Hanceville is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,217.^[3]

Founded in Blount County, Hanceville was established in 1832 and incorporated in May 1879. At the time of Cullman County's creation in 1877, half of Hanceville resided in each county. In 1885, county boundaries were redrawn and all of Hanceville was placed within Blount County. In 1901, county boundaries were redrawn again and this time all of the town was placed within Cullman County, in which it has remained.^[4]

Hanceville is located in southeastern Cullman County at 34°3′48″N 86°45′39″W (34.063463, -86.760908).^[5] U.S. Route 31 passes through the city, leading north 9 miles (14 km) to Cullman, the county seat, and south 14 miles (23 km) to Smoke Rise.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.04 km²), or 0.34%, is water.^[6]

At the 2000 census there were 2,951 people, 1,167 households, and 710 families living in the city. The population density was 718.6 inhabitants per square mile (277.5/km²). There were 1,323 housing units at an average density of 322.2 per square mile (124.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.09% White, 4.61% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[11] Of the 1,167 households 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.6% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.

The age distribution was 17.8% under the age of 18, 17.7% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median household income was $26,351 and the median family income was $35,370. Males had a median income of $31,439 versus $18,112 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,371. About 12.5% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Hanceville is home to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. The construction began in 1996 and was completed in 1999, under the direction of Mother Angelica of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).^{[citation needed]}

Hanceville is also home to Alabama's oldest paintball and airsoft field, Mount Doom Paintball Field. It has been in operation since the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Hanceville High School serves 342 students in grades 9–12. The school colors are purple and gold, and its mascot are the Bulldogs. It is a member of the Cullman County Board of Education.^[14] In 2001 the Lady Bulldogs basketball team won the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 3A State Championship.^[15]

Hanceville, Alabama gained some media coverage when it passed a law to prevent transgender people from using the restroom of their unnatural gender.^[17]

• Mother Angelica, founder of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), formerly cloistered in the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
• Allen Green, former NFL player
• Craig Kimbrel, closer for the Boston Red Sox went to community college in Hanceville at Wallace State Community College.
• Country music artist Kip Moore attended Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
• Candi Staton, soul and gospel singer
• Bill Steltemeier, founding president of EWTN^[18]