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Alabama ZIP Codes
Clarke County
Gainestown, AL
36540
36540 ZIP Code — Gainestown, AL
Clarke County, Alabama
ZIP code 36540 is located in
Gainestown ,
Alabama ,
within Clarke County .
It covers approximately 43.35 square miles and serves a population of
1,050 residents.
This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone,
served by area code 251 .
About ZIP code 36540
The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Owner-occupancy is high at 83%, well above the national average.
Median household income is $27,254. Poverty affects 29% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 41% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 33% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.
The dominant occupation class is service, with construction as the leading industry. The average commute of 29 minutes is near the national average.
College attainment at 3% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.
Health indicators show elevated rates of obesity (47%), diabetes (19%), smoking (30%) compared to national benchmarks. 17% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.
Overall, ZIP code 36540 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, high homeownership, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.
36540 ZIP code map
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Cities in ZIP code 36540
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 36540. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
Nearby ZIP codes
Demographics
updated 05/2026
Population
Total population
1,050
Population density
24 / sq mi
State FIPS
01
County FIPS
025
Geography
Land area
43.35 sq mi
Water area
0.86 sq mi
Latitude
31.4657
Longitude
-87.6719
Timezone
Central (CT)
Area code
251
Economics
updated 05/2026
Household income
Income range
This ZIP
County avg
State avg
Under $50k
72.9%
59.2%
48.3%
$50k – $100k
14.0%
24.2%
29.3%
$100k – $200k
9.8%
13.9%
18.0%
Over $200k
3.4%
2.7%
4.4%
Demographics & statistics
$27,254
Median household income
Age distribution
Age summary
Group Count % Under 18 343 32.7% 18 and over 707 67.3% 65 and over 142 13.5% Median age 26.4 years
Race & ethnicity
Black or African American
58.8%
Group Count % Black or African American 617 58.8% White 257 24.5% Two or more races 176 16.8%
Household income
Income range
This ZIP
County avg
State avg
Under $50k
72.9%
59.2%
48.3%
$50k – $100k
14.0%
24.2%
29.3%
$100k – $200k
9.8%
13.9%
18.0%
Over $200k
3.4%
2.7%
4.4%
Range % of households Under $10k 19.2% $10k–$15k 5.2% $15k–$25k 7.8% $25k–$35k 28.2% $35k–$50k 13.0% $50k–$75k 11.7% $75k–$100k 6.8% $100k–$150k 5.8% $150k–$200k 2.3% Median income $27,254
Housing
Housing overview
Metric Value Median home value $0 Median rent / month $0 Owner occupied 83.1% Renter occupied 16.9% Vacant 28.0% Single-family detached 68.2% Large apartment buildings 3.0% Mobile homes 25.5% Median rooms 5.5 Avg household size (owned) 3.90
Year built
Era % 2020 or later 0.0% 2010–2019 1.6% 2000–2009 12.6% 1990–1999 6.3% 1980–1989 28.5% 1970–1979 33.9% 1960–1969 13.6% 1950–1959 3.5% 1940–1949 0.0% 1939 or earlier 0.0%
Bedrooms
Size % of units No bedroom (studio) 0.0% 1 bedroom 6.3% 2 bedrooms 2.6% 3 bedrooms 66.4% 4 bedrooms 19.2% 5+ bedrooms 5.6%
Vehicles per household
Vehicles % of households No vehicle 29.2% 1 vehicle 22.1% 2 vehicles 36.0% 3 or more 12.7%
Heating fuel
Fuel type % Utility gas 17.2% Electricity 41.2% Propane / LP gas 37.3% Fuel oil 4.2%
Households & families
Household type Count % Married-couple family 107 34.7% Cohabiting couple 0 0.0% Male householder, no spouse 78 25.3% Female householder, no spouse 123 39.9% Households with children under 18 99 32.1% Households with seniors (65+) 95 30.8% Average household size 3.41
Marital status
Status Male Female Never married 52.9% 47.9% Married 32.1% 28.3% Separated 5.2% 0.0% Widowed 2.6% 1.6% Divorced 7.1% 22.2%
Education
Less than 9th grade
12.0%
Some HS, no diploma
22.0%
Some college, no degree
7.0%
Graduate / professional
1.1%
Metric % HS diploma or higher 65.9% Bachelor's or higher 3.4%
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
Type Count % Nursery / preschool 0 0.0% Kindergarten 12 8.5% Elementary school 86 61.0% High school 29 20.6% College / grad school 14 9.9%
Employment
Industry of employment
Finance & real estate
18.1%
Education & healthcare
9.8%
Arts, food & hospitality
6.9%
Transportation & utilities
5.9%
Agriculture & mining
3.9%
Professional & management
3.9%
Public administration
2.9%
Occupation
Category % Management, business & arts 18.1% Service 40.2% Sales & office 13.7% Natural resources & construction 7.4% Production & transportation 20.6%
Employment type
Type % Private sector 67.2% Government 18.1% Self-employed 14.7% Unpaid family workers 0.0%
Commute
Method % Drive alone 88.7% Carpool 4.4% Public transit 6.9% Walk 0.0% Work from home 0.0% Other means 0.0% Avg commute (minutes) 29.0
Poverty
Married-couple families
7.5%
Female-led households
21.1%
Income support
Source % of households Social Security 33.1% Retirement income 8.4% Supplemental Security 17.5% Cash public assistance 0.0% Food stamps / SNAP 40.9%
Health indicators
Condition % Obesity 46.6% High blood pressure 52.4% High cholesterol 33.9% Diabetes 18.6% Heart disease 8.2% Stroke 5.5% Asthma 12.4% Arthritis 34.4% Kidney disease 4.2% Pulmonary disease 11.7% Cancer 5.1%
Behavior / access % Smoking 30.4% Binge drinking 11.2% No physical activity 40.1% Less than 7 hrs sleep 44.8% Depression 25.1% Fair or poor health 32.8% Poor mental health 19.8% Poor physical health 17.4% No health insurance 25.4% Visited doctor (checkup) 77.3% Visited dentist 44.0% Cholesterol screening 88.5% Teeth loss 28.9%
Veterans & disability
Veterans Count % Civilian veterans 39 5.5%
Disability % Any disability 7.6% Under 18 0.0% 18–64 years 2.5% 65 and over 46.5%
Health insurance coverage
Type % Private insurance 48.0% Public insurance 48.6% No insurance 17.4% Uninsured under 19 0.0%
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
Language Count % English only 834 79.4% Spanish 0 0.0% Other Indo-European 0 0.0% Asian & Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Other languages 0 0.0%
Place of birth & citizenship
Origin Count % Native born (US) 1,050 100.0% Born in same state 1,050 100.0% Born in different state 1,005 95.7% Foreign born 0 0.0% Naturalized citizen 0 0.0% Not a US citizen 0 0.0%
Ancestry
Ancestry Count % French 83 7.9%
Technology access
Metric % of households Computer access 29.3% Internet access 54.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 36540
What city is ZIP code 36540 in?
ZIP code 36540 is primarily assigned to Gainestown, Alabama.
What county is ZIP code 36540 in?
ZIP code 36540 falls within Clarke County, Alabama.
Is ZIP code 36540 family-oriented?
33% of residents in ZIP code 36540 are under 18, reflecting a younger, family-oriented community.
How educated is the population of ZIP code 36540?
3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36540?
29% of residents in ZIP code 36540 live below the poverty line, above the national average.
Is ZIP code 36540 mostly owner-occupied?
83% of occupied units in ZIP code 36540 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.
What timezone is ZIP code 36540 in?
ZIP code 36540 observes the CST timezone.
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