The story
History
The settlement at this site was originally known as Newport; barges made runs to and from Pensacola, Florida on Murder Creek and Burnt Corn Creek, before the railroad was constructed. In May 1861, Brewton was established as a train stop by Edmund Troupe Bruton. The area's lumber began to be harvested by industrialists.
During the Civil War, rail lines were severed, and small lumber mills were damaged or destroyed. After the war, the people rebuilt the Brewton economy, began a school, and established small businesses. Into the 1870s a new European demand for lumber stimulated the founding of numerous timber and lumber operations. The Conecuh-Escambia river system became a timber artery to ports on the Gulf of Mexico.
Brewton was established as a town on February 13, 1885. The state legislature designated the town as the seat of Escambia County, Alabama.
Brewton was known in past times as "the richest little town in the South." Brewton's high per capita income was based on the profits enjoyed by a small number of "timber barons." They had come at the end of the 19th century to harvest the pine forests. With their profits, they had extraordinary homes built along Belleville and Evergreen avenues. Such families include the McMillans, Lovelace and the Millers, many of whose descendants still reside in the town.
Over time the county erected a series of courthouses. Brewton developed an education system that included public and private institutions, including T. R. Miller High School. It was named for Thomas Richard Miller, a local timber baron and town father who donated money toward the building and opening of the school. Jefferson Davis Community College was established here in 1964; it has been renamed as Coastal Alabama Community College Brewton.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 5,276 people, 2,147 households, and 1,249 families residing in the city.
The median age was 43.9 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.8 males age 18 and over.
81.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 18.9% lived in rural areas.
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There were 2,147 households in Brewton, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.0% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,444 housing units, of which 12.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census there were 5,408 people, 2,171 households, and 1,412 families residing in the city. The population density was 474.9 inhabitants per square mile (183.4/km2). There were 2,522 housing units at an average density of 221.2 per square mile (85.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 54.1% White or Caucasian, 42.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,171 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,390, and the median income for a family was $49,554. Males had a median income of $35,233 versus $28,879 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,467. About 19.6% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Former Town of Alco (c1885/1888-1897)
Within Brewton is the former incorporated town of Alco. It existed from the mid-to-late 1880s (exact incorporation date uncertain) until it was dissolved as a town in 1897. The name was derived from the Alabama Lumber Company. It was located just southwest of Brewton & the junction of Burnt Corn & Murder Creeks 31°05′50.6″N 87°05′07.9″W. The name of the town still lives on today on the names of the churches (Alco Baptist Church & Alco United Methodist Church) and Alco Road. Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery, one of the oldest in Escambia County, is located across from the United Methodist Church and mentions Alco on its historic marker. Alco was annexed into Brewton on June 31, 1945.
From Wikipedia’s article on Brewton, Alabama, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4