Summerdale, Alabama

Summerdale is a rural town in south-central Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It is the site of the Naval Outlying Landing Field Summerdale. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,468. It is part of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Summerdale, Alabama
Town
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Sunshine of Baldwin County
Location of Summerdale in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 30°29′16″N 87°41′59″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyBaldwin
Incorporated1906
Government
 • MayorDavid Wilson
Area
[1]
 • Total10.17 sq mi (26.34 km2)
 • Land10.13 sq mi (26.25 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
115 ft (35 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,468
 • Density144.86/sq mi (55.93/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36580
Area code(s)251
FIPS code01-73872
GNIS feature ID0155262
Websitewww.summerdalealabama.com

Geography

Summerdale is located at 30°29'15.468" North, 87°42'4.036" West (30.487630, -87.701121).[2] Alabama State Route 59 passes along the west side of the town, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to Robertsdale and south 6 miles (10 km) to Foley.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.2 km2), of which 9.7 square miles (25.1 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.38%, is water.[3]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1930267—
1940239−10.5%
1950489104.6%
19605339.0%
19705503.2%
1980546−0.7%
19905592.4%
200065517.2%
201086231.6%
20201,46870.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
2013 Estimate[5]

2020 census
Summerdale racial composition[6]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,242 84.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 55 3.75%
Native American 4 0.27%
Asian 15 1.02%
Pacific Islander 1 0.07%
Other/Mixed 86 5.86%
Hispanic or Latino 65 4.43%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,468 people, 405 households, and 267 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 655 people, 255 households, and 184 families residing in the town. The population density was 125.7 people per square mile (48.5/km2). There were 282 housing units at an average density of 54.1 per square mile (20.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.23% White, 4.89% Black or African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.92% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. Nearly 2.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 255 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57, and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $32,159. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,775. About 13.7% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Summerdale is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.

Summerdale has one school, Summerdale School, which serves grades kindergarten through 8. Students continue on to Foley High School in nearby Foley for grades 9 through 12. Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy is a private school located on the corner of County Roads 28 and 71. It serves grades Pre-K through 12.

Main article: Naval Outlying Landing Field Summerdale

The Navy Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Summerdale airport is on the east side of Summerdale (at latitude, longitude: 30.507695, –87.645541).[8] The Airport Code is NFD, in region: ASO - Southern, with boundary ARTCC: ZJX - Jacksonville, and Tie-in FSS: ANB - Anniston. The airport runway length/width is 2850 x 150 ft (868.7 x 45.7 m), with runway elevation: 149 feet (45 m).[8] The airport is owned/operated by the US Navy, through Commanding Officer, Operations Department, 7077 USS Lexington Court, Milton, FL 32570-6016.

Speed trap reputation

Summerdale is known both locally and regionally as a speed trap city, with officers stopping drivers daily along the two major highways through the town. During the summer months, hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through the town headed for southern Baldwin County's beaches. Of the town's $3.4M budget, nearly half comes from speeding ticket revenue, as the town has no significant sales tax revenue.[9][10]

When calling the town's main phone number, the only options that callers are provided are to Press 1 to pay a traffic ticket, or Press 2 for all other calls. "The whole city of Summerdale is a speed trap" wrote one traveler passing through the small town.[11]

An attorney who defends clients improperly charged with speeding advises that Summerdale police find loopholes in the law when enforcing speeding in the town.[12] For example, Alabama law prohibits towns with a population of less than 19,000 from enforcing speeding laws on highways. Summerdale, however, still enforces these laws by charging drivers with "failing to use reasonable and prudent speed", even if they are traveling under the speed limit.[13]

According to an investigation by a local tabloid, "The town of Summerdale in Baldwin County, population 1,468, budgets more than $1 million annually for fines, relying on its police department to write an average of 4,000 tickets per year for the last seven years. Nearly all of the town's revenues are directed toward the police department, Mayor David Wilson said, although nearly 97 percent of tickets originate not with a call for service, but with a traffic stop."[14][15][16]

See also

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Summerdale town, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  4. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. "FAA Information about Summerdale Nolf Airport", Airport-Data.com, 2004-2008, webpage: Summerdale-NOLF.
  9. "Slow down and remain calm: Summerdale police chief makes plea to motorists".
  10. http://www.fox10tv.com/story/27810230/new-beach-express-a-speed-trap
  11. "Wherever the Road Leads: Alligator Alley and Reno's Reptiles". 29 June 2014.
  12. "Summerdale, Alabama Traffic Ticket Attorney - Speeding Ticket Lawyer Summerdale, AL". YouTube.
  13. "Alabama Traffic Defense Attorney - 32-5A-170 - Reasonable and Prudent Speed Alabama Defense Lawyer". YouTube.
  14. https://www.facebook.com/lagniappemobile/posts/10159754087087317
  15. "Rich on Prichard, Summerdale Speed Trap - Lagnia-POD S2, Ep7 | Alabama Gulf Coast".
  16. https://www.facebook.com/WKRG.News.5/posts/bad-newsthe-summerdale-police-department-has-active-warrants-on-more-than-3000-d/10153234584202500/
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.