Troy State University

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Troy, Alabama

Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 13,935. A new census estimate documented in the July 18, 2008, edition of the Dothan Eagle newspaper, lists Troy's population as 14,482. The city is the county seat of Pike County. It is home to Troy University (formerly Troy State University).

History

Troy burned down in 1901 and had to be rebuilt from scratch. The city survived off of peanuts and berries for many years. Originally known as Deer Stand Hill (an Indian hunting ground) and first settled about 1824, it was later known as Zebulon and then Centreville before being renamed Troy (1838).

To promote movement of settlers and to speed mail from Washington City to New Orleans, the Federal Road was laid out after 1805. It extended from the southern terminus of The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road at Augusta, Georgia westward through Georgia entering Alabama in what is now Russell County, and continuing westward through Macon and Montgormery counties and then southwestward through Lowndes, Butler, Monroe counties, etc. to Mobile and thence westward to New Orleans. In 1824, a military road was laid out from Fort Barrancas in Pensacola, Florida and ran on top of the ridges to Fort Mitchell in Russell County, Alabama, and connected to The Federal Road; this road became known as The Three Notch Road and ran through Troy and Pike County. It never amounted to much as a military supply road, but it was a boon to the settlers who used it to move into southcentral and southeast Alabama and into northwest Florida.

Notable residents

Pine Top Smith- boogie woogie pianist.
Brian Meadows - Major League Baseball player.
Bobby Jon Drinkard - contestant on Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Guatemala and We Are Marshall.
Hank Williams Jr - country singer.
John Lewis - American Civil Rights leader and United States congressman.
John Rhodes - American Senior Pastor Of Messenger Worship Centre A Pentecostal Church of God In Fenton, Missouri
Patricia Barnes - Founder of Sister Schubert's bakery
Larry Hicks - Retired Marine who performed daring underwater rescue that saved the life of well-known NASCAR team owner, Jack Roush.

Geography

Troy is located at (31.801960, -85.967317).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.2 km²), of which, 26.2 square miles (68.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.34%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,935 people, 5,583 households, and 3,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 531.1 people per square mile (205.0/km²). There were 6,436 housing units at an average density of 245.3/sq mi (94.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.89% White, 38.56% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,583 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 24.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. Of the reported population, 78.2% were born in the state of Alabama. The percentage of foreign-born residents was 2.8% and 16.2% of those individuals were naturalized citizens.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,352, and the median income for a family was $39,601. Males had a median income of $29,190 versus $20,368 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,589. About 17.7% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 19.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The largest employers in the Troy metropolitan area are Troy University, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, and the Wal-Mart distribution center in nearby Brundidge. Troy University's main campus, located in Troy, employs approximately 600 faculty and staff.

Education

Troy University is a comprehensive four-year public university that has a current student population of 6,200 on its main campus located in Troy. The university was founded in 1887 and has evolved into the preeminent institution of higher learning in southeast Alabama.

Troy is home to one public high school, Charles Henderson High School. Troy Elementary and Charles Henderson Middle School are the city's other public schools. Pike Liberal Arts School is a k-12 private school in Troy that attracts students not only from the city of Troy, but from throughout Pike County, Alabama.