Where is selma alabama

They were met just six blocks outside of town at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by state and local law enforcement and were turned back with billy clubs and tear gas; the national press soon began calling the day "Bloody Sunday. District Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building Like most areas of the state, Selma's economy improved in the years after the Civil War when cotton prices began to rise in the early twentieth century.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, Selma's population grew by 56 percent, increasing from 8, in to 13, in Two new banks were established to support the increasing population.

Economic problems resurfaced in the s with the arrival of the boll weevil , which decimated the area's cotton crop. To survive, area farmers began growing soybeans, timber , and other crops that flourished in the area's rich prairie soil. Whereas most large landowners survived the boll weevil's assault, many small farmers did not. Then, in , Selma's branch of the Penny Savings Bank of Birmingham and the first black-owned financial institution in the state, failed, proving disastrous for hundreds of middle-class blacks.

To make matters worse, the Alabama River flooded in September These unfortunate events combined with the spread of violence directed toward blacks that accompanied the economic hard times to drive the so-called Great Migration of thousands of black citizens out of Selma and other southern cities and into the industrial centers of many large Midwestern cities.

Kingston House After a brief respite from its economic woes during World War I , Selma suffered through the Great Depression , losing two of its major employers in the textile industry. Army Air Force established a training base there in This installation was named Craig Field in honor of Selma native Bruce Kilpatrick Craig, a test engineer who had recently lost his life in the crash of a B bomber near San Diego, California.

Craig Field continued to be a major source of jobs and income for Selma residents until its closure in Today, the site is home to the Craig Industrial Complex, comprising more than acres zoned for industrial development. Occupants include businesses, a governmental training center, an elementary school, and a golf course.

After its closure, Selma officials decided to take advantage of Selma's more than 1, historic structures to establish a tourism industry, emphasizing its role in both the Civil War and the civil rights movement.

Recent job growth is Negative. Selma jobs have decreased by 0. More Economy. More Voting Stats. Since , it has had a population decline of 6. Learn More The National Average is Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 3.

The average school expenditure in the U. There are about More Education. Sturdivant Hall Museum. Holiday House We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. Everything Alabama has to offer —all in one easy place! Yes, I'd like to receive the monthly newsletter, exclusive travel tips and special offers from Alabama Tourism.

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In Memoriam: Rep. John Lewis.