North Courtland

North Courtland is located in north-central Lawrence County in the northwest part of Alabama. It has a mayor/council form of government.

History

For many years, North Courtland was part of the town of Courtland, incorporated in 1819, and thus largely shares its history. During the era of legal racial segregation, African Americans in Courtland lived primarily in a part of the town known as “The Hill.” No basic police and fire services were extended to the Hill by the city government of Courtland, and the community had to depend on Lawrence County for these services, which meant delays in response times. The residents decided that establishing themselves as a separate town was the best way to acquire funds for a local police and fire department and incorporated in June 1981. In 2013, a fire destroyed the building housing the North Courtland police department and town hall.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, North Courtland recorded a population of 783. Of that number, 99.7 percent of respondents identified themselves as African American, and 0.5 percent as Hispanic or Latino, 0.3 percent as white. The town’s median household income was $26,217, and the per capita income was $13,830

Employment

According to 2020 Census estimates, the workforce in North Courtland was divided among the following industrial categories:

  • Manufacturing (31.5 percent)
  • Educational services and health care and social assistance (13.9 percent)
  • Other services, except public administration (12.0 percent)
  • Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (12.0 percent)
  • Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.6 percent)
  • Retail trade (8.3 percent)
  • Construction (4.6 percent)
  • Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (4.2 percent)
  • Public administration (1.4 percent)
  • Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (0.5 percent)

Education

Students in North Courtland attend Lawrence County schools; no public schools are located within the town limits.

Transportation

U.S. Highway 72/State Highway 20 runs through the northern section of town, coming in from the west and then curving to the southeast as it exits town.

Events and Places of Interest

North Courtland is located about five miles south of Wheeler Lake on the Tennessee River.

North Courtland holds a Founders Day celebration every August and a Unity Day celebration every March or April, during which it honors its senior citizens.

Additional Resources

Lawrence County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Lawrence County. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1998.

External Links

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