Troy, Alabama
Troy, Alabama | |||
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County seat and City | |||
From top to bottom left to right: Historic Downtown Square of Troy, Trojan Water Tower, the 1881 steam locomotive at Pioneer Museum of Alabama, a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra in Bicentennial Park, Hawkins Hall, and Terracotta Warrior replicas at Troy University. | |||
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Nickname(s): T-Town, T-Roy | |||
Motto(s): "A Wonderful Place to Live!" | |||
Location of Troy in Pike County, Alabama. | |||
Troy, Alabama Location in the United States | |||
Coordinates: 31°48′32″N 85°58′12″W / 31.80889°N 85.97000°W / 31.80889; -85.97000Coordinates: 31°48′32″N 85°58′12″W / 31.80889°N 85.97000°W / 31.80889; -85.97000[1] | |||
Country | United States | ||
State | Alabama | ||
County | Pike | ||
Founded | 1838 | ||
Incorporated | 1843 | ||
Government | |||
• Type | Mayor-Council | ||
• Mayor | Jason Reeves | ||
Area [2] | |||
• Total | 28.29 sq mi (73.28 km2) | ||
• Land | 28.22 sq mi (73.08 km2) | ||
• Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) | ||
Elevation [1] | 541 ft (165 m) | ||
Population (2010) | |||
• Total | 18,033 | ||
• Estimate (2017)[3] | 19,037 | ||
• Density | 674.66/sq mi (260.49/km2) | ||
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
ZIP codes | 36079, 36081, 36082 | ||
Area code | 334 Exchanges: 566,670,807,808 | ||
FIPS code | 01-76920[1] | ||
GNIS feature ID | 0153725[1] | ||
Website | www.troyal.gov |
Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States.[1] The city is the county seat of Pike County.[4] It was formally incorporated on February 4, 1843.[5]
Between the years of 1763 and 1783, the area where Troy sits was part of the colony of British West Florida.[6] After 1783 the region fell under the jurisdiction of the newly created United States of America.
As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,033. The 2016 estimated population was 19,191.[7] The City of Troy is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama.[8] Troy is a college town and is home to Troy University, the third-largest university in total enrollment in the state of Alabama.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Pre-Civil War
1.2 During Civil War
1.3 Post-Civil War
2 Geography
3 Climate
4 Demographics
5 Education
5.1 Primary and secondary schools
5.1.1 Public schools
5.1.2 Private schools
5.2 Higher education
6 Culture
6.1 TroyFest
6.2 Troy Pioneer Days
6.3 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival
6.4 Alabama Torch Run for Special Olympics
7 Economy
7.1 Major employers
7.2 Employers
8 Government
9 Infrastructure
9.1 Medical Centers
9.2 Transportation
9.2.1 Bus services
9.2.2 Airports
9.2.3 Highways
9.2.4 Rail
10 Media
10.1 In popular culture
10.2 Newspaper
10.3 Radio stations
10.4 Television stations
11 Notable people
12 Points of interest
13 Gallery
14 References
15 External links
History
Pre-Civil War
For many centuries, the area in and around Troy was settled by different tribes of Native Americans, but became primarily known for its Muskogee Creek presence. Most Creek tribes lived along rivers or streams at that time. Near the Troy area, many Native Americans settled around the Conecuh River and the Pea River.
Between the years of 1763 and 1783, the area where Troy would eventually be established was part of the colony of British West Florida.[6] After 1783 the region fell under the jurisdiction of the newly created United States of America. In 1819 the State of Alabama was admitted to the Union and was soon organized into counties. The county that Troy was eventually founded in, known as Pike County, was one of the first counties established in Alabama. It comprised a large tract of country, so large that it was called the "State of Pike", which included parts of what are now Crenshaw, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, and Barbour counties, and extended to the Chattahoochee River on the east.[9]
After Pike County's borders were resized, the land that would later become Troy was settled in the early 1830s. Originally known as Deer Stand Hill (an Indian hunting ground) which was first settled about 1824, it was later known as Zebulon and then Centreville before being renamed Troy in 1838. Troy became the county seat that same year after a new county courthouse was built in the city, replacing the previous county seat town of Monticello. The court met in local stores until the courthouse was built in 1839. In 1880, this structure was torn down and rebuilt as an opera house, which was also eventually torn down. A brick courthouse was erected in 1880.[10] A hotel and taverns along with small mercantile stores were soon created, quickly making the new town the social center of the county. Unfortunately, the town of Troy completely burned down in 1901 after a devastating fire, and had to be rebuilt. The courthouse, originally in the center of the town square, was demolished because of fire damage and relocated one block away just outside of the town square.
