luther King, Jr., then the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, and E.D. Nixon, a lawyer and local civil rights advocate, to organize the boycott. In June 1956, Judge Frank M. Johnson ruled that Montgomery's bus segregation was illegal.  After the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in November, the city desegregated the bus system, and the boycott was ended. The Greyhound Bus Station on South Court Street was the scene of mob violence during the Freedom ride of May 1961, which led to the desegregation of interstate traffic.
Martin Luther King would return to Montgomery in 1965.  Local civil rights leaders in Selma had been protesting Jim Crow laws blocking Blacks from registering to vote.  Following the shooting of a man after a civil rights rally, the leaders decided to march to Montgomery to petition Governor George Wallace to allow free voter registration.
In recent years, Montgomery has continued to grow and diversify. The city government is active in restoring the downtown area, and in 2007 adopted a master plan, which included revitalization of Court Square and the riverfront.
==Geography==
Montgomery is located at .
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which of it is land and of it (0.52%) is water. The city is built over rolling terrain at an elevation of about above sea level
===Cityscape===
Downtown Montgomery lies along the southern bank of the Alabama River, about downstream from the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. The most prominent feature of Montgomery's skyline is the , RSA Tower, built in 1996 by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Downtown also contains many state and local government buildings, including the Alabama State Capitol. The Capitol is located atop a hill at one end of Dexter Avenue, along which also lies the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor. Both the Capitol and Dexter Baptist Church are listed as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of the Interior. One block south of the Capitol is the First White House of the Confederacy, the 1835 Italianate-style house in which President Jefferson Davis and family lived while the capitol of the Confederacy was in Montgomery. Montgomery's third National Historic Landmark is Union Station. Train service to Montgomery ceased in 1985, but today Union Station is part of the Riverwalk park development, which also includes an amphitheater, a riverboat dock and Riverwalk Stadium. Three blocks east of the Convention Center, Old Alabama Town showcases more than 50 restored buildings from the 19th century. The Riverwalk is part of a larger plan to revamp the downtown area. The plan includes the utilization of urban forestry, infill development, and façade renovation to encourage business and residential growth. A Convention Center which was completed in 2007 is expected to further encourage growth in the downtown area.
South of downtown, across Interstate 85, lies Alabama State University. ASU's campus was built in Colonial Revival architectural style from 1906 until the beginning of World War II.  Surrounding ASU are the Garden District, and Cloverdale Historic District. Houses in these areas date from around 1875 until 1949, and are in Late Victorian and Gothic Revival styles.  Huntingdon College is on the southwestern edge of Cloverdale. The campus was built in the 1900s in Tudor Revival and Gothic Revival styles.  ASU, the Garden District, Cloverdale, and Huntingdon are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places as historic districts.
Montgomery's east side is the fastest-growing part of the city.  The city's two largest shopping malls (Eastdale Mall and The Shoppes at Eastchase), as well as many big-box stores and residential developments are on the east side. The area is also home of the Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, a park which contains the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
Prattville, to the northwest is the second largest city in the Montgomery Metropolitan Area. Other area towns are Pike Road to the southeast, Millbrook to the north, and Wetumpka to the northeast.
===Climate===
Montgomery has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with short, mild winters, warm springs and autumns, and long, hot, humid summers. Winter temperatures average in January, and lows rarely dip below . Summer temperatures average in July, with highs reaching on 81 days per year and on 3. Differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures tend to be large in spring and autumn. Rainfall is well-distributed throughout the year, though January through March are the wettest and October is significantly drier than the other months. Snowfall occurs only during some winters, and even then is often light. Extremes range from on January 21, 1985 
{{Cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/daily/36104?climoMonth=1
  |title=Daily Averages for Montgomery, AL (36104)
  |accessdate=August 17, 2008
  |publisher=The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.
}} to on July 7, 1881.
{{Cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/daily/36104?climoMonth=7
  |title=Daily Averages for Montgomery, AL (36104)
  |accessdate=August 17, 2008
  |publisher=The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.
}}
==Neighborhoods==
===Historic Capitol Heights===
Capitol Heights is one of Montgomery's oldest neighborhoods outside of downtown and was one of the earliest suburban developments in Alabama. Capitol Heights was founded in 1908 as a separate town due east of downtown Montgomery. Initial marketing for the neighborhood advertised its elevation (the highest point in Montgomery today) and the advantage of cool summer breezes on a bluff overlooking Montgomery. The Heights later was connected to downtown Montgomery by one of the first trolleys in America. A large number of homes are in the Craftsman style and many were purchased out of the Sears Catalog. Capitol Heights was recently recognized as Alabama's best neighborhood to invest in and is on the cusp of significant urban renewal as downtown Montgomery continues its re-birth and many young urban professionals look for quaint bungalows within walking distance of the revitalized downtown.
On March 8, 2011, City Councilman Tracy Larkin announced at the Capitol Heights Civic Association meeting that several important projects would be undertaken in 2011 including the restoration of the lion statues on Madison Terrace as well as the beautification of Mt. Meigs Road.
===Old Cloverdale===
Old Cloverdale was originally of land, purchased by William Graham, from the US government, in 1817.  It was partitioned into business and residential areas at the turn of the 20th century.  Old Cloverdale is home to the Capri, Montgomery's only independent theater, a plethora of shops and dining establishments, and several homes surrounded by European styled gardens.
