Pelham, Alabama

Pelham, Alabama
Pelham, Alabama
City
	Flag Seal Logo
	Location of Pelham in Shelby County, Alabama
	Coordinates: 33°18′16″N 86°47′5″W / 33.30444°N 86.78472°W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Shelby
Incorporated	July 10, 1964
Government
• Mayor	Gary W. Waters
Area
• Total	39.243 sq mi (101.639 km2)
• Land	38.737 sq mi (100.330 km2)
• Water	0.506 sq mi (1.311 km2)
Elevation	830 ft (253 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	24,318
• Estimate (2022)	24,755
• Density	639/sq mi (246.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC–6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	35124
Area code(s)	205 and 659
FIPS code	01-58848
GNIS feature ID	2404497
Website	pelhamalabama.gov

Pelham is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. The population was 24,318 at the 2020 census,^[4] It incorporated on July 10, 1964 and is a suburb located in the Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama which was home to nearly 1.2 million residents as of the 2020 census.^[6] It was named for Confederate Civil War officer John Pelham.^[6]

Geography

Pelham is located at 33°18′16″N 86°47′5″W / 33.30444°N 86.78472°W / 33.30444; -86.78472 (33.304581, -86.784620).^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.243 square miles (101.64 km²), of which 38.737 square miles (100.33 km²) is land and 0.506 square miles (1.31 km²), is water.^[2]

Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest state park, is located in Pelham.

The city is located along U.S. Route 31, which runs directly through the city, as well as I-65, with access from exits 242 and 246. Downtown Birmingham is 20 mi (32 km) north, and Montgomery is 72 mi (116 km) south, both via US-31 or I-65.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	931		—
1980	6,759		626.0%
1990	9,765		44.5%
2000	14,369		47.1%
2010	21,352		48.6%
2020	24,318		13.9%
2022 (est.)	24,755	^[5]	1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 2020 Census^[4]

2020 census

**Pelham city, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[9]	Pop 2020^[10]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	15,776	15,982	81.2%	65.72%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,579	3,103	7.5%	12.76%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	49	34	0.3%	0.14%
Asian alone (NH)	509	594	2.4%	2.44%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13	17	0.1%	0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	29	107	6.9%	9.5%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	223	939	1.6%	3.86%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,174	3,649	14.9%	15.01%
Total	21,352	24,318	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 24,318 people and 9,489 households, and 6,681 families residing in the city.^[11] The population density was 626.4 inhabitants per square mile (241.9/km²). There were 9,777 housing units. The racial makeup was 65.72% White, 12.76% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.07% Native Hawaiian, and 3.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.01% of the population.^[12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,352 people, 8,149 households, and 5,764 families living in the city. The population density was 547.2 inhabitants per square mile (211.3/km²). There were 8,541 housing units at an average density of 224.8 per square mile (86.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.2% White, 7.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 6.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 14.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 8,149 households 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.1% of households were one person and 6.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% 65 or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median household income was $67,622 and the median family income was $80,690. Males had a median income of $56,277 versus $42,269 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,467. About 3.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,369 people, 5,637 households, and 4,002 families living in the city. The population density was 378.2 inhabitants per square mile (146.0/km²). There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 155.1 per square mile (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.02% White, 3.97% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 2.82% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 6.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,637 households 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.3% of households were one person and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median household income was $54,808 and the median family income was $79,794. Males had a median income of $42,659 versus $32,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,611. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

City government

The City of Pelham operates under the Mayor/Council Act. The mayor serves as the city's chief executive and the City Council act much like a board of directors. The city also has a chief of police, fire chief, finance director / city clerk, building inspector, permits clerk, revenue director, director of golf, parks manager, waterworks superintendent, librarian, and departments thereof.

Mayors of Pelham, 1964–present

Name	Party	Term	Occupation
Paul Yeager Sr	Democratic	1964–1972	Farmer
Burk Dunnaway	Democratic	1972–1984	Junk Dealer
Bobby Hayes	Republican	1984–2008	Police Officer
Don Murphy	Republican	2008–2012	Real Estate Broker
Gary Waters	Republican	2012–present	Fire Chief

Education

Pelham City Schools operates public schools and has done so since it was established on July 1, 2014.^[13] It operates Pelham High School.

Previously it was in the Shelby County School System. Prior to 2014 some portions of Pelham bordering Chelsea attended public schools in Chelsea; residents there were concerned about the separation of Pelham due to the distance of schools in Pelham from their areas.^[14]

Notable people

Brent Hinds, singer/guitarist for the metal band Mastodon
John Green, American author and YouTube personality^[15]
David Koonce, bass guitarist for the rock band Within Reason
Antonio London, former professional American football player in the National Football League, played professionally for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers^[16]
Dabo Swinney, head coach for the Clemson University football team.
Tina Watson, alleged murder victim killed while scuba diving in Queensland, Australia

References

^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
^ ^a ^b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pelham, Alabama
^ ^a ^b ^c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022". United States Census Bureau. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Pelham - Encyclopedia of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pelham city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pelham city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ "How many people live in Pelham city, Alabama". USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ "School System." City of Pelham. Retrieved on January 16, 2019.
^ Reed, Martin J. (June 17, 2013). "Pelham opposition growing to separating from Shelby County school system". AL.COM. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
^ "John Green on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
^ "School Directory (Sport Schedule & Roster)". AHSAA. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.

^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. https://archive.today/20200212063637/http://factfinder.census.gov/. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search". United States Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20131013222920/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/. Retrieved August 10, 2011.