Wetumpka, Alabama

Wetumpka is a city in Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,726. The city is the county seat of Elmore County.

Etymology

The name "Wetumpka" is said to be a Creek term meaning "rumbling waters", a description of the nearby Coosa River. Wetumka, Oklahoma is thought to have been named by the same group of Native Americans, after they were displaced by the Indian Removal Act.

Geography

Wetumpka is located at 32°32′27″N, 86°12′28″W (32.540972, -86.207726)^GR1, and sits at the joint of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, where they merge to become the Alabama.

Downtown Wetumpka covers two city blocks, and is bordered on the northwest by the Coosa River. The Bibb Graves Bridge crosses the river here, and is the city's most recognizable landmark. Directly across the bridge sits the First Baptist and First Presbyterian churches.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.1 km² (8.9 mi²). 22.0 km² (8.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (4.49%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,726 people, 1,797 households, and 1,128 families residing in the city. The population density was 259.8/km² (672.9/mi²). There were 2,139 housing units at an average density of 97.0/km² (251.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.80% White, 29.01% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 2.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,797 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 62.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 54.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,536, and the median income for a family was $41,500. Males had a median income of $32,403 versus $23,234 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,729. About 7.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

The City in Movies

Two major films have been filmed in downtown Wetumpka. On both occasions, the city has taken the opportunity to use this to fund permanent restorations of the historic downtown area. Unfortunately, most of the changes involved simply adding facades to buildings to give the illusion of history.

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