Hobson City, Alabama
| Hobson City, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location in Calhoun County and the state of Alabama |
|
| Coordinates: 33°37′7″N 85°50′36″W / 33.61861°N 85.84333°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Calhoun |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Alberta McCrory |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| • Land | 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 728 ft (222 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 771 |
| • Density | 740/sq mi (285.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| FIPS code | 01-35152 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0159780 |
| Website | www |
Hobson City is a town in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 771. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Hobson City was Alabama's first self-governed all-black municipality.
According to Town Hall records, much of the area now included in the corporate limits of the Hobson City was once within the city of Oxford, Alabama. During the late 19th century, the area was known as "Mooree Quarter". The black vote from that area was a controlling factor during municipal elections. An account provided by an early settler of the community has been passed down through the years. In that account, a black person was elected as the Oxford justice of the peace. As a result, and in keeping with campaign promises, an Oxford mayor went to the state capitol and had the corporate boundaries of Oxford redrawn to exclude Mooree Quarter and the black vote.
The town was incorporated on August 16, 1899. Records from an Alabama newspaper, The Peoples' Journal, described the municipality as "the only municipality controlled and governed entirely by colored people anywhere in the United States." The newspaper further commented, "The whole country will doubtless be interested in the result of this experiment." Under the leadership of the first mayor, S. L. Davis, and the first police chief, James Duran, police protection was restored to the area. The town was named after Richmond P. Hobson, a white naval hero and member of Congress. More than a century has passed since incorporation. The town recently had buildings placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is currently in the process of qualifying other buildings as well. During November 2008, Alberta C. McCrory was sworn in as the 2008–2012 mayor.
Hobson City is located in southern Calhoun County at 33°37'6.589" North, 85°50'36.330" West (33.618497, -85.843425). It is bordered by the city of Oxford to the south and the city of Anniston to the north.
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