Brantley

Brantley Historic District Brantley is located in south-central Crenshaw County in the south-central part of the state. It has a mayor-city council form of government. National Basketball Association players Chuck Person and Wesley Person both were born in Brantley. Brantley is one of only four towns in Alabama whose town limits form a circle.

History

In 1890, the Central of Georgia Railway surveyed a line from Troy, Pike County, to Searight, Crenshaw County, and a group of investors led by Thomas K. Brantley of Troy purchased property along the line to establish a town. The Brantley Land Company initially bought 40 acres and set the town’s corporate limits at three miles in each direction from the center of town, which accounts for the town’s circular town limits. Brantley was incorporated 1891.

The town was first dubbed Sasserville by the train depot manager after the owner of the local grist mill. At some later point, it was renamed Marcus, and finally Brantley after the initial founder. Various businesses followed, including dry-goods stores, a homegoods store owned by Brantley, a furniture store, and livery stables. The early economy in Brantley was driven by the timber industry and the textile industry.

Demographics

According to 2020 Census estimates, Brantley recorded a population of 1,042. Of that number, 51.7 percent of respondents identified themselves as white, 41.7 percent as African American, 3.6 percent as Hispanic, 3.2 percent as two or more races, 2.1 percent as Asian, and 1.3 as American Indian. The town’s median household income was $26,786, and the per capita income was $20,719.

Employment

According to 2020 Census estimates, the work force in Brantley was divided among the following industrial categories:

  • Educational services, and health care and social assistance (40.1 percent)
  • Retail trade (14.1 percent)
  • Construction (10.9 percent)
  • Manufacturing (8.0 percent)
  • Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (5.8 percent)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extractive (3.8 percent)
  • Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (3.8 percent)
  • Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (3.8 percent)
  • Transportation and warehousing and utilities (3.8 percent)
  • Public administration (3.5 percent)
  • Wholesale trade (1.6 percent)
  • Information (0.6 percent)

Education

Brantley Public Library Schools in Brantley are part of the Crenshaw County school system; the town has one K-12 school.

Transportation

U.S. Highway 29/State Highway 15 runs northeast-southwest through Brantley, and U.S. Highway 331 runs north-south through the town.

Events and Places of Interest

The Brantley Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Crenshaw County Historical Society has its headquarters at Brantley.

Further Reading

  • Crenshaw County Heritage Book Committee. Heritage of Crenshaw County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc., 2002.

External Links

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