To promote movement of settlers and to speed mail from Washington City to New Orleans, the Federal Road was laid out after 1805. In 1824, a military road was laid out from Fort Barrancas in Pensacola, Florida and ran on top of the ridges to Fort Mitchell in Russell County, Alabama, and connected to The Federal Road. Captain Daniel E. Burch of the U.S. Army marked the route using three notches on trees for a crew under Lt. Elias Phillips to follow. The route was eventually cleared in 1824 at a cost of $1,130. It follows the ridge dividing the water sheds of the Conecuh River to the northwest, and the Yellow River and Pea River to the southeast. This road became known as the Three Notch Road and ran through Troy and Pike County. While never being highly needed as a military supply road, it became a boon to the settlers who used it to move into south-central and southeast Alabama and into northwest Florida.
During this time, tensions began to rise between the local Creek Indians and the European settlers that were moving into the area. As settlers began to force their way onto Creek lands and push the Indians out, the Creeks began to retaliate; first in small factions, then in larger factions. During this time, the Second Indian War was beginning to rage in the Southeastern United States.
Battle of Hobdy's Bridge
On February 10, 1837, the Battle of Hobdy's Bridge occurred after a force of over 100 American militiamen under Captain Jack Cooper intercepted about 75 Creek Indians making their way to Florida. After locating the site of the Creek camp, the militia divided into two groups to converge on the refugees by surprise.
A brief fight ensued upon their approach, which centered around two fallen trees the Creeks had used as a natural breastwork. The creeks, being extremely low on ammunition, fired nails instead of bullets from the muskets they possessed. The militiamen eventually overran their position and captured the camp, wherein they found items recently plundered from area plantations. Exact casualties are unknown, but it is believed four or five Creeks and perhaps one American were killed. Though stripped of their supplies, the Creeks managed to continue their flight even as they continued to skirmish with other American troops. Near the Florida border, they retaliated by killing two American settlers.[11]
Battle of Pea River
In of the last battles of the Second Creek War, on March 27, 1837, the Battle of Pea River occurred roughly 17 miles to the east of Troy, where the Pea River and Pea Creek converge near Hobdy's Bridge. A force of over 250 combined Alabama and Georgia militiamen led under General William Wellborn tracked a party of about 400 Creek fugitives that included men, women, and children. The Creeks, angry that the land that had been promised to them was being taken from them by local settlers by violent force, responded by burning local homes and plantations along the Pea River swamp. The Three Notch Trail that traversed through Troy was also considered dangerous at this point, as local Creek Indians around the area were turning violent and burning and looting houses along the stretch. The path of the Creeks had become easy to find due to the several looted and burned plantations they had left behind them as they moved south. After finding their temporary camp in a nearby swamp, General Wellborn divided his command into two wings to encircle the Creeks. He personally commanded one wing, and placed the other under Colonel Jefferson Buford. The Creeks detected the approach, however, and attacked and scattered Buford's wing.
