Geneva Alabama

Geneva Alabama is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama. The town was officially chartered by the state of Alabama in 1875. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since 1940, it has been the largest city of Geneva County, and had a population of 4,452 as of the 2010 census.

Geneva Alabama History

Known as Alabama’s Old River Town for its proximity to the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers, Geneva was an important trade and transport center in the nineteenth century.

Geneva is settled on the junction of the Choctawhatchee River and Pea River. The Choctawhatchee River runs all the way to the Choctawhatchee Bay at Freeport, Florida, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this, Geneva was a busy trading center for steam-powered riverboats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 1865, the Lincoln Flood, named for then-Pres. Abraham Lincoln, destroyed the town, and the residents reestablished Geneva higher up the river bank from the original site.

Geneva Alabama Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 4,388 people, 1,801 households, and 1,197 families living in the city. The population density was 295.1 people per square mile. There were 2,097 housing units at an average density of 141.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 84.12% White, 14.18% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races.

Geneva Alabama Education

Public education in Geneva is administered by the Geneva City School District and consists of an elementary school, middle school, and high school. Collectively, the schools enroll approximately 1,300 students and employ approximately 90 teachers.

Geneva Alabama Transportation

Geneva lies at the juncture of State Route 85, which comes in from the north; State Route 52, which comes in from the east; State Route 196, which comes in from the northwest; and State Route 27, which runs southwest-north through the town. Geneva Municipal Airport serves general aviation in the area.

Geneva Alabama Events and Places of Interest

Every year in April, Geneva holds a River Festival, which brings in hundreds of people from all over the country to the small town. The River Festival is held on the junction of the two rivers, at Robert Fowler Park, and has many competitive events, such as a 5 miles road race, greasy pole climb, canoe race, and tug-of-war.