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Century: One Of The Poorest Places In America (A Series Begins)
October 19, 2014
Monday, NorthEscambia.com will begin a multi-part series about Century that will continue (almost) daily for about two weeks.
Numbers don’t lie. Century is, by those numbers, one of the poorest incorporated towns or cities in the entire nation. According to the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, Century is the 41st poorest place in America and the poorest place in the state of Florida. The median household income is just $17,188 — nearly half of all Century’s 1,698 residents live in poverty.
During our series, we’ll also look at a different side of Century that many people, especially “outsiders” and Highway 29 passerbys, never see.
“Sometimes, its not about the numbers. It’s about the heart and soul of a community.”
That was an unsolicited comment from Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez as we discussed our upcoming series. It speaks volumes about Century, and it is the theme for our look at Century. We’ll look at the bad, but we’ll focus on the good.
We take a look at the literal poor condition that Century is in, by the numbers. But we’ll step out of the box and look the progress being made to improve Century and several exciting things on the horizon.
And we’ll take a look at the heart and soul of one of America’s poorest towns, and we’ll discover the riches that exist in Century.
Comments
10 Responses to “Century: One Of The Poorest Places In America (A Series Begins)”
I come from a long line of people who moved to Century to work at the mill. Others, just as I did, began life in the glorious little town where we called “home”. The first time I realized that Century was “poor” was when my mother took a dislike to one of my 8th grade teachers and transferred me to Escambia Academy. It was there that my classmates were curious about “what kind of home my parents had, where my parents worked, and last but not least, NEVER least if you live in Alabama; who did I pull for, Alabama or Auburn!” No ill will is meant for EA but as for me it wasn’t home nor did it feel like home, that said I had been in attendance at EA a little less than a month when the overwhelming sense of homesickness got the better of me. What followed is probably the one and only time that I’ve ever issued my mother an ultimatum; either put me back in the school where I belonged or I’d jump a train and run away! The next morning I was once again a “Blackcat!” I tell this little story because like those who went before me and those who went behind me, we loved our town, we took great pride in our school, we received an education that I dare say is second to none from a faculty that cared. Maybe we were poor, but if we were, we all were! Some kids paid for lunch, some got a discount, some got their lunch free. The table from where I sat the only thing that mattered to this girl was catching the eye of the cute guy with big brown eyes and dimples when he smiled!
Blackcat Class of 1980
I have worked in many fields. I was armed with only a high school diploma and very little technical training. Raising two children on my own forced me to take on menial jobs, almost any job. When asked what I did for a living, my answer was, “whatever pays”. I’ve always had good job ethics. I was always able to find a job. The only time I required government assistance was following serious illness. I have always taken pride in my ability to stand on my two feet. I finally found the “job of my dreams” right here in Century. Granted I make less than others in my field, but in an area where many are unemployed, I consider myself blessed. I love my job. My opinion is that many are unemployed because they are unwilling to take on menial jobs to accomplish a goal. It pays more in many cases to stay home and raise children. I met with the same problem years ago, but refused to accept it . I preferred to make what I could and do what I could to ensure that I could keep some semblence of self respect. More jobs should be available, pay should be increased, and incentives should be offered. The town of Century is blessed to have many loving, giving souls who help those that can’t help themselves. Hats off to them.
As my pastor puts it~ it’s a heart thing…a condition of the heart and mind. We have to do what we do from the heart if we want to get the best results. We have to care about what we are doing and teach our children how to do things from the heart. If we only go to work for the money, we won’t get very far, but if we go to work to be a blessing, then before you know it, those blessings will start coming our way, too. We need to do what we do for the right reason and out of love from our heart. If we love where we live, we will want to make it better for our family and those around us. Lots of people have forgotten how to work and to be a blesing to their co-workers and their family as well. Another pastor said if you want to be a part of the team, you have to become ‘one’ with the ball. People need to learn how to take care of their own and everyone pull together to make it a better place for all. For way too long many people have felt that others owed them for things that happened generations ago…but that was in the past and that’s where it needs to stay~ life goes on. If we are always looking in the rear view mirror, we can’t go forward. Life is not meant to be lived in the past….the past is gone never to be again, the future is not here yet, that is why we should live in the present~ the present…a gift from God.
Let me start by saying I love living in Century. The issue seems to be GENERATIONS of welfare dependent residents who would rather put there small children on social security or wait for a welfare check than get and keep a JOB. When you take pride in your lifestyle and the prosperity of future generations that is when you will affectivly see change in Century.
“And we’ll take a look at the heart and soul of one of America’s poorest towns, and we’ll discover the riches that exist in Century.”
What a lovely line. Looking forward to this series.
Education of Century’s youth is key in rising above and beyond the current condition. There are many good people in Century, but few jobs for entry level or skilled artisans. Moreover It would appear that few jobs will be coming to Century in the foreseeable future.
When I was a young man I worked in the oil fields that once produced in the Century area. Even at a young age I was acutely aware of how the local population was exploited for low wages, by contractors who grew wealthy off the large pool of cheap labor. The only solution I see is for young people to acquire an education that will allow them to pursue careers out in the world. I did not want to leave this area but I knew that staying here without an advanced degree meant long hours working in a chemical plant, at best. I served twenty one years in the US military and returned home, far better equipped to deal with the local job market, with more options in my favor.
The sad fact is that sometimes you have to leave home, but that does not mean that you cannot one day return, better prepared and enabled than when you left.
I love living here in Century. My son and I have the best neighbor’s we have ever had. No matter what is going on they make sure they know just how we are doing. The town has it’s problems but for the money I will be here for as long as I can. The town is always looking in on how to better our little town. I do not see any surrounding community’s doing what Century does for our elderly and low income families. We all try to look out for each other.
I just read this article and owning a business i can say if i was looking to locate there it would make me have second thoughs..century is a good town with good people so i hope this dont detour new progress…
Commissioner Barry is out numbered 4 to 1, with the other 4 all answering to those in the south of the county. As far as Century is concerned, they govern and manage their own, just as the city of Pensacola does. With no more of a tax base which exist in Century, improvement will be difficult at best without outside assistance.
The Escambia County Commission does not do enough to promote growth in the north side of our county.