Enterprise

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2007)

Enterprise, Alabama
Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Alabama
Motto: City of Progress
Location in Alabama
Coordinates: 31°19′39″N 85°50′40″W / 31.3275°N 85.84444°W / 31.3275; -85.84444
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Coffee, Dale
Founded	1896
Government
- Mayor	Kenneth W. Boswell
Area
- Total	31.0 sq mi (80.3 km2)
- Land	31 sq mi (80.2 km2)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation	358 ft (109 m)
Population (2006)
- Total	23,653
- Density	684.2/sq mi (264.2/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	36330-36331
Area code(s)	334
FIPS code	01-24184
GNIS feature ID	0118005
Website	http://www.cityofenterprise.net/

Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 23,653 in the year 2006.^[1]

Enterprise is famous for the Boll Weevil Monument, a large monument of a woman holding a Boll Weevil, which is located in the town square. The city erected the statue because the destruction of the cotton crop had led to agricultural diversity, starting with peanuts and more prosperity than had ever come from cotton alone. It is said to be the only statue to an insect pest in the world. Enterprise is also right outside of Fort Rucker, an Army base which is the home of Army Aviation.

Also, Enterprise is home to the Enterprise branch of the Enterprise-Ozark Community College. The aviation branch is located in Ozark, Alabama. Enterprise-Ozark is a Micropolitan Statistical Area that, combined with the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area, form the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark Combined Statistical Area.

History

Founding to the Boll Weevil Monument

The founder of Enterprise, John Henry Carmichael, settled in the area in 1881. As more people migrated to the area, the post office was moved from nearby Drake Eye to Enterprise the next year. Enterprise was officially incorporated in 1896 with a population of 250. Soon afterward, the Alabama Midland Railway Company chose to center in Enterprise, bringing many people with it. By 1906 the population already was 3,750. After the boll weevil destroyed most of the city's cotton, the people decided to base Enterprise's economy on peanuts. The Boll Weevil Monument was dedicated on December 11, 1919.^[2]

Verizon Wireless Bama Jam Music Festival

Home of Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music Festival featuring over 30 acts on 4 stages in 3 days. Attendence is atleast or over 100,000 each night. In 2009, headliners included Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, The Black Crowes, Kid Rock and many many more!

March 2007 tornado

In the early afternoon of Thursday, March 1, 2007, Enterprise was hit by a devastating tornado (rated EF4) during the February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak. The tornado caused nine deaths, injured over 121 others, and left severe damage in the city estimated at nearly $307,000,000, becoming the worst disaster in Enterprise history. The worst damage occurred at Enterprise High School, where eight students died after a hallway roof collapsed. A quarter mile (400 m) wide swath through the downtown area was devastated, with at least 370 houses damaged or destroyed. The National Guard was called into the city, and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was implemented immediately after the disaster. President Bush, who arrived the morning of Saturday, March 3, declared the county a disaster area. An AmeriCorps team was sent to the city to help organize and participate in disaster relief.

As of June 2008 the Hillcrest Elementary School which was destroyed during the tornado was being rebuilt at the same site as the Enterprise High School. The high school was to be relocated to the west end of the Boll Weevil Circle. It is due to be rebuilt by the 2010-11 school year at a cost of over $80,000,000.

The song "Your Guardian Angel" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is dedicated to the eight students who lost their lives in this incident^{[citation needed]}.

Geography

Enterprise is located at 31°19′39″N 85°50′40″W / 31.3275°N 85.84444°W / 31.3275; -85.84444 (31.327476, -85.844484)^[3]. It straddles the border of Coffee and Dale Counties.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.0 square miles (80.3 km²), of which 31.0 square miles (80.2 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.23%, is water.

Demographics

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^[4] there were 21,178 people, 8,533 households, and 5,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.2 people per square mile (264.2/km²). There were 9,641 housing units at an average density of 311.5/sq mi (120.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.62% White, 22.95% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.88% of the population.

There were 8,533 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,661, and the median income for a family was $45,510. Males had a median income of $37,131 versus $20,560 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,493. About 10.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Enterprise is served by Enterprise City Schools.

Enterprise is also home to Enterprise-Ozark Community College, formerly known as Enterprise State Junior College. A two-year college, the Enterprise campus is home to the Boll Weevils.

Notable Residents and Natives

Mark Wilkerson, lead singer of Course Of Nature and husband of Melissa Joan Hart.

Michael McDowell, screenwriter

George Jones, Country Music Legend, widely known as "The Possum," owns a residence in Enterprise.

Aud Tuten, former NHL player with the Chicago Black Hawks (1941-43)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Enterprise, Alabama

• City of Enterprise
• Chamber of Commerce
• Buy Enterprise
• Enterprise Public Library
• The Enterprise Ledger
• http://www.enterprisealabama.net / Enterprise online directory
• WiregrassLive.com - Citizen-driven news and messages

• Enterprise, Alabama is at coordinates 31°19′39″N 85°50′40″W / 31.327476°N 85.844484°W / 31.327476; -85.844484 (Enterprise, Alabama)Coordinates: 31°19′39″N 85°50′40″W / 31.327476°N 85.844484°W / 31.327476; -85.844484 (Enterprise, Alabama)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Coffee County, Alabama County seat: Elba Cities Elba | Enterprise‡ Towns Kinston | New Brockton Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Dale County, Alabama County seat: Ozark Cities Daleville | Dothan‡ | Enterprise‡ | Ozark Towns Ariton | Clayhatchee | Grimes | Level Plains | Midland City | Napier Field | Newton | Pinckard CDPs Fort Rucker Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties