The Ozark area was originally inhabited by the Muscogee people. It is said that Ozark received its name after a traveler visited and was reminded of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. The first known European settler in Ozark was John Merrick, Sr., a veteran of the Revolutionary War, in 1822. In honor of him, the town was named Merricks. It was later changed to Woodshop, which was its name when the town received its post office. The first appearance of the name Ozark was in 1855, when the citizens requested a name change. The county seat was moved from Newton to Ozark 1870. Ozark is home to three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Claybank Log Church, the Samuel Lawson Dowling House, and the J. D. Holman House.
Geography
Ozark is located at . It is part of the Wiregrass Region. Major highways that run through the city include U.S. Route 231 and Alabama State Routes 27 and 249. US 231 runs northwest to southeast through the city, leading northwest 34 mi to Troy and southeast 23 mi to Dothan. SR 27 leads east 31 mi to Abbeville and southwest 19 mi to Enterprise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of of which is land and is water.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 15,119 people, 6,126 households, and 4,233 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 6,955 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 68.28% White, 28.30% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 6,126 households 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 10.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92. The age distribution was 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males. The median household income was $29,330 and the median family income was $38,633. Males had a median income of $30,236 versus $19,564 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,984. About 14.8% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 14,907 people, 6,209 households, and 4,064 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 6,920 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 64.8% White, 30.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 6,209 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 12.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91. The age distribution was 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. The median household income was $41,079 and the median family income was $52,061. Males had a median income of $41,513 versus $28,227 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,103. About 13.6% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
