Overview

Introduction to Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Located on the Black Warrior River in west central Alabama is the city of Tuscaloosa. Home to the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa is the county seat of Tuscaloosa County and lies about 58 miles southwest of Birmingham. Well connected to other parts of the state, Tuscaloosa is served by several highways, including Interstates 20 and 59; U.S. Routes 11, 43, and 82; and Alabama State Highways 69, 215, and 215.

The city's name is derived from two Choctaw Indian words, tushka (meaning "warrior") and lusa (meaning "black"). Incorporated in 1819, Tuscaloosa served as the Alabama state capital from 1826 until 1846, at which time it was replaced by the more centrally-located city of Montgomery. The state university was established in Tuscaloosa in 1827 and began operations in 1831. To this day, the University remains the dominant economic and cultural force in the city. The city is also home to Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and houses the first Mercedes-Benz automotive assembly plant in North America and the world's only Mercedes-Benz Museum outside of Germany.

Things to do in Tuscaloosa

Visitors to Tuscaloosa can choose from a variety of attractions including several parks, galleries, museums, historic sites, and recreational facilities. Most of the city's museums can be found downtown or on the University campus. Some of the more popular are: the Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center & Museum, the Alabama Museum of Natural History, the Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa, the Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art, the Battle-Friedman House & Gardens, the Murphy African-American Museum, and the Paul W. "Bear" Bryant Museum. Other area museums include the Jones Archaeological Museum and the Moundville Archaeological Park, both located in Moundville, about 15 miles south of Tuscaloosa. Performing arts are presented by the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, the String Quartet Society of Tuscaloosa, the Tuscaloosa Community Singers, the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, Dance Alabama!, the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, and the Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre.

Recreational sites in and near Tuscaloosa include: Lake Tuscaloosa, a source of the city's domestic and industrial water also used for recreational activities including boating, swimming and fishing; Lake Lurleen State Park, named after Alabama's only female governor, Lurleen Wallace, the wife of former Governor George Wallace; and Oliver Lake. Annual events in Tuscaloosa include Heritage Week (held in late March or early April) and the Sakura Festival (held every March). Family fun can be had at the Alabama Adventure Theme Park, located only 35 minutes from Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa is a hotbed of collegiate sports, particularly University of Alabama athletics. Every fall, the nation's eyes focus on the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, where 'Bama's Crimson Tide football team plays its games. The Tide has won 12 national titles, tying the University of Notre Dame for the most in college football history. Alabama U also has the most Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, the most bowl appearances, and the most bowl wins of any team in college football. The University also fields championship caliber programs in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's softball, and women's gymnastics.

There are no major league pro teams in Alabama, but Tuscaloosa is home to a World Basketball Association (WBA) team, the Druid City Dragons. Nearby Birmingham, about an hour away, has three minor-league professional teams: the Birmingham Barons, a Minor League Baseball Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox; the Birmingham Magicians, a basketball team in the American Basketball Association (ABA); and the Birmingham Steeldogs, a team in Arena Football 2 (minor league affiliated with the Arena Football League).

Demographics

People

Total Population98,881
Male Share of the Population47.6%
Female Share of the Population52.4%
Senior Citizens11.7%
Employed Population 16+42,179
Age of the Population29

Families

% of people married32%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher27.8%
Median Earnings25+$33,305
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,306
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,011

Wealth

Median Family Income$59,587
% Above Poverty Level75.8%
% Below Poverty Level24.2%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time19 minutes
% Working from Home4.2%
% Walking and Biking to Work2.8%
% Using Public Transportation0.3%

Housing

People Living Alone34.7%
Median Gross Rent$843
Median House Value$173,900

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)50.8%
Irish6.2%
German5.7%
English5.2%
Italian2.1%
Scottish1.9%
French Except Basque1.3%
Polish1.1%
African1%
Dutch0.6%
Swedish0.5%
Arab0.4%
Norwegian0.3%
Welsh0.3%
Greek0.3%
Lithuanian0.2%
Russian0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
West Indian0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Swiss0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Hungarian0.1%
Austrian0.1%
Australian0.1%
Lebanese0.1%
Canadian0.1%
Czech0.1%
Finnish0.1%
Danishn0.1%
Romanian0.1%
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Tuscaloosa Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyTuscaloosa County
Standard Zip Codes35401, 35406, 35404, 35405
P.O. Box Zip Codes35402, 35407, 35486, 35403, 35485
Company Zip Codes35487
Phone Area Codes205
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude33.17
Approximate Longitude-87.62

Tuscaloosa Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationTUSCALOOSA OLIVER DAM
Distance1.8 miles
Jan Temp33 to 53 F
Apr Temp49 to 74 F
Jul Temp70 to 91 F
Oct Temp51 to 76 F
Annual Precip54.9 inches
StationBESSEMER 3 WSW
Distance35.4 miles
Jan Temp31 to 55 F
Apr Temp48 to 76 F
Jul Temp68 to 94 F
Oct Temp49 to 77 F
Annual Precip59.3 inches
StationFAYETTE
Distance35.7 miles
Jan Temp31 to 53 F
Apr Temp47 to 75 F
Jul Temp69 to 92 F
Oct Temp47 to 76 F
Annual Precip58.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Brookwood2,192$63,843
Coaling1,635$72,763
Coker682$79,583
Moundville2,774$59,583
Northport25,457$75,519
Vance1,732$86,333

