Center Star, Alabama

Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States

34°51′41″N 87°27′20″W / 34.86139°N 87.45556°W / 34.86139; -87.45556CountryUnited StatesStateAlabamaCountyLauderdaleElevation

669 ft (204 m)Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)Area code(s)256 & 938GNIS feature ID155019^[1]

Center Star, also known as Centre Star, or Centre (before the American Civil War), is an unincorporated community in Lauderdale County, in the U.S. state of Alabama.

History

Center Star is one of the oldest communities in Lauderdale County. The area was among lands claimed by both the Chickasaw and Cherokee. On May 26, 1861, Edward A. O'Neal organized the "Calhoun Guards" (which became Company I of the 9th Regiment Alabama Infantry) in Center Star. On May 9, 1864, Colonel William A. Johnson's 4th Alabama Cavalry fought with the 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 9th Ohio Infantry under the command of Colonel Richard Rowett.^[2] The earliest Methodist congregation in Lauderdale County was organized near Center Star in June 1818.^{[citation needed]}

A post office was established at Center Star on April 15, 1850, and was named for its central location on the "star route" (a remote postal route served by a private contractor).^[3] The post office was in operation until 1902. It was then reopened for one year in 1914.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	69		—
U.S. Decennial Census^[5]

Center Star was listed on the 1880 U.S. Census as an unincorporated community with a population of 69. It was the only time it was listed on the census rolls.

Notable person

Mark Narmore, songwriter. Wrote "That's What I Love About Sunday" and "The Moon Over Georgia"^[6]
Spooner Oldham, songwriter and session musician

References

^ "Center Star". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
^ William Lindsey McDonald (2003). A Walk Through the Past - People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County Alabama. Heart of Dixie Publishing. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-0-9719945-6-0.
^ Foscue, Virginia (1989). Place Names in Alabama. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press. p. 30. ISBN 0-8173-0410-X.
^ "Lauderdale County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
^ "Mark Narmore". Roots of American Music Trail. Retrieved December 22, 2023.