Tallassee (pronounced ) is a city on the

Tallapoosa River The Tallapoosa River runs U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 27, 2011 from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, United States, southward and wes ...

, located in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties in the U.S. state of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

. At the 2020 census, the population was 4,763. It is home to a major hydroelectric power plant at Thurlow Dam operated by

Alabama Power Company Alabama Power Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a company in the southern United States that provides electricity service to 1.4 million customers in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. It also operates appliance stores. It is one ...

. Tallassee is part of the Montgomery

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

History

The Creek Wars and Indian removal

The historic Creek peoples in this area are believed to have descended from the

Mississippian culture The Mississippian culture was a Native American civilization that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE, varying regionally. It was known for building large, eart ...

, which flourished throughout the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys and the Southeast from about 1000 to 1450. They were mound builders, who created massive earthwork

mound A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically highe ...

s as structures for political and religious purposes. They relied greatly on fishing and riverway trading at their major sites (c.f. Moundville, Tuscaloosa). Talisi (which means "Old Town" in the Creek language) was a town of the Coosa Province of the Mississippian culture; it was visited in 1540 by Hernando de Soto and his expedition through the Southeast. Later it was occupied by the historic Creek people. The Tallassee area was the location of the Creek capital city, '' Tuckabatchee'', as well as the location of the seven sacred plates. Tensions first broke out as a civil war among the Creek, but US forces also got involved. Trying to intercept a

Red Sticks Red Sticks (also Redsticks, Batons Rouges, or Red Clubs), the name deriving from the red-painted war clubs of some Native American Creeks—refers to an early 19th-century traditionalist faction of these people in the American Southeast. Made ...

party who were bringing back arms thought to be purchased from the Spanish in Florida, United States Army forces attacked the Creek at the

Battle of Burnt Corn The Battle of Burnt Corn, also known as the Battle of Burnt Corn Creek, was an encounter between United States armed forces and Creek Indians that took place July 27, 1813 in present-day southern Alabama. The battle was part of the Creek War. Ba ...

. The Creek band ultimately defeated the soldiers. In retaliation, the next month the Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims, about 35 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, killing most of the more than 500 settlers and mixed-race Lower Creek who had taken refuge there.

Osceola Osceola (1804 – January 30, 1838, Asi-yahola in Muscogee language, Creek), named Billy Powell at birth in Alabama, became an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida. His mother was Muscogee, and his great-grandfather was a S ...

is believed to have been born in ''Talisi'', to a

mixed-race Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-eth ...

Creek mother and an English father. He was among those Creek who migrated to Florida after the Creek War and joined the

Seminole Indians The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and ...

. He became a prominent leader who continued resistance to US forces and settlement. The

Creek Wars The Creek War (1813–1814), also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, was a regional war between opposing Indigenous American Creek factions, European empires and the United States, taking place largely in modern-day Alabama ...

(1813–1814) were marked by mutual raids, civilian massacres, and

scalping Scalping is the act of cutting or tearing a part of the human scalp, with hair attached, from the head, and generally occurred in warfare with the scalp being a trophy. Scalp-taking is considered part of the broader cultural practice of the taki ...

s by both sides. The last major battle was at

Horseshoe Bend Horseshoe Bend may refer to: Places Australia * Horseshoe Bend, New South Wales, an inner city suburb in the City of Maitland in the Hunter Region * Horseshoe Bend Station, a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in the Alice Spring ...

in 1814 on the banks of the

. Led by then-General

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...

, a coalition of

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, federal troops, Lower Creek, and

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, th ...

crushed the outnumbered and out-gunned Red Sticks. Jackson counted the conflict as among his politically strategic victories; it increased his popularity for later election to the presidency and his future policies of

Indian removal Indian removal was the United States government policy of forced displacement of self-governing tribes of Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the eastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi Riverspecifically, to a ...

. After their defeat, many Creek migrated to

Indian Territory The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans who held aboriginal title to their land as a sovereign ...

, while some went into hiding with other resistant Indians in the Southeast, including the Cherokee and the

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

tribes in Florida. The Creek who relocated from the Tuckabatchee area named a new settlement Talisi in Indian Territory. It was later known as

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region wit ...

American Civil War

"Tallassee sent her fair share, and more, of her sons to fight for the Confederacy and a Tallassee textile manufacturer, Barnett, Micou, and Company, supplied cloth for Confederate uniforms and tents, leased land and a building for production of a Confederate carbine, and produced supplies, laborers, and rations for the Armory, its employees, and officers." In June 1864 the

Confederate army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighti ...

moved the Richmond Carbine Factory from

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

to an old Tallassee cotton mill. It began manufacturing the carbines. During the course of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

, the town of Tallassee was never attacked by Union forces, except for their one attempt to destroy the Tallassee Mill. The Tallassee Armory was the only Confederate one not destroyed during the war.

