Haleyville is a city in Winston and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It incorporated on February 28, 1889. Most of the city is located in Winston County, with a small portion of the western limits entering Marion County. Haleyville was originally named "Davis Cross Roads", having been established at the crossroads of Byler Road and the Illinois Central Railroad. At the 2020 census the population was 4,361, up from 4,173 at the 2010 census.
The first Guthrie's restaurant was opened by Hal Guthrie in Haleyville in 1965.
On February 16, 1968, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system in the nation went into service in Haleyville.
On June 1, 2010, Haleyville citizens voted to become the first city in Winston County since Prohibition to allow the sale of alcohol.
The city has one site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the former Feldman's Department Store, and is the closest city to another site, Archeological Site No. 1WI50.
Haleyville is located in northwestern Winston County and northeastern Marion County 6 miles (10 km) east of Bear Creek, 14 miles (23 km) north of Lynn, 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Double Springs, the Winston county seat, and 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Hamilton, the Marion county seat.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (22 km2), of which 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2), or 0.60%, are water. The city sits on the Tennessee Valley Divide, with the north half of the town draining into tributaries of the Tennessee River, the southwest quarter draining to tributaries of the Tombigbee River, and the southeast quarter draining to tributaries of the Black Warrior River.
Northwest Alabama is in the foothills of the southwest end of the Appalachian Mountains, so Haleyville is hilly. The soil there, made of sand and clay combined, is very sensitive to water, so there are many creeks and little valleys. This is especially noticeable at the city lake, which is surrounded by hills.
As of the 2020 census, there were 4,361 people, 1,808 households, and 989 families residing in the city. The median age was 41.7 years; 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 79.8 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,808 households in Haleyville, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.2% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,098 housing units, of which 13.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.
At the 2010 census there were 4,173 people, 1,783 households, and 1,114 families living in the city. The population density was 563.9 inhabitants per square mile (217.7/km2). There were 2,073 housing units at an average density of 280.1 per square mile (108.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 6.0% of the population were Latino of any race.
Of the 1,783 households 26.9% had children under the age of 52 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.9% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.
The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% 65 or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median household income was $23,191 and the median family income was $35,463. Males had a median income of $35,292 versus $20,789 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,636. About 29.8% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.6% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
At the 2000 census there were 4,182 people, 1,815 households, and 1,148 families living in the city. The population density was 563.9 inhabitants per square mile (217.7/km2). There were 2,061 housing units, at an average density of 277.9 per square mile (107.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.81% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 2.68% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 3.11% of the population were Latino of any race.
Of the 1,815 households 26.6% had children under the age of 52 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.0% of households were one person and 17.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.