Opelika, Alabama

Opelika (pronounced /ˌoʊpəˈlaɪkə/ OH-pə-LY-kə) is a city in, and the county seat of, Lee County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Opelika is 30,995, an increase of 17.1 percent from the 2010 Census where the population was 26,477. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 174,241, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents.

History

The Opelika area was first settled in 1832 after the Treaty of Cusseta was signed by the U.S. government and the Creek Nation. This treaty placed the land, and all other Creek territories east of the Mississippi River, under the possession of the United States government. Though the territory now belonged to the U.S., Opelika kept its Creek name, which translates to "large swamp", from opilwa (swamp) and lako (big).

Two decades after settlement, Opelika was chartered as a town on February 9, 1854, thanks to its rapid growth. This growth was due to the Montgomery & West Point Railroad Company's rail lines, which traversed the town and served as major means of transportation for unprocessed cotton between the northern and southern territories.

Opelika later received a new charter in 1870, and its rapid growth continued. The town nearly doubled in size between 1870 and 1900.[citation needed]

Opelika's downtown was packed with saloons catering to railroad workers and other men. Frequent gunfire in the street by intoxicated patrons resulted in railroads directing their passengers to duck beneath the windows when their trains passed through the town.

In 1882, two factions claimed to rule the city government, one known as the "Bar room" headed by Mayor Dunbar, a saloon keeper, and another known as the "Citizens". In a riot in late November–December of that year, a dozen men were wounded. In the end, a few were killed. The Citizens had claimed control of the city via the elections, but Dunbar refused to give up. After continued violence, the state legislature revoked the city's charter and the governor sent in the militia to restore order. The legislature appointed five commissioners to manage the city, a situation that continued until 1899. That year, the legislature restored the city's charter.

Geography

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Opelika had a population of 30,995; there were 11,866 households and 7,199 families in the city. The median age was 37.6 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.7 males age 18 and over.

83.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 16.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 12,553 households in Opelika, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.9% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,469 housing units, of which 6.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.

2010 census

According to 2024 Census estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $58,763.

The per capita income for the city is $33,505. Residents with income under poverty levels are 15%.

Economy

Since 2005, the city experienced new industry investments and existing industry expansions totalling more than $2.6 billion and the creation of over 4,700 additional jobs.

Opelika's largest employer is East Alabama Health, which employs more than 3,700 employees.

Arts and culture

The city spent $12 million to open the Opelika Public Library in 2021, the only public library in the city. The library features a 250 person auditorium, a pavilion, and study rooms. The Opelika Public Library replaces the previous Lewis Cooper Jr. Library which was built in 1976.

Opelika Community Theatre was founded in 2015.

Parks and recreation

Spring Villa Park, a 350-acre (140 ha) park in Opelika, features picnic and play areas, nature trails, two disc golf courses, and camping. Spring Villa, an antebellum house located in the park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2019, the city opened the Opelika Pickleball Facility, featuring 24 regulation courts.

In 2009, the City of Opelika built the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatics Center, a $32 million facility.

The RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, is located in Opelika, and has hosted national championships.

Government

Opelika is governed by a mayor-council government, with a mayor and a five-member city council. The chief executive official of the city of Opelika is the mayor. The mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term. The mayor has complete executive power in the city, and can appoint and dismiss department heads at will.

In 2025, Eddie Smith was elected the mayor of Opelika.

In 2007, the city council designated Opelika as a City of Character, to recognize, emphasize and enforce 49 character traits throughout the community, and to mandate character training.

Education

Opelika City Schools is the public school system of Opelika. The Opelika City School System consists of nine schools. There are three primary schools serving grades Kindergarten – 2, three intermediate schools serving grades 3–5, one sixth grade school, one middle school (grades 7&8), and one high school, Opelika High School (grades 9–12).

A campus of Southern Union State Community College—a public, two-year college—is located Opelika.

Media

Opelika is included in the Columbus, Georgia market according to Nielsen. The Opelika-Auburn News is a city newspaper.

The movie Norma Rae (1979) was filmed in Opelika.

Infrastructure

Transportation

• U.S. Route 29
• U.S. Route 280
• U.S. Route 431
• Alabama State Route 14
• Alabama State Route 51
• Interstate 85

Lee-Russell Public Transit provides dial-a-ride transit service through Opelika and the region.

The last passenger train service was the Illinois Central Railroad's City of Miami (Chicago - Miami), having its final run in 1971. The Illinois Central's Seminole (Chicago - Jacksonville) served Opelika until 1969. Amtrak service is proposed under the American Jobs Plan.

Notable people

• Brad Cotter, country music singer
• William L. Dickinson, former U.S. Congressman for the 2nd District of Alabama
• George Paul Harrison Jr., Confederate Army General and former U.S. Congressman for the 3rd District of Alabama
• Robert L. Howard, Army Special Forces officer
• George Lazenby Reynolds, the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee.
• Dusty Slay, comedian.
• Mallory Hytes Hagan Stramara, Miss America 2013 and politician.
• Jabez Curry Street, physicist who discovered the atomic particles called muons.
• C. C. Torbert Jr., former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
• James S. Voss, retired United States Army colonel and NASA astronaut.
• Sharon Warren, actress.

Notes

• Alabama State Department of Education. . Retrieved June 13, 2004.
• Alabama State Department of Education. . Retrieved October 5, 2006.
• Auburn, Alabama, City of. (2000) The City of Auburn, Alabama Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2000. Finance Department.
• Auburn, Alabama, City of. (2000) The City of Auburn Proposed Biennial Budget for FY 05 & FY 06 Budget Message. Office of the City Manager.
• Center for Demographic Research, Auburn University – Montgomery. U.S. Census Reports for Opelika City for the years 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980.
• Conway Data. (May 2004). Top Groups of 2003. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, from . Also available in Site Selection magazine (May 2004).
• Department of Industrial Relations, State of Alabama. (1978–2005). Total Nonagricultural Employment for Lee County. Montgomery, Alabama: Author.
• Duran, Rachel (2003). "Automotive Industry in the Driver's Seat", Global Corporate Xpansion, July 1, 2003. Birmingham Ala., Latitude 3 Media Group.
• EDAA Newsletter (Fall 2006). EDAA/SEDC Community Awards Presented at Conference. Economic Development Council of Alabama. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, from .
• Golf Digest, August 2005 Vol.56, No. 8
• Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (1999). Strategic Plan for the City of Opelika.
• Nunn, Alexander (Ed.) (1983). Lee County and Her Forebears. Montgomery, Ala., Herff Jones. LCCCN 83-081693
• Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005). Comprehensive Plan for the City of Opelika. Opelika, Alabama. Opelika Planning Department.
• Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005). July 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 9, 2006.
• Opelika, Alabama, City of. (2005). August 31, 2005, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 9, 2005.
• Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. (Summer 2005). Alabama Reading Test Results Show Overall Improvements from 2004 to 2005, but School System Results Vary. The PARCA Quarterly, 3–7.
• Randle, Mike. (Spring 2006). Top Deals & Hot Markets 2006: Alabama and North Carolina: Performing Economic Miracles. Southern Business and Development Magazine. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, from .
• Site Selection online. (May 2006). Top Groups 2005. Retrieved on October 14, 2006, from . Also available in Site Selection magazine (May 2006).
• Jake Hess, New York Times Obituaries, January 11, 2004.

External links