Greenville is a city and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Butler County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,374. Greenville is known as the

Camellia ''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species, with some controv ...

City, wherein originated the movement to change the official Alabama state flower from the

goldenrod Goldenrod is a common name for many species of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, commonly in reference to the genus '' Solidago''. Several genera, such as '' Euthamia'', were formerly included in a broader concept of the gen ...

to the camellia with legislative sponsors LaMont Glass and H.B. Taylor.

History

Greenville was first settled in 1819. Its original name was Buttsville, but after becoming the county seat in 1822, its name was changed to Greenville, in remembrance of the former locale in South Carolina of many of the original settlers. The first county seat was at Fort Dale, a fortification that was named for Sam Dale, who fought to defend the area during the Creek War. The site of Fort Dale lies on the north of the city near the Fort Dale Cemetery, along what is now Alabama Highway 185. The namesake of the county, Captain William Butler, was killed during the Creek War. He is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery, which is across from the oldest church in Butler County, the First

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelic ...

of Greenville. During World War II, a satellite camp for German prisoners was based in Greenville.

Geography

Greenville is located in southern Alabama at 31°49'52.583" North, 86°37'39.241" West (31.831273, -86.627567). Interstate 65 passes to the west of the city center, with access from exits 128 and 130. U.S. Route 31 passes to the east of the city center. Montgomery, the state capital, is northeast, the closest city to Greenville with a population above 50,000.

Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ( ...

is to the southwest on I-65. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.82%, is water.

Climate

The city of Greenville has a humid subtropical climate, with an average high temperature of and an average low temperature of . The city averages of precipitation per month.

Demographics

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 of ...

, there were 7,374 people, 2,356 households, and 1,496 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,135 people, 3,332 households, and 2,126 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 55.5%

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 ...

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 ...

, 41.7%

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 o ...

, 0.0% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.5% from two or more races. 1.3% 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 forme ...

or Latino of any race. In the city, 27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.6% were 18 to 24, 25.0% were 25 to 44, 24.4% were 45 to 64, and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males. There were 3,332 households. Of those, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.06. The median income for a household in the city was $26,664, and the median income for a family was $31,107. Males had a median income of $33,716 versus $24,928 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $15,649. About 20.3% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 30.1% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Public education is provided by the Butler County Board of Education. *High School: Greenville High School *Middle School: Greenville Middle School *Elementary School: W.O. Parmer Elementary and Greenville Elementary School Private schools in Greenville include Fort Dale Academy and Camellia City Christian School.

Post-secondary education

*Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, member of the Alabama Community College System awards two-year associate degrees and professional certificates.

Economy

Prior to the Civil War,

cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...

farming was the main occupation in Butler County. During the 1850s lines along the

Mobile and Ohio Railroad The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was a railroad in the Southern U.S. The M&O was chartered in January and February 1848 by the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It was planned to span the distance between the seaport of Mobil ...

were constructed, making the county a major trading center. Greenville was a railroad town and became the center of commerce between Montgomery and south Alabama. During the late nineteenth century, the construction of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad through Greenville contributed further to the town's success. At the turn of the century, Gulf Red Cedar Company and Factory in Greenville became a noted

bucket A bucket is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone or square, with an open top and a flat bottom, attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the ''bail''. A bucket is usually an open-top container. In contrast, a ...

manufacturing enterprise. Today, Greenville has a diverse industrial manufacturing base of companies in the textile, wood products, automobile, and other industries. Major employers include Hwashin American Corporation, Hysco America Corporation, CorStone Industry, and Connector Manufacturing.

Law and government

The local government of Greenville is run by the Mayor and City Council. The city council consists of five members each elected from single member districts. The city is located in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District and is currently represented by U.S. Representative Barry Moore.

Media

Radio stations

* WGYV 1380 AM (Talk) * WKXN 95.7 FM (Urban Contemporary) * WQZX 94.3 FM WGYV has applied to relocate its license to

Aurora, Indiana Aurora is a city in Center Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,750 at the 2010 census. Geography Aurora is located at (39.058551, -84.906351). According to the 2010 census, Aurora has a total area of , of wh ...