2009 Hotel Talisi fire

Early in the morning of November 30, 2009, the historic Hotel Talisi was heavily damaged by a fire. The hotel, closed since 2008, was purchased by a group of seven investors in the fall of 2009. It was renovated and had been reopened for a month. The fire destroyed the hotel and a consignment shop next door. The fire was ruled an arson and 17-year-old, Dylan Keith Carroll, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree arson, one count of third-degree arson, two counts of third-degree burglary, and three counts of first-degree criminal mischief. After the trial, the hotel's owners met in March 2010 and decided to rebuild the structure. However, the building remains a crumbling eyesore as Tallassee's downtown begins to revive around it as of 2021.

Mills

"In 1900, the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company became a part of the Mount Vernon-Woodberry Cotton Duck Company. This company was formed by the consolidation of the Columbia Duck Mills, Columbia, South Carolina; the Mount Vernon Company and the Woodberry Manufacturing Company, Baltimore, Maryland: and the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company, Tallassee, Alabama. Besides these were included two small mills in Maryland and one in Connecticut. The new company comprises a total of fourteen plants and 227,000 spindles." "Child labor was common in the Tallassee Mills, as in thousands of American industrial plants, until the 1930s. "Solomon, Olivia Pienezza. The Tallassee Armory, 1864–1865. 2nd ed. Tallassee: Talisi Historical Preservation Society, 2002. xlvii. Print. "The Houses on King Street, numbered 1, 3, and 5, today occupied by Ray Carr, Houston Blount, and Frazier Elliot, were built about 1863 for the families of the confederate officers in charge of the armory and those in charge of the mill." The Mount Vernon Mill in Tallassee was completely destroyed by a fire on May 5, 2016. "The Tallassee National Guard Company served in World War I, and a community library was established in 1921. During WWII, the mills received awards of excellence from the U.S. Army for production of war materials." "The "long bell" has been rung in Tallassee at 4:30 a.m. every day except Sunday since Barnett's time except for six months period in 1948 during which the bell tower was being repaired. Visitors who are unacquainted with Tallassee custom are sometimes startled by being awakened by the sound of the bell. They are sure there is a fire in town and that this is the alarm bell ringing. The bell ringing was really for the mills. Thomas Barnett married his cousin Miss Martha MiCou. Their sons, Thomas M., Jr. and Nicholas, lived in Tallassee, building homes on the hill above the mill. Nicholas Barnett home standing today, known as the George D. Patterson home. These families put capital in the mills known as Barnett, Gilmer and Company." "MeShane Bell Foundry." Tallassee: What a Site!. Tallasse, Ala.: allassee Chamber of Commerce 1988. 20. Print

Political history

Kimberly Hammock - Martha Roby - Johnny Hammock

Robert E (Bobby) Payne served as Tallassee's mayor for 24 years, making him the longest-tenured mayor in the city's history. Payne was raised in Etowah County, where he excelled as a high school football player for the Etowah County Blue Devils. He earned a football scholarship from Auburn University in 1963. After completing his eligibility he moved with his wife Mary Carroll to Tallassee, where he worked at Mount Vernon Mills. In 1976 he ran for city council. He won the council seat and served three terms before he ran for mayor in 1988. Payne won in a highly contested race against incumbent Thomas Pollard. He remained in office for 24 years before losing in 2008. He entered the race in 2012 to reclaim his seat and he won convincingly. He retired in 2016. During his time in office, Tallassee achieved more economic growth than at any other time in the city's history. Johnny Hammock won Payne's seat in a landslide. Hammock - after his first term - focused on fixing the town's crumbling infrastructure that had been long neglected. From 2016-2020 Hammock, along with a progressive council, brought in grants and funding totaling in the millions to help address the issues previously left unresolved by past administrations.

Geography

Tallassee is located at (32.539402, −85.893061). According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km², 5.21%) is water. Tallassee is located in the densely forested Emerald Mountains, a small southeastern chain of the Lower

Appalachians The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

. It is bordered by two major rivers: the

Coosa River The Coosa River is a tributary of the Alabama River in the U.S. states of Alabama and Georgia. The river is about long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 27, 201 ...

to the west, and the Tallapoosa in the east. The

also serves as the dividing line between two counties and towns: the City of Tallassee ( Elmore County) and East Tallassee ( Tallapoosa County). The Alabama Power Company began to develop the Tallapoosa River in 1923 and in the following ten years three power plants built by the Alabama Power Company were built along the Tallapoosa River. Composed of the Thurlow Dam, the Yates Dam, and Martin Dam, these power plants have a combined capacity of 269,000 horsepower. Tallassee is served by State Highway 14, which runs northwest-northeast through the town, and State Highway 229, which runs northwest-south. AL-14 leads east 15 mi (24 km) to Notasulga and west 22 mi (35 km) to Wetumpka. AL-229 leads north 15 mi (24 km) to Alabama State Route 63 northeast of Wetumpka, and south 8 mi (13 km) to

Interstate 85 Interstate 85 (I-85) is a major Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus is an interchange with I-95 in Petersburg, Virginia, ...

at exit 26. Tallassee Municipal Airport serves general aviation.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,934 people, 2,067 households, and 1,343 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,367 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 80.34%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 17.61%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.34% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.18% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. There were 2,067 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,946, and the median income for a family was $32,015. Males had a median income of $27,313 versus $22,993 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,859. About 16.9% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,819 people, 1,931 households, and 1,252 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,284 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 72.4%

, 23.4%

, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1%

, 1.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 3.0% of the population were

or Latino of any race. There were 1,931 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,941, and the median income for a family was $56,910. Males had a median income of $35,658 versus $34,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,944. About 12.5% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, there were 4,763 people, 1,905 households, and 1,247 families residing in the city.

