Lipscomb, Alabama

Lipscomb
City
Location of Lipscomb in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°25′33″N 86°55′34″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jefferson
Government
• Mayor	Tonja Baldwin
Area
• Total	1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2)
• Land	1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	541 ft (165 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,086
• Density	1,773.81/sq mi (684.84/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	205 & 659
FIPS code	01-43336
GNIS feature ID	2404936

Lipscomb is a city in western Jefferson County, Alabama. It is part of the Birmingham, Alabama, metropolitan area. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,086.

It does not have its own U.S. Post Office or ZIP code, instead sharing the Bessemer ZIP code (35020).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	1,605		—
1930	1,774		10.5%
1940	1,740		−1.9%
1950	2,550		46.6%
1960	2,811		10.2%
1970	3,225		14.7%
1980	3,741		16.0%
1990	2,892		−22.7%
2000	2,458		−15.0%
2010	2,210		−10.1%
2020	2,086		−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate

2020 census

Lipscomb racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	273	13.09%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,289	61.79%
Native American	6	0.29%
Asian	1	0.05%
Pacific Islander	1	0.05%
Other/Mixed	67	3.21%
Hispanic or Latino	449	21.52%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,086 people, 737 households, and 391 families residing in the city.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 2,210 people, 812 households, and 554 families living in the town. The population density was 2,009.1 inhabitants per square mile (775.7/km²). There were 950 housing units at an average density of 863.6 per square mile (333.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 61.0% Black or African American, 22.0% White, 1.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 15.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 19.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 812 households 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 27.6% of households were one person and 12.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.31.

The age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% 65 or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income was $27,600 and the median family income was $45,000. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $19,965 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,892. About 13.5% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 2,458 people, 901 households, and 634 families living in the town. The population density was 2,163.6 inhabitants per square mile (835.4/km²). There were 1,108 housing units at an average density of 975.3 per square mile (376.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 32.55% White, 65.58% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 901 households 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 9.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.35.

The age distribution was 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median household income was $30,865 and the median family income was $35,556. Males had a median income of $26,908 versus $21,150 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,582. About 15.9% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

The city of Lipscomb was first incorporated on June 30, 1910, and was named for L. Y. Lipscomb, one of three brothers who first settled in the area in 1885. As early as the 1880s, the community was called Wheeling and the town had 200-300 residents by 1906. The community was originally named after Wheeling, West Virginia because the owners of Woodward Iron Company, who employed many of the residents, also had business interests in that state. Y. L. Lipscomb ran a general store on the old South Bessemer car line which opened in 1890, though the first settlers actually came to the area in the 1830s, when Vincent Loveless established his farm in the area. The first church was established in the area in June 1834 when a log structure was built named Union Baptist Church which sat on the site of the present church.

Government

The town's major source of revenue is an illegal bingo hall that has been repeatedly shut by state authorities.

Notable person

• Virginia Hill was a Chicago Outfit courier and was famous for being the steady girlfriend of mobster Bugsy Siegel.