cottonwood

cottonwood: see willow.

Any of several fast-growing North American trees of the genus Populus. Members of the willow family, cottonwoods have heart-shaped, toothed leaves and cottony seeds. The dangling leaves clatter in the wind. The eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides) has thick glossy leaves. Carolina poplar (P. angulata) and P. eugenei may be natural hybrids between P. deltoides and the Eurasian black poplar (P. nigra). The Alamo, or Fremont cottonwood (P. fremontii), is the tallest of the group. Seealso poplar.

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Cottonwood is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,170.

Geography

Cottonwood is located at (31.053646, -85.302409).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.3 km²), of which, 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.36%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,170 people, 485 households, and 323 families residing in the town. The population density was 212.9 people per square mile (82.1/km²). There were 548 housing units at an average density of 99.7/sq mi (38.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.06% White, 29.06% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 485 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,452, and the median income for a family was $32,065. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $15,515 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,111. About 18.1% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 42.1% of those age 65 or over.

Famous Residents, Past and Present

• Curtis McGriff, former defensive lineman for the New York Giants of the National Football League
• Pete Coachman, former Major League Baseball player (California Angels)
• Rex Granger, legendary Cottonwood High School running back who caught the errant, wobbling, game-winning touchdown pass from Quarterback Sammy McCall in the 1955 Peanut Bowl against Ozark High School. Would later earn acclaim as engineer of the "Sunken Carport" and the Base-Brawler of Prattville.
• Rose Granger, renown home-surgeon who stitched a cut up with a needle and household thread in the early 1900s. She later died from an infection.
• Esto Monk, noted philosopher and theologian.
• Lamar Kelly, World War II Hero, decorated numerous times for action in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters while serving in the United States Navy. Kelly also fought his way to the title of Severn River Naval Command Welterweight Boxing Champion and later United States Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion. Years later, he garnered acclaim as one of the nation's most innovative drug store retailers.

Sammy McCall, the superstar quarterback of the 1955 Peanut Bowl Champions, who threw the most perfect pass in history. He threw the winning touchdown pass so hard and straight that the running back, Rex Granger, who caught it only had to just hold it in his middle and cross the goal line to win the game. Anyone who says different was not at that game. The entire team was great, and should always be known in Cottonwood for their mighty effort to win over Ozark.

References

External links

• Official Town Website
• WiregrassLive.com - Citizen-driven news and messages
• WiregrassNews.com - Local Internet News Site