Comprehensive information and links about Alabama Fort Payne

Fort Payne is a city located in DeKalb County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 12,938. The city is the county seat of DeKalb County.

It is home to the band Alabama, and bills itself as the "Official Sock Capital of the World."

A magnitude-4.9 earthquake occurred here in 2003.

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History

The site of Fort Payne was originally the important Cherokee village of Willstown which for a time was the home of the famous Cherokee Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee alphabet. During the Indian Removal of the mid 19th Century a fort was built in the town by forces commanded by Major John Payne and used as a stockade in which to place the Cherokee until they could be removed to Oklahoma.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 144.9 km² (56.0 mi²). 144.7 km² (55.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.14% water.

of 2000, there are 12,938 people, 5,046 households, and 3,506 families residing in the city. The population density is 89.4mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 83.22% White, 4.53% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 8.41% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. 12.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,046 households out of which 31.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% are married couples living together, 11.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% are non-families. 26.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.97.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,560, and the median income for a family is $40,200. Males have a median income of $29,731 versus $20,135 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,690. 12.3% of the population and 8.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.0% of those under the age of 18 and 17.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.