When Wellborn's command neared the camp, trudging through waist-high water, gunfire could be heard erupting further down the river. Wellborn ordered his men through the mud and water at a full run. Upon encountering the Creeks downstream, a fierce four-hour battle began on opposite sides of a nearby lagoon. The Creek warriors, many of whom were later found to have been using bullets made of melted pewter plates, made several unsuccessful charges on the militia's line before being overrun. Records from some of the participants in the battle reported that some of the Creek women and children also took up arms to fight, raining showers of rifle balls and arrows on the militiamen. In one case, two of the Creek women attacked a member of the militia with knives. Unable to defeat the desperate Creeks with gunfire alone, Wellborn finally ordered a direct charge on their lines. The tactic worked as many of the Creeks fled to their encampment to carry off their children, some even swimming the river in order to flee. The fighting then devolved into a massacre in which at least fifty Creek men, women and children were killed and an unknown number captured. The Creek survivors continued their flight south in small groups. According to some reports, some of the captured Creeks were enslaved by local planters. Only five Americans were killed, among them General Wellborn's teenage son, James H. Wellborn.[11]
In winning the Battle of Pea River & Pea Creek, Wellborn had defeated the refugee Creeks but had failed to surround and capture all of them as he had hoped. Instead they fled south down the Pea River to its confluence with the Choctawhatchee and continued across the line into Florida. Furious at their treatment, they continued to battle the whites for years to come.[12]
During Civil War
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the small village of Troy had a population of around 600. The 57th Alabama Infantry Regiment of Troy was formed in 1863. The group of soldiers from that regiment fought at the Battle of Peachtree Creek on July 20, 1864.
Troy was mostly spared from the ravages of the war, except that its sons were dying on battlefields throughout the South. On April 26, 1865, a brigade of Union cavalry under the command of General Benjamin Henry Grierson camped outside of Troy. These soldiers moved on to Louisville, Clayton and Eufaula the next day without incident. However, roughly 20 miles east of Troy at the Pike County border, the Skirmish at Hobdy's Bridge, what some consider the last battle of the Civil War, took place on May 19, 1865.
Skirmish at Hobdy's Bridge
A detachment of Union soldiers from the 1st Florida U.S. Cavalry had been sent from Montgomery to Eufaula to escort a mail shipment through the unsettled regions of eastern Alabama. General Robert E. Lee had already surrendered and Wilson's Raid had just devastated the region, but there were still many former Confederate soldiers were drifting through the region trying to get home, which presented a threat.
A mail escort, commanded by Lt. Joseph Carroll of the Union Army, left Montgomery on May 11, 1865, and reached Eufaula without difficulty. The total strength of the detachment was only 25 men, but because all seemed quiet, Carroll decided to spend a few days in Eufaula to rest his horses. Since some of his men were natives of the area, he granted them short leaves to go and visit their families. The entire detachment was to reassemble at Hobdy's Bridge over the Pea River on May 19, 1865.
After many of his men dispersed to their homes, however, Carroll learned that a party of pro-Confederate "guerrillas" had been seen in the area. The identity of this unit, if it had an identity, is unknown, but at about the same time General Alexander Asboth in Pensacola reported that several companies of cavalry made up of "unrepentant rebels" were still active in the Alabama and Florida borderlands.
Upon receiving this intelligence, Carroll decided to return to Montgomery as quickly as possible and crossed Hobdy's Bridge with the main body of his detachment two days before the appointed rendezvous. The other men of his command, at home and visiting their families, had no way to know of his decision to leave early or of the danger they faced.
According to military records, the remaining Union soldiers gathered at Hobdy's Bridge as ordered on the morning of May 19, 1865, only to learn that Carroll and the main body were already gone. Turning their horses onto the long wooden bridge over Pea River, the cavalrymen started off to follow their commander's route. Unfortunately, they rode straight into a group of Confederate rebel guerillas.
Three Union soldiers were wounded in the fight, and one Confederate soldier was killed. The lone soldier killed in the Skirmish at Hobdy's Bridge was identified as Corporal John W. Skinner of Company C, 1st Florida U.S. Cavalry. He was killed in action six days after Private John J. Williams of the 34th Indiana, who died at Battle of Palmito Ranch and is generally said to have been the last man killed in the Civil War. That sad distinction actually belongs to Corporal Skinner, who died on the wooden planks of Hobdy's Bridge in Alabama.
Post-Civil War
During the Reconstruction Era after the end of the Civil War, Troy began to see new railroads and roads converging into the city. After the completion of the Mobile & Girard Railroad in 1870, Troy saw a quick spike in population. One of the many to have made the journey to Troy was Jeremiah Augustus "Gus" Henderson. Having owned a large store in nearby Gainers Store (now known as Henderson), he found it difficult to transport and receive shipments by wagon. In 1869, Henry moved his mercantile store to nearby Troy to be closer to the Mobile and Girard Railroad. One of his sons, Charles Henderson, would soon be the governor of Alabama and a large contributor to Troy.
