Escambia County, Alabama

This article is about the county in Alabama. For the adjacent county in Florida, see Escambia County, Florida. For the river, see Escambia River.

Escambia County
County
Escambia County, Alabama Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°07′36″N 87°09′44″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 10, 1868
Seat	Brewton
Largest city	Atmore
Area
• Total	953 sq mi (2,470 km2)
• Land	945 sq mi (2,450 km2)
• Water	8.1 sq mi (21 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	36,757
• Estimate  (2023)	36,558
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 2nd
Website	www.co.escambia.al.us
County Number 30 on Alabama license plates

Escambia County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,757. Its county seat is Brewton.

Escambia County is coextensive with the Atmore, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area; which is itself a constituent part of the larger Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL-AL Combined Statistical Area.

The county is the base of the state's only federally recognized Native American tribe, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. They have developed gaming casinos and a hotel on their reservation here, but also a much larger business extending to locations in other states and the Caribbean.

Etymology

The name "Escambia" may have been derived from the Creek name Shambia, meaning "clearwater", or the Choctaw word for "cane-brake" or "reed-brake".

History

Historic American Indian tribes in the area included the Muskogean-speaking Creek, Choctaw, and Alabama, who had inhabited the lands for centuries and had many settlements. The former two tribes were among those in the Southeast whom the European-American settlers called the Five Civilized Tribes, as they adopted some European-American cultural ways. Many of their members had close working relationships with traders and settlers moving into the area in the early 19th century. Most of these nations were forced to cede their lands to the United States and to remove in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

Escambia County was organized and established after the American Civil War, on December 10, 1868, during the Reconstruction era. The state legislature created it from parts of Baldwin and Conecuh counties, to the west and north, respectively. The area was part of the coastal plain. It was largely agricultural into the 20th century.

The county is subject to heavy winds and rains due to seasonal hurricanes. In September 1979, the county was declared a disaster area due to damage from Hurricane Frederic. It was declared a disaster area again in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan.

In the 20th century, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians organized to gain recognition as a tribe, and established a government under a written constitution. It had control of some lands that were taken into trust on their behalf by the federal government as part of the federal recognition process. It is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. Since the late 20th century, they have developed three gaming resorts to generate revenues for tribal health and welfare.

In addition, Alabama has recognized nine tribes, generally descendants of Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee Native Americans who had historically lived here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 953 square miles (2,470 km²), of which 945 square miles (2,450 km²) is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km²) (0.8%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 65
• U.S. Highway 29
• U.S. Highway 31
• State Route 21
• State Route 41
• State Route 113

Adjacent counties

• Conecuh County (north)
• Covington County (east)
• Okaloosa County, Florida (southeast)
• Santa Rosa County, Florida (south)
• Escambia County, Florida (southwest)
• Baldwin County (west)
• Monroe County (northwest)

Escambia County in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida are two of 22 counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.

National protected area

• Conecuh National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	4,041		—
1880	5,719		41.5%
1890	8,666		51.5%
1900	11,320		30.6%
1910	18,889		66.9%
1920	22,464		18.9%
1930	27,963		24.5%
1940	30,671		9.7%
1950	31,443		2.5%
1960	33,511		6.6%
1970	34,912		4.2%
1980	38,440		10.1%
1990	35,518		−7.6%
2000	38,440		8.2%
2010	38,319		−0.3%
2020	36,757		−4.1%
2023 (est.)	36,558		−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

Escambia County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	24,575	23,508	22,004	63.93%	61.35%	59.86%
Black or African American alone (NH)	11,799	12,162	10,922	30.69%	31.74%	29.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1,153	1,274	1,488	3.00%	3.32%	4.05%
Asian alone (NH)	93	86	108	0.24%	0.22%	0.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	10	12	22	0.03%	0.03%	0.06%
Other race alone (NH)	25	20	49	0.07%	0.05%	0.13%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	406	539	1,413	1.06%	1.41%	3.84%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	379	718	751	0.99%	1.87%	2.04%
Total	38,440	38,319	36,757	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 36,757 people, 13,089 households, and 8,019 families residing in the county.

