The ''Demopolis Times'' is a

daily newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sport ...

serving

Demopolis, Alabama Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, in west-central Alabama. The population was 7,162 at the time of the 2020 United States census, down from 7,483 at the 2010 census. The city lies at the confluence of the Black Warrior River and ...

, with a current circulation of about 1,700. The current editor is Robert Blankenship. In 2018, the paper won six awards from the Alabama Press Association including a second-place finish for best business story or column in its class.

History

The paper was formed out of two competing 19th century papers: the Demopolis Express (1893) and the Demopolis Dispatch (1897). In 1905, both papers were bought by a group of investors, and by 1910 E. S. Cornish had begun editing the paper and was part-owner. With a brief

hiatus Hiatus may refer to: * Hiatus (anatomy), a natural fissure in a structure * Hiatus (stratigraphy), a discontinuity in the age of strata in stratigraphy *''Hiatus'', a genus of picture-winged flies with sole member species '' Hiatus fulvipes'' * G ...

early in his career (during which the paper was edited by C. A. VerBeck), Cornish would be associated with the paper until his death in 1936. Under his leadership, the paper went to linotype printing 1919, at a cost of three thousand dollars. In 1930, he asked his son-in-law, Ben George, to move back to

Marengo County Marengo County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,323. The largest city is Demopolis, and the county seat is Linden. It is named in honor of the Battle of ...

to eventually run the times. At the time, George had no newspaper experience, and he began work there as a linotype editor The paper was sold to George and his wife Elizabeth in 1936. In 1941, the newspaper building and plant were destroyed by fire, doing an estimated fifteen thousand dollars worth of damage. In 1956, editor Ben George was elected president of the Alabama Press Association. He and Elizabeth sold the paper in 1967. James Cannon was named publisher in 2008.

References

{{reflist Demopolis, Alabama Newspapers published in Alabama Daily newspapers published in the United States