1913 – 1980

Jesse Owens

American track and field athlete (1913–1980)

long jumperathletics competitorsprinterathleteOlympic champion

Born

1913-09-12, Oakville

Died

1980-03-31

Birthplace state

Alabama

Biography

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who made history at the 1936 Olympic Games by winning four gold medals, setting Olympic records in each event. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in track and field history.

Occupation

Jesse Owens is recorded as a long jumper, a athletics competitor, a sprinter, a athlete, a Olympic champion and a entrepreneur, born in Alabama (1913–1980).

Connections to Alabama

Jesse Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama in 1913. Explore other notable figures from Alabama, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Alabama›Alabamahistory ›Historic sites in Alabama›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Oakville

Jesse Owens came from Oakville. A full Aubrey report on Oakville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Oakville report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Alabama

Other historical figures born in Alabama, ranked by historical prominence.

Helen Keller

American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)

Rosa Parks

civil rights activist

Harper Lee

American novelist (1926–2016)

Nat King Cole

American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)

Edward O. Wilson

American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)

Louise Fletcher

American actress (1934–2022)

Hank Williams

American singer-songwriter (1923–1953)

Frequently asked about Jesse Owens

Who was Jesse Owens?

Jesse Owens was American track and field athlete (1913–1980), born in Alabama (1913 – 1980).

When and where was Jesse Owens born?

Jesse Owens was born on 1913-09-12 in Oakville.

When did Jesse Owens die?

Jesse died on 1980-03-31.

What was Jesse Owens known for?

Jesse Owens is recorded as a long jumper, a athletics competitor, a sprinter, a athlete, a Olympic champion and a entrepreneur.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report