
History

Because of its location at the confluence of two rivers, Elba suffered a number of destructive floods during its history. Probably the most devastating flood ever recorded, in terms of dollar cost, was March 17, 1990. The Pea River crested at 48 feet, and a broken levee on Whitewater Creek caused the town to be inundated. The entire town was under water for four days before the levee on the opposite side of town broke, allowing the water to recede. Subsequent serious floods occurred in March 1994 and March 1998. In the early 2000s, the Army Corp of Engineers constructed a new levee complete with adequate flood gates to provide better flood control.
Demographics
According to 2016 Census estimates, Elba recorded a population of 3,915. Of that number, 54.6 percent identified themselves as white, 39.6 percent as African American, 3.7 percent as two or more races, 2.8 percent as Hispanic, and 1.9 percent as Asian. The city's median household income was $25,654, and per capita income was $16,669.
Employment and Economic Development
According to 2016 Census estimates, the workforce in Elba was divided among the following industrial categories:
- Manufacturing (27.3 percent)
- Retail trade (15.6 percent)
- Educational services, and health care and social assistance (12.4 percent)
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.6 percent)
- Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (9.1 percent)
- Public administration (8.5 percent)
- Transportation and warehousing and utilities (3.9 percent)
- Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (2.9 percent)
- Construction (2.5 percent)
- Other services, except public administration (1.9 percent)
- Information (1.7 percent)
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extractive (1.3 percent)
- Wholesale trade (1.3 percent)
Education
Elba City Schools include one elementary school (K-6), one high school (7-12), and a vocational school.
Transportation
U.S. Highway 84 is the main road serving the area. Carl Folsom Municipal Airport has two runways, the longest at 3,400 feet.
Events and Places of Interest

Additional Resources
Coffee County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Coffee County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2002.