View source for Lipscomb, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Lipscomb
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Jefferson County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lipscomb Highlighted 0143336.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Lipscomb in Jefferson County, Alabama.
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Alabama}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson]]
<!-- Government -->
|established_date         = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 3.05
|area_land_km2            = 3.05
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.18
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.18
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 2086
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 1773.81
|population_density_km2   = 684.84
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 545
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|25|34|N|86|55|34|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = 
|postal_code              = 
|area_codes               = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205 & 659]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-43336
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2404936<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404936}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Lipscomb''' is a city in south central [[Jefferson County, Alabama]]. It is part of the [[Birmingham, Alabama, metropolitan area]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 2,086.

It does not have its own U.S. Post Office or [[ZIP code]], instead sharing the [[Bessemer, Alabama|Bessemer]] ZIP code (35020).

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 1605
|1930= 1774
|1940= 1740
|1950= 2550
|1960= 2811
|1970= 3225
|1980= 3741
|1990= 2892
|2000= 2458
|2010= 2210
|2020= 2086
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 10, 2013}}</ref>
| align = right
}}

===Racial and ethnic composition===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lipscomb city, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lipscomb city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0143336&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lipscomb city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0143336&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lipscomb city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0143336&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|774
|404
|style='background: #ffffe6; |273
|31.49%
|18.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.09%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,612
|1,336
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,289
|65.58%
|60.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.79%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|7
|17
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.28%
|0.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.04%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.12%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.00%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|6
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |65
|0.24%
|0.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.12%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|55
|436
|style='background: #ffffe6; |449
|2.24%
|19.73%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21.52%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,458'''
|'''2,210'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''2,086 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Lipscomb had a population of 2,086. There were 824 households and 391 families. The median age was 37.5 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A43336&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 14, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A43336&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=March 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 824 households in Lipscomb, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 23.3% were married-couple households, 22.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 48.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 963 housing units, of which 14.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 2,210 people, 812 households, and 554 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|2,009.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 950 housing units at an average density of {{convert|863.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 61.0% Black or African American, 22.0% White, 1.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 15.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 19.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 812 households 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 27.6% of households were one person and 12.4% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.31.

The age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% 65 or older.  The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income was $27,600 and the median family income  was $45,000. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $19,965 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,892. About 13.5% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 2,458 people, 901 households, and 634 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|2,163.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,108 housing units at an average density of {{convert|975.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 32.55% White, 65.58% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races.  2.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 901 households 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 9.8% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.35.

The age distribution was 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% 65 or older.  The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median household income was $30,865 and the median family income  was $35,556. Males had a median income of $26,908 versus $21,150 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,582.  About 15.9% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

==History==
The city of Lipscomb was first incorporated on June 30, 1910, and was named for L. Y. Lipscomb, one of three brothers who first settled in the area in 1885. As early as the 1880s, the community was called Wheeling and the town had 200-300 residents by 1906.  The community was originally named after [[Wheeling, West Virginia]] because the owners of [[Woodward Iron Company]], who employed many of the residents, also had business interests in that state.
Y. L. Lipscomb ran a general store on the old South Bessemer car line which opened in 1890, though the first settlers actually came to the area in the 1830s, when Vincent Loveless established his farm in the area. The first church was established in the area in June 1834 when a log structure was built named Union Baptist Church which sat on the site of the present church.<ref>The Birmingham District, An Industrial History and Guide, page 209, published 1981, Marjorie L. White</ref>

==Government==
The town's major source of revenue is an illegal [[Bingo (American version)|bingo]] hall that has been repeatedly shut by state authorities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bryant |first1=Joseph |title=Bingo battle leaves Alabama town with no money and services shut down |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2024/11/bingo-battle-leaves-alabama-town-in-crisis-with-no-money-and-services-shut-down.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |date=23 November 2024}}</ref>

==Notable person==
*[[Virginia Hill]] was a [[Chicago Outfit]] [[courier]] and was famous for being the steady girlfriend of mobster [[Bugsy Siegel]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Jefferson County, Alabama}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1910]]