Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,540.

History

Demopolis, the City of the People, was founded by a group of Bonapartists who, fearing for their lives after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, sought refuge in the United States. Arriving first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they petitioned the U.S. Congress to sell them property and received permission to buy four townships at $2 per acre—provided that they would cultivate grape vines and olive trees. Following advice obtained from experienced Western pioneers, they determined that Alabama would provide a good climate for cultivating these crops. By 14 July 1817, the pioneers had settled at White Bluff on the Tombigbee River, at the present site of Demopolis, founding the Vine and Olive Colony.

Most prominent and wealthiest among the immigrants was Count Lefebvre Desnouettes, who had been a cavalry officer with the rank of Lieutenant-General, under Napoleon. Other prominent figures among them included Lieutenant-General Baron Henri-Dominique Lallemand, Count Bertrand Clausel, Joseph Lakanal, Simon Chaudron, Pasqual Luciani, Colonel Jean-Jerome Cluis, Jean-Marie Chapron, Colonel Nicholas Raoul, and Frederic Ravesies. These French aristocrats and their comrades did not find pioneer life in Alabama to be favorably comparable to Parisian court life. Due to a variety of adversities, their pioneering efforts were not the great success for which they had hoped. Within a few months they were to find that their new homes did not fall under the territories encompassed by the congressional approval, and the Vine and Olive Colony was soon forced to move. According to local testimony, olive tree remnants of their efforts still survive in Demopolis, along with the name (Greek for “City of the People”) they gave their settlement.

1911-08-04 A lynch mob, unable to locate Richard Verge, an African American who was wanted in connection with the slaying of Vernon Tutt, a prominent (white) planter in the area, lynched Verge’s brother Sam, instead.

Geography

Demopolis is located at 32°30'34" North, 87°50'14" West (32.509465, -87.837265).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²), of which, 12.2 square miles (31.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (2.00%) is water.

Transportation

Demopolis transportation is provided by U.S. Highway 80, U.S. Highway 43 and soon to be Interstate 85 by the extension from Meridian, Mississippi to Montgomery. Demopolis also has a municipal airport west of town. It is supported by a bus system West Alabama Transportation.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,540 people, 3,014 households, and 2,070 families residing in the city. The population density was 616.4 people per square mile (238.0/km²). There were 3,311 housing units at an average density of 270.7/sq mi (104.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.90% Black or African American, 47.75% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.20% Asian, none Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,014 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,481, and the median income for a family was $35,752. Males had a median income of $37,206 versus $20,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,687. About 26.0% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

Historic sites

Gaineswood is an antebellum historic house museum on the National Register of Historic Places and is a listed National Historic Landmark. It was built between 1843-61 in an asymmetrical Greek Revival style. It features domed ceilings, ornate plasterwork, columned rooms, and most of its original furnishings. Gaineswood is owned and operated by the Alabama Historical Commission.

Bluff Hall is an antebellum historic house museum on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1832 in the Federal style and modified in the 1840s to reflect the Greek Revival style. It is owned and operated by the Marengo County Historical Society.

The Laird Cottage/Geneva Mercer Museum is a restored 1870 residence with Greek Revival and Italianate style. It currently serves as the headquarters of the Marengo County Historical Society. This museum houses history exhibits and works of Geneva Mercer, a native artist and sculptor.

Other historic sites in Demopolis include White Bluff, the Demopolis Historic Business District, Demopolis Town Square, Lyon Hall, Ashe Cottage, the Curtis House, the Glover Mausoleum, and the Foscue-Whitfield House.

Demopolis in the Arts

The 1949 John Wayne movie "The Fighting Kentuckian" is set in Demopolis and tells a story about an interaction with the original French settlers. Given its noble beginnings, Demopolis has always been a proud city with an aristocratic social culture. According to a historical marker on the town square, Demopolis society was the inspiration for "The Little Foxes," a Broadway play. A melodrama by Lillian Hellman, it was first performed in 1939, with Alabama-born actress Tallulah Bankhead giving a legendary performance in the lead role of Regina. This hit production ran a year on Broadway. The 1941 film version was directed by William Wyler and starred Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall and Teresa Wright, plus original Broadway cast members Patricia Collinge (Birdie), Charles Dingle (Ben), Dan Duryea (Leo), John Marriott (Cal) and Carl Benton Reid (Oscar). It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1941. In 1949 the play was adapted into an opera by Marc Blitzstein, under the title Regina.

See also

• List of people from Demopolis, Alabama
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marengo County, Alabama
• Vine and Olive Colony

References

Bibliography

• Demopolis Chamber of Commerce. 1965. The Story of Demopolis a condensed history of the founding and development of Demopolis, Alabama. Demopolis, Ala: The Chamber.
• Martin, Thomas. 1937. French military adventurers in Alabama, 1818-1828. Princeton University Press.
• Smith, Winston. 2003. The people's city the glory and grief of an Alabama town, 1850-1874. Demopolis, Ala: Marengo County Historical Society.
• Whitfield, Gaius. 1904. The French Grant in Alabama: A History of the Founding of Demopolis. Historical Papers, 1st-2d Ser.

External links

• Demopolis Chamber of Commerce
• Demopolis Live
• Demopolis Times
• Institute of Southern Jewish Life, History of Demopolis