Media and communications

Newspapers

''The Tallassee Tribune'' has been the weekly newspaper publication in Tallassee since 1899. The newspaper started as the ''Tri-County Weekly'' in 1899, was later renamed the ''Tallassee Times'', and finally named ''The Tallassee Tribune'' in 1912. The paper serves the people in and around the Tallassee area and is published every Wednesday. ''Tallassee Times'' is an online publication launched in 2008. The weekly publication virtually has thousands of hits every week. In addition, there is a Tallassee Times TV webcam channel that features community events, such as Tallassee Tiger sports.

Radio

There are three radio stations that are located in Tallassee: * WTLS (1300 AM / 106.5 FM) News/Sports * WALQ (1130 AM / 101.1 FM) Oldies * WQNR (99.9 FM) "Kate FM" is licensed to Tallassee and broadcasts from nearby

Auburn, Alabama Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama, with a 2020 population of 76,143. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population ...

Education

The Tallassee City School System serves all of the portions of the city in Elmore County, and most of the portions of the city in Tallapoosa County. A portion of the Tallapoosa County section of Tallassee is in the Tallapoosa County School District. The city school system, established in 1915, operates three schools (Tallassee High School, Southside Middle School, and Tallassee Elementary School). The school system serves about 2,000 students, and employs approximately 112 teachers within the elementary school, middle school, and high school. The majority of families living in the city of Tallassee attend Tallassee City Schools.

Healthcare

The Community Hospital, established in 1926, provides healthcare to the surrounding three counties (Elmore, Tallapoosa, and Macon). The hospital is a nonprofit organization with sixty-nine beds.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...

system, Tallassee has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Tallassee, Alabama
/ref>

Notable people

* Derrick Ansley, NFL coach * Antoine Caldwell, NFL

offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

* Peter McQueen, Creek Indian chief, prophet, trader, and warrior * Mike Morgan, former NFL

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball, and block. Th ...

Opothleyahola Opothleyahola, also spelled Opothle Yohola, Opothleyoholo, Hu-pui-hilth Yahola, Hopoeitheyohola, and Hopere Yahvlv (c. 1778 – March 22, 1863) was a Muscogee Creek Indian chief, noted as a brilliant orator. He was a Speaker of the Upper Cre ...

, Creek Indian chief *

Michael Ritch Michael Ritch (born February 24, 1973) is an American stock car racing driver who competed in 47 races across NASCAR's top three series between 1992 and 2002. He also competed in 165 Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series races between 1998 and 2009, winning 1 ...

, professional soccer striker * Charles Davis Tillman, singer-songwriter who helped form the

southern gospel Southern gospel music is a genre of Christian music. Its name comes from its origins in the southeastern United States. Its lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as ...

genre *

Demond Washington Demond Washington (born September 30, 1987) is a Canadian football defensive back. Washington signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 24, 2012, as a free agent, after spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs ar ...

, professional football

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

Recreation

The Tallassee Recreation Department maintains three facilities. These include a public swimming pool, a public playground, a park, and the main recreational building which contains a basketball court and weight room. In addition to maintaining these facilities, the recreation department also offers and sponsors numerous youth sports and adult activities.

Photo gallery

File:HotelTalisi.JPG, The historic Hotel Talisi pictured in 2007. File:Hotel Talisi Oct10 02.jpg, Hotel Talisi following the 2009 fire. File:RoxyGraden1.JPG, The Roxy Gardens (formerly The Roxy Theater) was built in the late 1920s. The building was gutted by fire in 1945. File:TheMill1.JPG, Built in 1844, the Tallassee cotton mill was converted into an armory for producing carbines during the

. File:East side Mt. Vernon Mills.jpg, Mt. Vernon Mills on the east side of the

pictured in 2010. File:Tallassee2.JPG, West Tallassee is located in Elmore County. File:EastTallassee.JPG, East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County. File:ThurlowDam.JPG, Thurlow Dam was built by the

in 1931 and named for Oscar G. Thurlow, then a chief engineer and vice president of the company. File:2021-03-12_Tallassee,_AL_-_Police_Department.jpg, Tallassee Police Department File:2021-03-12_Tallassee,_AL_-_Post_Office.jpg, Post Office ( ZIP code: 36078) File:2021-03-12_Tallassee,_AL_-_Talisi_Historical_Preservation_Society.jpg, Talisi Historical Preservation Society in Tallassee File:2021-03-12_Tallassee,_AL_-_Osceola_Historical_Marker_002.jpg, Historical monument near the birthplace of

, a leader of the

people.

References

* * * * *

Notes

External links

Tallassee Community Library

Tallassee Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Cities in Alabama Populated places established in 1835 Cities in Elmore County, Alabama Cities in Tallapoosa County, Alabama Montgomery metropolitan area Alexander City micropolitan area