Troy would see a quick period of growth in the following years. There was rapid growth outside of the Troy downtown square, consisting of factories, churches, stores, and Victorian-style houses. Many of the early houses, churches, and cemeteries dating back to this era can still be found in the College Street Historic District, just on the edge of Historic Downtown Troy. Many of the buildings in the 2-block area date from as early as the 1870s. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 1976.
In 1887, a group of local educators and prominent citizens of Troy joined together to acquire a state normal school (teacher training school) for Troy. Thanks mostly to the efforts of Ariosto A. Wiley, a powerful state senator who was born in Troy, the city won the education prize over Lowndesboro, Alabama, which had also wanted a normal school. The school, which was to be known as Troy Normal School, was eventually constructed and completed in 1887 in downtown Troy on a four-acre campus.
This school, which went on to become Troy University, had a stormy early history and was lucky to have survived in its cramped downtown location. Its survival was assured when the third president of the college, Edward Madison Shackelford, led the movement from downtown to its present site starting in 1924. In 1929, the name was changed to Troy State Teacher's College. The name was again changed in 1957 to Troy State College in order to reflect the expanded educational offerings of the school. The college would undergo yet another name change in 1967, being called Troy State University until reaching its current namesake, Troy University, in 2005.
During the late 1800s into the early 1900s, Troy experienced steady growth thanks to the multiple factories, railroads, and the college.
Geography
Troy is located at 31°48′32″N 85°58′12″W / 31.80889°N 85.97000°W / 31.80889; -85.97000 (31.808768, -85.969951).[1] It is in the East Gulf Coastal Plains region of Alabama. It is located along the Troy Cuesta ridge, which runs across the state from east to west and is the boundary that separates the Chunnenuggee Hills and Southern Red Hills geographical boundaries. Elevations commonly reach 400 feet (120 m) in these hills and can reach up to 500 feet (150 m) in some areas. About 40 miles (64 km) north of Troy near the Montgomery area, the Chunnenuggee Hills region ends and the flat Black Prairie region begins, commonly known as the Black Belt region. About 60 miles (97 km) south of Troy in the Dothan area, the Southern Red Hills region ends and the Dougherty Plains region begins. Map
Much of the region consists of pine forests. Most tree species found in the area are pine, hickory, oak, pecan, and poplars. The 231-mile (372 km) long Conecuh River flows at the northern end of Troy. A 45-acre (180,000 m2) lake called Pike County Lake is located at the southern end of Troy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68 km2), of which 26.2 square miles (68 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.34%) is water.
Climate
Troy's climate is described as humid subtropical using Köppen climate classification. Troy is typical of areas along the Gulf of Mexico in that it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. (See table below for average temperatures for Troy.)
During the summer and fall, Troy is occasionally affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. The most recent major hurricanes to affect Troy have been Hurricane Opal, Hurricane Ivan, and Hurricane Katrina. Thunderstorms occur throughout the summer, but are most severe in the spring and fall, when destructive winds and tornadoes occasionally occur.
The late winter months will occasionally bring very small sleet/snow showers, with a significant snow storm happening rarely. Deep winter is occasionally accompanied by a tornado touching down in the county. The last deep winter tornado touched down in the county on Christmas Day, 2012. The last two big snow events to affect Troy were part of the 2010 Southern Snow event and 1993 Storm of the Century.
