Prattville is a city in Autauga and Elmore Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 31,119.^[1] The city is the county seat of Autauga County, Alabama. It is nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to the many artesian wells in the area. The city was founded in 1839 by well-known industrialist and architect Daniel Pratt.

What is now Prattville was largely inhabited by Native Americans and a few settlers when Daniel Pratt, a native of Temple, New Hampshire, first observed the Autauga Creek in the 1830s.

Pratt purchased approximately 1,000 acres (4 km²) from Joseph May at $21.00 an acre, and set out to build his manufacturing facilities and the town along the banks of the Autauga creek. This location was chosen because the creek could supply power to the cotton gin manufacturing equipment.

In the past 10 years, Prattville's city limits have begun to expand eastward into neighboring Elmore County. While the original plan was to keep this portion of the city strictly commercial, due to the rapid increase in population, housing developments are currently being built on the Elmore County side.

Prattville is also the home of singer Wilson Pickett, as well as NFL stars Roman Harper, Kevin Turner, and Zac Woodfin. Marlon Anderson, a major league baseball player, is originally from Prattville.

Prattville has become a popular golf destination, offering one of the widely famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses. With year-round warmth, hot summers and short, mild winters this destination offers entertainment through out the year.

1 Local Metropolitan Areas
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Education
5 Tornado
6 Growth and Development
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Local Metropolitan Areas

1. Birmingham Metro - 1,869,524 2. Montgomery Metro - 469,268

[edit] Geography

Prattville is located at 32°27'32.886" North, 86°27'4.698" West (32.459135, -86.451305)^[2].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.9 km²), of which, 23.2 square miles (60.0 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (3.09%) is water.

For additional, or more current information, please contact the City of Prattville G.I.S. Coordinator at 334-361-3613

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 24,303 people, 8,939 households, and 6,918 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,049.0 people per square mile (405.0/km²). There were 9,562 housing units at an average density of 412.7/sq mi (159.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.09% White, 14.42% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,939 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,728, and the median income for a family was $51,774. Males had a median income of $36,677 versus $22,978 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,832. 8.3% of the population and 6.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

[edit] Education

Prattville is part of the Autauga County School System and has 8 schools, including Prattville High School and the Autauga County Technology Center.

Prattville High School is a 6A school, which won the 2006& 2007 6A AHSAA Football State Championship.

[edit] Tornado

On February 17, 2008 Prattville was hit by an estimated EF3 tornado which destroyed 45 homes and businesses and damaged over 300. No fatalities occurred and 28 people were injured. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $85 million in insured and uninsured damages.

[edit] Growth and Development

Pratville has recently undergone much economic growth due to the development of several major businessess in the city. This growth includes the building of the only current Bass Pro Shop in Alabama, a Target, and numerous other shops and restaurants.