The Community Where I Live

The Community Where I Live

J. Michele Jones

ETH 125

February 19, 2012

Dr. Doreen McAfee

The Community Where I Live

I am writing this paper to present to you were I come from and the diversity of cultures are coming to the area. The differences and similarities of people make a huge difference because of the fact that we have not had that much diversity. The problems my city faces is the same within many towns and cities in the south. Alabama is one state which needs to inaugurate more people. I am so used to seeing primarily White and Black people. I have not had the chance to get out and talk to people from different races, but it is very nice to see others coming to the area. As with any city, Valley has its good and bad. When people come to Valley, Alabama, some people feel immediately at home.

Valley underwent a major change after the Civil War. Prior to this conflict, the economy of this area was based on agriculture, but after the war, things began to change and the ‘Age of Textiles in the South’ began (City of Valley, Alabama, 2011). Valley did not become a city until 100 years later, in 1980. The history of Valley dates back into the 1860s, when the twin textile mills and towns, Langdale and Riverview, were built on the Chattahoochee River. Then in the 1900s, two more mills and mill villages were built. They were known as Fairfax and Shawmut. In 1980, these four towns became incorporated to form the City of Valley. In the State of Alabama, this was a major overhaul that happened only in 15 months. This is the quickest any city, within Alabama, had become developed, considering how slow people are to make changes here. For many years, this city became the go to place for mill work, until in 2010 when the mills went out of business and were shipped overseas. This city here, I share some of my fondest memories growing up.

I grew up as a military child. I have 13 other siblings, which is quite an experience growing up. I am originally from California,...