Climate data for Troy, Alabama (Troy Municipal Airport, 1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °F (°C) | 56.6 (13.7) | 60.9 (16.1) | 69.0 (20.6) | 76.6 (24.8) | 83.0 (28.3) | 88.5 (31.4) | 90.0 (32.2) | 89.6 (32) | 86.1 (30.1) | 77.5 (25.3) | 68.2 (20.1) | 59.9 (15.5) | 75.5 (24.2) |
Average low °F (°C) | 34.6 (1.4) | 37.0 (2.8) | 43.9 (6.6) | 51.6 (10.9) | 59.3 (15.2) | 66.1 (18.9) | 69.1 (20.6) | 69.1 (20.6) | 64.9 (18.3) | 53.2 (11.8) | 44.2 (6.8) | 37.7 (3.2) | 52.6 (11.4) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.7 (120) | 5.1 (130) | 6.2 (160) | 4.1 (100) | 3.7 (90) | 4.4 (110) | 5.8 (150) | 4.0 (100) | 3.4 (90) | 2.5 (60) | 3.9 (100) | 4.9 (120) | 52.8 (1,340) |
Source: NOAA [13] |
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1850 | 600 | — | |
1870 | 1,058 | — | |
1880 | 2,294 | 116.8% | |
1890 | 3,449 | 50.3% | |
1900 | 4,097 | 18.8% | |
1910 | 4,961 | 21.1% | |
1920 | 5,696 | 14.8% | |
1930 | 6,814 | 19.6% | |
1940 | 7,055 | 3.5% | |
1950 | 8,555 | 21.3% | |
1960 | 10,234 | 19.6% | |
1970 | 11,482 | 12.2% | |
1980 | 13,124 | 14.3% | |
1990 | 13,051 | −0.6% | |
2000 | 13,935 | 6.8% | |
2010 | 18,033 | 29.4% | |
Est. 2017 | 19,037 | [3] | 5.6% |
U.S. Decennial Census[14] 2013 Estimate[15] |
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,003 people, 7,844 households, and 3,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 531.1 people per square mile (205.0/km²). There were 6,436 housing units at an average density of 245.3 per square mile (94.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.00% White, 39.01% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 3.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,844 households out of which 20.34% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.30% under the age of 18, 21.97% from 20 to 24, 12.30% from 25 to 34, 14.04% from 35 to 49, 13.68% who were 50 to 64, and 10.05% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. Of the reported population, 78.2% were born in the state of Alabama. The percentage of foreign-born residents was 2.8% and 16.2% of those individuals were naturalized citizens.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,352, and the median income for a family was $39,601. Males had a median income of $29,190 versus $20,368 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,589. About 17.7% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 19.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
- Charles Henderson High School
- Charles Henderson Middle School
- Troy Elementary School
- Troy-Pike Center for Technology
Private schools
- Pike Liberal Arts School
- Covenant Christian School
- Collegedale Christian School
- New Life Christian Academy
Higher education
- Troy University
Culture
Troy was selected as the 2010 Corporate Investment and Community Impact Award Winner by Trade and Industry Development, describing Troy as being on the cutting edge of economic development.
Troy was also listed as one of "The Top 50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever" by CollegeRanker.com in 2016.[16]
TroyFest
Originally called the Jean Lake Memorial Art Show, this arts festival was started in 1982 and has been an annual attraction since. Named for Jean Lake, a popular Southern artist who was from Troy, the festival is held in the downtown square of Troy yearly, combining local art shows and showcasing the region's best artists. In 2001, TroyFest was named the "Official Year of Alabama Art Event." Today the festival continues to be recognized as a top emerging art show by many art show review publications and is a "Top 10 Event by the Alabama Bureau of Travel and Tourism." The artwork of Jean Lake is still exhibited all over the world today. She continues to be recognized as the namesake of the festival and the exclusive scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school senior pursuing the arts.[17]
Troy Pioneer Days
Every year, the Pioneer Museum of Alabama hosts Troy Pioneer Days. This event features horse and wagon rides, trips on the Pioneer Express, and Native American camps with demonstrations of candle-making, spinning, weaving, quilt-making, blacksmithing, drum, and dance.[18]
Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival
Started in 2006, the festival traditionally features some of the top storytellers in the country. Performers that have routinely taken part in the annual festival include nationally known storytellers such as Donald Davis, Kevin Kling, Carmen Agra Deedy, Elizabeth Ellis, Andy Offutt Irwin, Bil Lepp, and Kathryn Tucker Windham. The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival features pre-show music by traditional musicians prior to each storytelling concert, featuring different generes like bluegrass, country, jazz, and Southern gospel music. The festival opens at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge, Alabama before moving to the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University for three storytelling concerts.[19]
Alabama Torch Run for Special Olympics
The Alabama Law Enforcement Torch Run is held every May to coincide with the Alabama Special Olympics State Games. The run starts out in north Alabama on Thursday and then makes its way south, stopping in the Birmingham area overnight and then on to Montgomery and Troy. The State Games Opening Ceremony convenes on Friday evening in Troy University's Veterans Memorial Stadium. The event features the Flame of Hope being carried into the stadium by members of the agencies that participate in the Cops on Top fund-raising campaign. Over 50 uniformed officers and deputies form a rank along the front of the stage as the Flame passes through.