2010 census

According to the 2010 United States census:

• 62.1% White
• 31.9% Black
• 4.4% Native American
• 0.2% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.5% Two or more races
• 1.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Escambia County were:

• 30.5% English
• 12.1% "American"
• 9.9% Irish

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,440 people, 14,297 households, and 10,093 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km²). There were 16,544 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.40% White, 30.79% Black or African American, 3.01% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,297 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,319, and the median income for a family was $36,086. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $18,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,396. About 15.20% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Holman Correctional Facility of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is in Atmore, 9 miles (14 km) north of the Atmore city center. Holman has a male death row and the State of Alabama execution chamber. In addition the ADOC Fountain Correctional Facility is also in Atmore, about 7 miles (11 km) north of the Atmore city center. The city of Atmore annexed both prisons in 2008.

Escambia County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Jimmy Carter, who won it by a majority in 1976.

United States presidential election results for Escambia County, Alabama

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,884	72.77%	3,964	26.50%	109	0.73%
2020	10,869	68.32%	4,918	30.91%	123	0.77%
2016	9,935	66.92%	4,605	31.02%	305	2.05%
2012	9,287	62.35%	5,489	36.85%	118	0.79%
2008	9,375	63.89%	5,188	35.36%	111	0.76%
2004	8,513	68.68%	3,814	30.77%	68	0.55%
2000	6,975	59.82%	4,523	38.79%	162	1.39%
1996	5,214	46.96%	4,651	41.89%	1,239	11.16%
1992	5,955	46.44%	4,809	37.50%	2,060	16.06%
1988	6,807	62.14%	4,020	36.70%	127	1.16%
1984	8,694	68.33%	3,853	30.28%	177	1.39%
1980	6,513	54.04%	5,148	42.71%	392	3.25%
1976	4,934	44.22%	5,957	53.39%	266	2.38%
1972	7,883	82.19%	1,598	16.66%	110	1.15%
1968	680	6.32%	1,492	13.86%	8,593	79.82%
1964	5,623	74.47%	0	0.00%	1,928	25.53%
1960	1,810	30.65%	3,990	67.57%	105	1.78%
1956	1,529	28.85%	3,437	64.86%	333	6.28%
1952	1,187	25.90%	3,385	73.86%	11	0.24%
1948	188	9.99%	0	0.00%	1,694	90.01%
1944	266	11.30%	2,077	88.20%	12	0.51%
1940	137	4.70%	2,772	95.03%	8	0.27%
1936	103	3.82%	2,585	95.81%	10	0.37%
1932	157	7.19%	2,024	92.67%	3	0.14%
1928	1,754	61.94%	1,077	38.03%	1	0.04%
1924	152	10.70%	1,217	85.70%	51	3.59%
1920	178	10.87%	1,455	88.88%	4	0.24%
1916	108	9.88%	982	89.84%	3	0.27%
1912	52	5.37%	829	85.64%	87	8.99%
1908	113	14.27%	641	80.93%	38	4.80%
1904	83	11.54%	627	87.20%	9	1.25%

Communities

Cities

• Atmore
• Brewton (county seat)
• East Brewton

Towns

• Flomaton
• Pollard
• Riverview

Unincorporated communities

• Canoe
• Dixonville
• Foshee
• Freemanville
• Huxford
• McCullough
• Nokomis
• Spring Hill
• Wahl

Former town

• Alco

Indian reservation

• Poarch Creek Indian Reservation

Education

The two school districts are Brewton City School District (City of Brewton) and Escambia County School District (all other locations).

Historic sites

Escambia County has three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Atmore Commercial Historic District the Brewton Historic Commercial District, and the Commercial Hotel-Hart Hotel.

Notable residents

• Esther Blake (1897–1979), the first woman in the United States Air Force.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Escambia County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Escambia County, Alabama

External links

• Escambia County Industrial Development Authority
• Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance
• Escambia County history
• Escambia County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).
• The Brewton Standard
• South Alabama Community Website