Sheffield, Alabama

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Sheffield is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, and is included in The Shoals MSA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 9,652.

[edit] Geography

Sheffield is located at 34°45′35″N, 87°41′41″W (34.759721, -87.694592)^GR1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.1 km² (6.6 mi²). 17.0 km² (6.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.46%) is water.

Sheffield was the home of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios at 3614 Jackson Highway. Cher, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Joe Cocker and many others recorded the biggest hits of their careers in this small studio, that was well known and respected through out the music industry.

Sheffield, at the Spring Creek boat launch and park area was also recognized as one of the Colbert County sites of embarkation, by riverboat and barge from the southern side of the Tennessee River enroute to Waterloo, Alabama, on the north side, during the historical relocation of Eastern and Southern United States Indian Tribes, known as "The Trail Of Tears".

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 4,243 households, and 2,711 families residing in the city. The population density was 568.1/km² (1,471.4/mi²). There were 4,760 housing units at an average density of 280.2/km² (725.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.21% White, 26.21% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,243 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,673, and the median income for a family was $33,877. Males had a median income of $30,378 versus $18,033 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,022. About 16.5% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.