Sweet Water is a town in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. It was founded during the 1840s and named for Sweet Water Creek, which runs through a section of the community.[3] The population was 228 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 258 at the 2010 census.[4]

Sweet Water, Alabama
Location in Marengo County, Alabama
Location in Marengo County, Alabama
Coordinates: 32°05′51″N 87°52′03″W / 32.09737°N 87.86751°W / 32.09737; -87.86751
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyMarengo
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorChad Brousard
Area
 • Total2.35 sq mi (6.1 km2)
 • Land2.35 sq mi (6.1 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
184 ft (56 m)
Population
 • Total228
 • Density96.90/sq mi (37.41/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
36782
Area code334
FIPS code01-74304
GNIS feature ID0153626
Websitetownofsweetwater.com
Colonial Revival-style house on Main Street

Geography

edit
 
Panoramic view of one of many cotton fields surrounding the town and nearby areas

Sweet Water is located in southern Marengo County at 32°05′51″N 87°52′03″W / 32.09737°N 87.86751°W / 32.09737; -87.86751 and has an elevation of 184 feet (56 m).[5] It is 20 miles (32 km) by road south of Linden, the county seat. Alabama State Route 10 passes through the town, leading southeast 20 miles (32 km) to Pine Hill and west 22 miles (35 km) to Butler.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Sweet Water has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all of it recorded as land.[1] Sweet Water Creek forms the southern border of the town and flows southwest to Horse Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the Tombigbee River.

Demographics

edit

As of the census of 2010, there were 258 people, 94 households, and 72 families residing in the town. There were 111 housing units, of which 94 were occupied. The racial makeup of the town was 91.1% White, 7.8% Black or African American, and 1.2% from some other races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[4]

There were 94 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.22.[4]

The population was spread out, with 70.9% 18 years and over, 68.2% 21 years and over, 20.5% 62 years and over, and 19.4% who were 65 years and over. The median age was 39 years.[4]

Education

edit

The town is home to Sweet Water High School, part of the Marengo County Public School System. The current school was founded during the early 1870s.[6]

Transportation

edit

Alabama State Route 10

 
The Lewis-Sheffield House (1910) on Main Street

Notable people

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1970265
1980253−4.5%
1990243−4.0%
2000234−3.7%
201025810.3%
2020228−11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
2013 Estimate[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Sweet Water town, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  3. ^ Marengo County Heritage Book Committee (2000). The Heritage of Marengo County, Alabama. Clanton, Alabama: Heritage Publishing Consultants. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9781891647581.
  4. ^ a b c d "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sweet Water
  6. ^ Marengo County Heritage Book Committee (2000). The Heritage of Marengo County, Alabama. Clanton, Alabama: Heritage Publishing Consultants. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9781891647581.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "'Chaplain of Bourbon Street' dies at 89". Baptist Press. Retrieved June 10, 2023.