Economy
Major employers
- Troy University
Walmart Distribution Center- City of Troy
- CGI Group
Lockheed Martin Operations Facility- Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- Wayne Farms
- AirTek Inc.
- Troy Regional Medical Center
- Horn Beverage Company, a Budweiser distribution facility
- HB&G Architectural Columns
- Sanders Lead Company
- Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc.
- KW Plastics
- Golden Boy Foods, Ltd.
- Southern Classic Food Group
- Supreme Oil Company
- TroyCable
- Kimber Firearms & Manufacturing
- Rex Lumber Co.
- Conecuh Ridge Whiskey Distillery
Employers
The largest employers in the Troy micropolitan area are Troy University, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, CGI Group, the Wal-Mart distribution center in nearby Brundidge, Alabama, and the various branches of Sanders Lead, Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, and KW Plastics operations. Troy University's main campus, located in Troy, employs approximately 700 faculty and staff.
Government
Troy operates under a mayor-council government system. The city is served by a mayor, who is elected at-large, and a five-member city council which is composed of five single-member districts. Former mayor, Jimmy C. Lunsford, was elected to his first term in 1985. He won re-election each year since until his retirement in 2012, and is the longest-serving mayor in Troy history.
The current mayor of Troy is Jason Reeves.
Infrastructure
Medical Centers
- Troy Regional Medical Center
- Charles Henderson Child Health Center
- SARHA Doctors Center
- Pike Internal Medicine
Transportation
Bus services
Troy and Pike County offer various bus transportation services:
- Greyhound Lines Bus Station
- Pike County Transportation System (operates on weekdays by pre-reservation only)
Troy University Transportation System (for university students and employees only)
Airports
Approximately 5 miles north of Troy is the Troy Municipal Airport, which can accommodate private aircraft but not commercial flights. Most travelers use the nearby Montgomery Regional Airport, which is located 51 miles to the north and is served by two commercial airlines, the Dothan Regional Airport, which is located 50 miles to the southeast and is served by one commercial airline. Troy is about 2.5 hours north by highway from the major Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, and about 3 hours southwest by highway from the major Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The airport was originally opened in 1942 during World War II as an auxiliary air field to Maxwell Air Force Base in nearby Montgomery, Alabama. The air field has since been designated as a general aviation airport. The tower and radar facilities are currently run by U.S. Army air traffic controllers. The airport allows for private jets to fly in, and is dominated by student pilots flying TH-67 helicopters from nearby Fort Rucker.
Highways
The nearest interstates to Troy are Interstate 65, which is located 40 miles west of Troy, and Interstate 85, which is 45 miles north. Troy is also served by two major U.S highways. U.S highway 231 is the city's main thoroughfare, which connects nearby Montgomery, Alabama to Panama City Beach, Florida. U.S 29 which travels through Downtown Troy known as Historic Three Notch Street. Troy is served by three state routes Alabama Highway 87, 167, and 10.
U.S. Routes:
U.S. Route 231
U.S. Route 29
State Routes:
State Route 87
State Route 167
Rail
Rail service for freight is provided by Conecuh Valley Railroad and CSX.
Media
In popular culture
Troy was the filming location of the Kid Rock song "Redneck Paradise", featuring Hank Williams Jr.. Both music artists have residences in Troy. The bar scene in the music video was shot at the Double Branch Bar in Troy, which has existed for over 50 years.
During the early years of the bar, Hank Williams Sr.'s band, the Drifting Cowboys, could be seen there. In the 1960s, Billboard Hot 100 artist Bobby Purify of James & Bobby Purify took the stage at the Double Branch. Dean Daughtry from Classics IV was seen playing the bar in the 1970s among other well-known artists.[citation needed]
Newspaper
Troy Messenger (one of the oldest newspapers in Alabama, established 1866.)
The Tropolitan (Troy University paper.)
