The Town of Shorter and the surrounding area was once part of the Creek Nation, which was distinguished by bountiful game, many water streams, rich agricultural lands, great forest, and agreeable climate.  European settlers moved into the area to trade, and in some cases live, among the Indians.  When the U.S. government opened the land to settlement in 1830, war broke out between the Creeks and the military.  A relentless policy of extermination greatly reduced the Indian population, until finally in 1836 the remaining Creeks were move to Oklahoma.

Macon County was created in 1832, and named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a Revolutionary War soldier.  The county seat, Tuskegee, was located on 80 acres of land in Township 17 donated by William Walker, an Indian trader.  The Alabama State Legislature incorporated Macon in February 1833.  The town was named for Alabama governor John Gill Shorter of Eufaula.  The area's rich soils and hot climate have always been suited to crop production, and the area was utilized for plantation lands during the antebellum period.




DEMOGRAPHICS

According to the 1990 U.S. Census, the Town of Shorter has a population of 461 persons, a less than one percent increase from the 1980 population of 458 persons.  It is expected that the 2000 Census data will show a moderate increase in population and future annexation plans could as much as double the population of the Town.  The 1990 Census gives the Town's racial composition as 74% African American and 26% white.  Shorter is an extremely family oriented community and has lately seen a steady increase in the number of families with school age children relocating to the town.  In 1990, 34% of the Town's population was age 18 and under.

Demographic estimates for 1999 show an average household income of $35,488, a median household income of $25,938, and a per capita income of $11,857. These figures place the Town below the state average.







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