===Cloverdale-Idlewild===
Just south of Old Cloverdale and the Garden District is the Cloverdale-Idlewild neighborhood, consisting of homes built in the 1930s.  Its active homeowner association hosts a series of gazebo concerts in the spring in Cloverdale Bottom Park and other annual activities.
==Demographics==
As of the census of 2000, there were 201,568 people, 78,384 households, and 51,084 families residing in the city. The 2006 Census Bureau estimate places the population at 201,998.
The population density was 1,297.3 people per square mile (500.9/km²). There were 86,787 housing units at an average density of 558.5/sq mi (215.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.63% Black, 47.67% White, 0.25% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 78,384 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06. Same-sex couple households comprised 0.4 % of all househoulds.2000 Census Data on Same-sex couple households
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,627, and the median income for a family was $44,297. Males had a median income of $31,877 versus $25,014 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,385. About 13.9% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
==Economy==
Montgomery's central location in Alabama's Black Belt makes it a processing hub for crops such as cotton, peanuts, and soybeans.  In 1840 Montgomery County led the state in cotton production, and by 1911, the city processed 160,000–200,000 bales of cotton annually.  Montgomery has long had large metal fabrication and lumber production sectors.  Due to its location along the Alabama River and extensive rail connections, Montgomery has and continues to be a regional distribution hub for a wide range of industries.  Today, the city's Gross Metropolitan Product is $12.15 billion, representing 8.7% of the Gross State Product of Alabama.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from October 2008, the largest sectors of non-agricultural employment were: Government, 24.3%; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, 17.3% (including 11.0% in retail trade); Professional and Business Services, 11.9%; Manufacturing, 10.9%; Education and Health Services, 10.0% (including 8.5% in Health Care & Social Assistance); Leisure and Hospitality, 9.2%; Financial Activities, 6.0%, Natural Resources, Mining and Construction, 5.1%; Information, 1.4%; and Other services 4.0%.  Unemployment for the same period was 5.7%, 2.5% higher than October 2007.  The city also draws in workers from the surrounding area; Montgomery's daytime population rises 17.4% to 239,101.
As of January 2011, Montgomery's largest employers were Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base (12,280 employees), the State of Alabama (9,500), Montgomery Public Schools (4,524), Baptist Health (Montgomery)|Baptist Health (4,300), Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (2,700), Alfa Insurance (2,568), the City of Montgomery (2,500), Jackson Hospital & Clinic (1,300), Rheem Water Heaters (1,147), and Regions (977).
According to Pennsylvania State University's "Living Wage Calculator", the living wage for the city is US$8.02 per hour (or $16,691 per year) for an individual and $25.80 per hour ($53,662 per year) for a family of four.  These are slightly higher than the state averages of $7.45 per hour for an individual and $25.36 for a family of four.
==Law and government==
Montgomery operates under a Mayor-council government system. Mayor Todd Strange was elected mayor by a 53% margin against 5 other candidates in a special election, held on March 10, 2009.
The city is served by a nine-member city council, which is composed of nine districts of equal size. The city council is responsible for establishing the city of Montgomery's policies.
The current members of the city council are
District 1 – Councilor Jim Spear 
District 2 – Councilor Charles W. Smith
District 3 – Councilor Tracy Larkin
District 4 – Councilor David Burkette
District 5 – Councilor Cornelius "C.C." Calhoun
District 6 – Councilor John Dow 
District 7 – Councilor Martha Roby *Elected to 2nd District in the U.S. House </ref>
District 8 – Councilor Glen Pruitt, Jr.
District 9 – Councilor Charles Jinright
==Culture==
The Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park in east Montgomery is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum's permanent collections include American art and sculpture, Southern art, master prints from European masters, and collections of porcelain and glass works. The Society of Arts and Crafts operates a co-op gallery for local artists.  Montgomery Zoo, one of only two AZA-accredited zoos in Alabama, has over 500 animals in of barrier-free habitats.  The Hank Williams Museum contains one of the largest collections of Williams memorabilia in the world.
 – Politician, former Governor of Alabama, 1993–1995, son of "Big Jim" Folsom
* Bart Starr – American Football Player
* Melvin Franklin – Original member of 60's Motown R&B group The Temptations
* Big Mama Thornton – Blues singer
* Howard Johnson – Notable Jazz musician, plays tuba & baritone sax, former member of Saturday Night Live band
* Ji-Tu Cumbuka – Character actor in many movies and TV shows
* Eddie Floyd – R&B singer, sang and co-wrote "Knock On Wood".
* Clarence Carter – Musician, blind Soul singer/performer, sang the hits "Strokin'", "Slip Away" & "Patches" in the 60's & 70's
* Willie Wilson – Former Major League Baseball player
* Oscar Gamble – Former Major League Baseball player, most notably with the New York Yankees
* Tarvaris Jackson – American Football Player
==References==
==Further reading==
* L. P. Powell (editor), in Historic Towns of the Southern States, (New York, 1900)
* Jeffry C. Benton (editor) A Sense of Place, Montgomery's Architectural History ( )
==External links==
*City of Montgomery, Alabama
*TheRiverRegionOnline Website
*Institute of Southern Jewish Life, History of Montgomery
*
*Montgomery article in the Encyclopedia of Alabama
{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Montgomery
 | North = Prattville, Birmingham I-65
 | Northeast =
 | East = Tuskegee, AuburnI-85
 | Southeast = DothanUS 231
 | South =
 | Southwest = MobileI-65
 | West = SelmaUS 80
 | Northwest =
}}
Category:Index
Category:Cities
Category:County seats
Category:Montgomery County
Category:Montgomery metropolitan area