Andalusia, Alabama | |
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City | |
Motto: "A proud heritage. A progressive future." | |
Location of Andalusia in Covington County, Alabama |
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Coordinates: 31°18′N 86°29′W / 31.300°N 86.483°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama |
County | Covington |
Settled | 1841 |
Incorporated | 1884 |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor/City Council |
• Mayor | Earl Johnson |
Area | |
• Total | 19.8 sq mi (51.3 km2) |
• Land | 19.7 sq mi (50.9 km2) |
• Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
Elevation | 348 ft (106 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 9,015 |
• Density | 459/sq mi (177.1/km2) |
Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP code | 36420 |
Area code(s) | 334 |
FIPS code | 01-01708 |
GNIS feature ID | 0133361 |
Website | www |
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 9,015.
Andalusia was first settled in 1841 after flooding of the Conecuh River and the surrounding lowlands forced citizens to move to higher ground. The county seat was moved from Montezuma to Andalusia in 1844. The new town was originally called "New Site" but was known as Andalusia by the time a post office was established in 1846.
Andalusia, likely got its name from Spanish explorers or settlers since the land where the town is located was part of Spanish Florida until Pinckney's Treaty in 1795. Prior to this treaty, the Spanish Empire claimed all land up to 32.22 degrees north, which would include present day Andalusia which is at 31.31 degrees north. Andalusia shares the name of Andalusia, a large southern autonomous community of Spain which includes the cities of Granada, Málaga, and Seville.
Andalusia was incorporated as a town in 1884.
In 1899, two railroad lines arrived, the Central of Georgia and the L & N Railroad, and the town began to grow.
Jess Dixon, an inventor from Andalusia, received widespread attention in 1941 after building a helicopter-car (see photo).
In 1944, country singers Hank Williams and Audrey Sheppard were married in a Texaco station in Andalusia by a justice of the peace. The marriage was declared illegal, since Sheppard's divorce from her previous husband did not comply with the legally required sixty-day trial reconciliation.
Sgt. Charles "Bubba" Bailey of the Andalusia Police Department was featured on the Australian TV show Hamish & Andy in 2009. The comedy duo drove across the United States in the "Abravan Lincoln" during their "Caravan of Courage" tour, performing a skit with Sgt. Bailey in Andalusia.