News Sports Opinion Photos Social Classified Obits Contact
 
 
 

City awaits census numbers

By Michael Butler

The U.S. Census Bureau just released the 2020 apportionment results. Alabama will keep its seven congressional seats. The state estimate show an increase in population to just over five million.

So where does Tallassee stack up?

Those numbers have still not been released. The Census website does show estimates.

The population estimate for Tallassee in 2019 was 4,502. That number is down from the 2010 population of 4,819. The population of Tallassee in 2000 was 4,934.

Since 1950, Tallassee's population has ranged from 4,225 (1950) to 5,112 (1990). The city has shown a slight decrease every decade over the past 50 years except for a 7.3 percent increase from 1980 - 1990.

Prior to the last census of 2010, then mayor George McCain was hopeful for bigger numbers.

"I'm going to guess, I'm pulling it out of the air because I have no idea. I feel like we'll have a minimum of 6,000," he said.

Current mayor Johnny Hammock talked about the population report from 2010 and has been skeptical about seeing an increase for 2020.

"66 percent reported in 2010," Hammock said. "Of all the municipalities in Elmore County, I think we were next to last. Thank you Tallassee for not participating. We tried everything.

"I'm talking to a developer right now that wants to put 400 homes right here in the city limits right at $175,000 a house. There's people running from the urban areas. We're building a new school. We need housing."

Millbrook is the county's most populous city and had the highest response rate in the county. It also had the largest growth rate from 2000-'10. The city's population was 14,640 - up 41 percent from 2000. Wetumpka's was second in population size at 6,528 in 2010 - up 22.6 %.

Tallassee Population by Decade

1880 1,182
1890 1,413 19.5%
1910 1,347
1920 2,034 51.0%
1930 843 −58.6%
1940 1,011 19.9%
1950 4,225 317.9%
1960 4,934 16.8%
1970 4,809 −2.5%
1980 4,763 −1.0%
1990 5,112 7.3%
2000 4,934 −3.5%
2010 4,819 −2.3%
2019 (est.) 4,502   −6.6%