Newspaper

''The Greenville Standard''
(weekly)
''Greenville Advocate''
(weekly)

Recreation and culture

Greenville was a common setting in the 2002 movie ''Sweet Home Alabama''. None of the movie was actually filmed in Greenville. The city's residents were featured on the premiere episode of the ABC

reality Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, r ...

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, ...

series '' My Kind of Town'', on Sunday, August 14, 2005. The 2007 movie '' Honeydripper'' was shot in locations around Greenville in late summer and fall of 2006. The film featured sites located on Main Street in the city's historic downtown. Local residents were selected as principal characters and extras for the movie. New Beginnings Ministry's church choir was featured in the film. Located in Greenville is the historic Ritz Theatre, a local theatre where community events and plays can be performed for the city. Annually, the city's Area Arts Council will perform a musical

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

by the name of "Puttin' on the Ritz" which has a different theme each year. Greenville is the location of a

Robert Trent Jones Robert Trent Jones Sr. (June 20, 1906 – June 14, 2000) was a British–American golf course architect who designed or re-designed more than 500 golf courses in 45 U.S. states and 35 countries. In reference to this, Jones took pride in sayi ...

-designed golf course, Cambrian Ridge, northwest of downtown, and to Sherling Lake Park and Campground which has 41 campsites and surrounds two lakes just east of the golf course. Greenville is also the home of the Watermelon Jubilee, a local arts and crafts exposition held each year in the month of August. Every year in September, the city hosts the Butler County Fair. Also, during the fall, Greenville hosts Old Time Farm Day which features activities such as tractor races, blacksmithing and quilting demonstrations."Greenville-Alabama"
Retrieved April 13, 2010 Watermelon Jubilee no longer held

Notable people

Janice Rogers Brown Janice Rogers Brown (born May 11, 1949) is an American jurist. She served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2005 to 2017 and before that, Associate Justice of the Cal ...

, Judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (in case citations, D.C. Cir.) is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals. It has the smallest geographical jurisdiction of any of the U.S. federal appellate co ...

* Beth Chapman, Secretary of State of Alabama from 2007 to 2013 * Leon Crenshaw, former defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers *

Marlon Davidson Marlon Davidson (born May 11, 1998) is an American football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in 2020 by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college f ...

, defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons * Walter Flowers, member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from 1969 to 1979 * Phil Hancock, professional golfer * Lillian Hatcher, union organizer *

Johnny Lewis Jonathan Kendrick Lewis (October 29, 1983 – September 26, 2012), also credited as Johnny K. Lewis, was an American film and television actor. He played Kip "Half-Sack" Epps in the first two seasons of the FX series ''Sons of Anarchy'', and o ...

, former

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to c ...

for the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

* Tommy Lewis, former

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

fullback and coach * George McMillan, 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama *

Mark Matthews Mark Matthews (August 7, 1894 – September 6, 2005) was an American veteran of the Second World War and a Buffalo Soldier. Born in Alabama and growing up in Ohio, Matthews joined the 10th Cavalry Regiment when he was only 15 years old, after ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

veteran and

Buffalo Soldier Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in th ...

* Rufus Payne, blues musician * Lewis B. Porterfield, Rear admiral in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

* Bill Powell, first African American to design, construct and own a professional golf course in the United States * Marty Raybon,

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

singer of the group Shenandoah * Za’Darius Smith, linebacker for the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...

* Thomas H. Watts, eighteenth governor of Alabama * Hank Williams,

singer lived in Greenville briefly during childhood *

Ed Bell (musician) Ed Bell (born May 1905, died 1960, 1965 or 1966) was an American Piedmont blues and country blues singer, guitarist and songwriter whose identity has only recently been verified by historians. Some of his records were released under the pseudony ...

, country blues singer and guitarist

Gallery

File:Greenville AL Greenville Depot.JPG, View of the old L&N train depot File:Greenville AL Confederate Park.JPG, View of Confederate Park File:Greenville AL Post Office.JPG, View of Greenville Post Office File:Greenville AL City Hall.JPG, View of Greenville City Hall

References

External links

City of Greenville official website ''The Greenville Standard''''The Greenville Advocate''Article on Greenville by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) in ''Salon'' magazine
{{authority control Cities in Alabama Cities in Butler County, Alabama County seats in Alabama Populated places established in 1819 1819 establishments in Alabama