Radio stations
WTBF (FM)/94.7 Talk/Personality/Oldies
WZHT (FM)/105.7 Urban Contemporary/Hip-Hop
WAXU (FM)/91.1 Christian
WTSU (FM)/89.9 Classical music
WTBF (AM)/970 Talk/Personality
Television stations
- WIYC
- Troy TrojanVision
- Studio 52
Notable people
Hank Williams Jr., American country singer, songwriter and musician. Son of Hank Williams.
Kid Rock, American singer, rapper, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor.
J. Richard Blankenship, former United States Ambassador to the Bahamas.
Major General Gwen Bingham, commander of the White Sands Missile Range.
John Crawley, jurist.
Willie Davenport, Olympic medalist in athletics.
Bobby Jon Drinkard, television personality.
William J. Dyess, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Jesse Hill Ford, Southern literature writer.
Cornelius Griffin, former NFL defensive tackle.
Charles Henderson, 35th governor of Alabama.
Fox Henderson, businessman and banking entrepreneur.
Fred Nall Hollis, artist.
Manuel H. Johnson, economist.
John Lewis, American Civil Rights leader and U.S. Representative.
William Lundy, claimed to be one of the last living Confederate veterans of the American Civil War.
C. Steven McMillan, CEO of Sara Lee Corporation from 2000 to 2005.
Brian Meadows, Major League Baseball player.
Max Rafferty, academic.
Chad Griffin, AMT 2, US Coast Guard.
Jean Sasson, author.
Clarence "Pine Top" Smith, inventor of boogie woogie music; pianist.
Art Stringer, former linebacker for the Houston Oilers.
Henry A. Wiley, chief operational officer and highest-ranking officer in the United States Navy in the late 1930s.
Oliver C. Wiley, U.S. Representative.
Points of interest
- Troy University
- College Street Historic District
- Troy University Arboretum & Pocosin Nature Preserve
- Pioneer Museum of Alabama
- National Band Association Hall of Fame
- Conecuh Ridge Whiskey Distillery
- Conecuh River Depot Military Museum
- Johnson Center for the Arts
- Troy University International Art Center
- Pike County Lake & Fishing Dock
- Heart of Dixie Trail Ride
- Butter & Egg Adventures
- Trojan Oaks Golf Course
- Mossy Grove Schoolhouse Restaurant
- Town Square Confederate Memorial Monument
- Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center
- The Party Pad & Entertainment Center
- Pioneer Shopping Village
- Troy Recreation Center
- Troy SportsPlex
- Bicentennial Park
Gallery
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A view of historic downtown Troy
A Norman Rockwell painting on the side of Byrd Drugs in downtown Troy
View of B. Graves Bar & Restaurant in downtown Troy
The Johnson Center for the Arts
An 1881 wood-burning locomotive at the Pioneer Museum
The old Adams General Store at the Pioneer Museum
A Bell AH-1 SuperCobra in Bicentennial Park
The Hampton Inn and Courtyard Marriott at Troy Plaza
A view of Veterans Memorial Stadium
References
^ abcdef "GNIS Detail - Troy". geonames.usgs.gov..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 7, 2018.
^ ab "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 24, 2018.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ "Troy". Encyclopedia of Alabama.
^ ab The Economy of British West Florida, 1763-1783 by Robin F. A. Fabel (University of Alabama Press, 2002)
^ Bureau, U. S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov.
^ "These Are The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Alabama". homesnacks.net. 10 December 2018.
^ Owen, Thomas McAdory (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. II. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 1126.
^ "Pike County". Encyclopedia of Alabama.
^ ab "The Battles of Hobdy's Bridge and Pea River - Louisville - AL - US". Historical Marker Project.
^ "The Battle of Hobdy's Bridge and Pea River and Pea Creek: An indiscriminate Slaughter (2014)". Pike County Historical, Genealogical & Preservation Society.
^
"Climatography of the United States No. 20 (1971–2000)" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 10, 2013.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
^ "The 50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever". collegeranker.com.
^ "troyfest - ABOUT US". troyfest.
^ "Alabama's Official Travel Guide - Alabama.Travel - Local Tips for Your Alabama Vacation". Alabama's Official Travel Guide.
^ "Brundidge Historical Society". www.piddle.org.
External links
- Official site
- The Troy Messenger