Boaz, Alabama

For other uses, seeBoaz (disambiguation).

Boaz, Alabama
City
Boaz in 2012
Flag Seal
Nickname: City of Possibilities
Location in Etowah and Marshall counties, Alabama
Coordinates:34°12′1″N86°7′0″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Marshall,Etowah
Government
• Type	Mayor and Council
• Mayor	David Dyar
Area
• Total	14.61 sq mi (37.85 km2)
• Land	14.55 sq mi (37.68 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	1,073 ft (327 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	10,107
• Density	694.64/sq mi (268.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6(Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5(CDT)
ZIP codes	35957, 35956
Area code	256
FIPS code	01-07912
GNISfeature ID	2403886
Website	www.cityofboaz.org

Boazis a city inMarshallandEtowahcounties in the U.S. state ofAlabama.The Marshall County portion of the city is part of theAlbertvilleMicropolitan Statistical Area.As of the2020 census,the city's population was 10,107.Boaz was known for itsoutlet shops.

History

First settled in the 1850s, the town of Boaz was officially founded November 11, 1878, by the Sparks family ofGeorgia.A post office has been in operation since 1887.The city was named afterBoaz,from the Bible.It was incorporated in 1897.

Prior to World War II, Boaz hosted a primarily cotton-based economy, only diversifying to livestock and poultry with the pressures of boll weevil infestations and theGreat Depression.After the war, Boaz developed a thriving automotive sales industry, which in many instances survives to this day.

In the early 1980s, theVF Corporationopened anoutlet storein an abandoned factory, whose success prompted other retailers to open stores. In the late 1980s, Boaz was atourist attractionwith 130 outlet stores, attracting five million people per year. Retailers moved away from Boaz due to a dwindling customer base, dropping to 80 stores in the early 1990s, with theGreat Recessionof the 2000s driving away even more. In 2016, three buildings of the outlet center were demolished.

TheJulia Street Memorial United Methodist Church,Snead Junior College Historic District,theThomas A. Snellgrove Homesteadand theEdward Fenns Whitman Houseare listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.TheAlabama Register of Landmarks and Heritagelists the Boaz Elementary School, the First Baptist Church and Cemetery, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Geography

Boaz is located in southeastern Marshall County at34°12′10″N86°9′38″W(34.202793, −86.160457)and extends south into Etowah County. The city sits atopSand Mountain(a plateau) at 1,080 feet (330 m) above sea level. It is bordered to the north byAlbertvilleand to the southeast bySardis City.U.S. Route 431passes through the east side of the city, leading north 16 miles (26 km) toGuntersvilleand south 20 miles (32 km) toGadsden.

According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the city of Boaz has a total area of 14.6 square miles (38 km²), of which 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²), or 0.43%, are water.Most of the city drains west to either Slab Creek or Clear Creek, tributaries of theLocust Fork of the Black Warrior River.TheTennessee Valley Dividecrosses the east side of the city, with the eastern portions of the city draining to Short Creek, a north-flowing tributary of theTennessee River.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	253		—
1910	1,010		299.2%
1920	1,369		35.5%
1930	1,691		23.5%
1940	1,927		14.0%
1950	3,078		59.7%
1960	4,654		51.2%
1970	5,635		21.1%
1980	7,151		26.9%
1990	6,928		−3.1%
2000	7,411		7.0%
2010	9,551		28.9%
2020	10,107		5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Boaz racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White(non-Hispanic)	7,264	71.87%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic)	189	1.87%
Native American	43	0.43%
Asian	57	0.56%
Pacific Islander	98	0.97%
Other/Mixed	407	4.03%
HispanicorLatino	2,049	20.27%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 10,107 people, 3,494 households, and 2,197 families residing in the city.

2010 census

At the2010 census,there were 9,551 people, 3,712 households, and 2,479 families living in the city. The population density was 782.9 inhabitants per square mile (302.3/km²). There were 4,036 housing units at an average density of 330.8 per square mile (127.7/km²). Theracial makeupof the city was 87.3% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 14.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,712 households 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.6% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median household income was $31,172 and the median family income was $42,973. Males had a median income of $32,446 versus $27,924 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,697. About 11.7% of families and 16.0 of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the2000 census,there were 7,411 people, 3,155 households, and 2,085 families living in the city. The population density was 607.7 inhabitants per square mile (234.6/km²). There were 3,468 housing units at an average density of 284.4 per square mile (109.8/km²). Theracial makeupof the city was 93.50% White, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 4.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,155 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of households were one person and 16.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median household income was $25,699 and the median family income was $34,018. Males had a median income of $29,504 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,664. About 13.9% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

In May 2004, five schools broke away from the Marshall County School system and formed the Boaz City School System.

Boaz is the site ofSnead State Community College.

Climate

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate is "Cfa"(Humid Subtropical Climate).

Notable people

• James Fischer,engineer who developed high-purity silicon technology forTexas Instruments
• Tim Hodge,voice actor and director forBig Idea Entertainment
• Jody Hunt,United States Assistant Attorney General (2018–2020)
• Rose Maddox,country musicsinger-songwriter andfiddleplayer
• Wayne Peterson,racing driver
• Eddie Priest,formerMajor League Baseballpitcher
• John Roberts,Navy Crossrecipient

External links

• Official website