Tuscaloosa Public Libraries

Tuscaloosa Public Library
1801 JACK WARNER PARKWAY
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
(205) 345-5820

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More Information for Librarians

Tuscaloosa Hospitals

Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(Government - District/authority)
3701 Loop Road East
(205) 554-2000
Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility
(Proprietary)
1301 Jack Warner Parkway N.e.
(205) 556-7060
Bryce Hospital
(Government - State)
200 University Boulevard
(205) 759-0750
Dch Regional Medical Center
(Government - District/authority)
809 University Boulevard East
(205) 759-7111
Noland Hospital Tuscaloosa, Llc
809 University Blvd East, 4th Floor
(205) 759-7241
Mary S. Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center
201 University Boulevard
(205) 759-0900

Tuscaloosa Public Schools

Central High Sch
905 15th Street
ZIP: 35401
High
Total Enrollment 690
Central Primary Sch
1510 Dinah Washington Ave
ZIP: 35401
Primary
Total Enrollment 355
Martin L King Jr Elem Sch
2430 Martin L King Jr Blvd
ZIP: 35401
Primary
Total Enrollment 433
Night High School
1715 Martin Luther King Jr,blv
ZIP: 35401
Oak Hill Sch
3834 21st Street
ZIP: 35401
Other
Total Enrollment 37
Oakdale Primary Sch
5001 25th Street
ZIP: 35401
Primary
Total Enrollment 278
Tuscaloosa Ctr Tech
2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Bo
ZIP: 35401
High
Univ Place Elem Sch
2000 First Avenue
ZIP: 35401
Primary
Total Enrollment 415
University Place Middle School
2010 First Ave
ZIP: 35401
Middle
Total Enrollment 124
Westlawn Middle Sch
1715 Martin L King Jr Blvd
ZIP: 35401
Middle
Total Enrollment 445
Alberta Elem Sch
315 Mcfarland Blvd. E.
ZIP: 35404
Primary
Total Enrollment 294
Arcadia Elem Sch
3740 Arcadia Dr
ZIP: 35404
Primary
Total Enrollment 339
Holt Elem Sch
1001 Crescent Ridge Road
ZIP: 35404
Primary
Total Enrollment 510
Northington Elem Sch
1300 21st St E
ZIP: 35404
Primary
Total Enrollment 421
Tuscaloosa Magnet Sch - Elem
315 Mcfarland Blvd E
ZIP: 35404
Primary
Total Enrollment 290
Tuscaloosa Magnet Sch - Middle
315 Mcfarland Blvd E
ZIP: 35404
Middle
Total Enrollment 154
Tuscaloosa Middle Sch
315 Mcfarland Blvd E
ZIP: 35404
Englewood Elem Sch
10300 Old Greensboro Rd
ZIP: 35405
Primary
Total Enrollment 479
Hillcrest High Sch
300 Patriot Pkwy
ZIP: 35405
High
Total Enrollment 1312
Hillcrest Middle Sch
401 Hillcrest School Rd
ZIP: 35405
Middle
Total Enrollment 573
Skyland Elem Sch
408 Skyland Blvd East
ZIP: 35405
Primary
Total Enrollment 393
Southview Elem Sch
2601 Southview Drive
ZIP: 35405
Primary
Total Enrollment 512
Southview Middle School
2605 Southview Drive
ZIP: 35405
Middle
Total Enrollment 405
Taylorville Primary Sch
350 Bobby Miller Pkwy
ZIP: 35405
Primary
Total Enrollment 548
Tusc Reg Det Ctr
6001 12th Avenue East
ZIP: 35405
High
Woodland Forrest Elem Sch
6001 E Hargrove Rd E.
ZIP: 35405
Primary
Total Enrollment 398
Northridge High Sch
2901 Northridge Rd.
ZIP: 35406
High
Total Enrollment 1270
Rock Quarry Elem Sch
2000 Rock Quarry Dr
ZIP: 35406
Primary
Total Enrollment 535
Rock Quary Middle School
2100 Rock Quarry Drive
ZIP: 35406
Middle
Total Enrollment 515
Verner Elem Sch
2701 Northridge Rd
ZIP: 35406
Primary
Total Enrollment 522

Tuscaloosa Private Schools

The Capitol School
2828 6th St
ZIP: 35401
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 94
Upperroom Deliverance Center
4103 Greensboro Ave
ZIP: 35401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 9
American Christian Academy
2300 Veterans Memorial Pkwy
ZIP: 35404
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 798
Holy Spirit Catholic Regional School
601 James I Harrison Jr Pkwy E
ZIP: 35405
Secondary
Total Enrollment 245
North River Christian Academy
1785 Mcfarland Blvd N
ZIP: 35406
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 151
Tuscaloosa Academy
420 Rice Valley Rd N
ZIP: 35406
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 372
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