Alabama's 9th congressional district

"AL-9" redirects here. For the state route, see Alabama State Route 9.

Alabama's 9th congressional district
Obsolete district
Population (1950)	558,928
Created	1890
Eliminated	1960
Years active	1893-1963

Alabama's 9th congressional district was formerly apportioned to portions of central and western Alabama from 1893 until 1963 when the seat was lost due to reapportionment after the 1960 United States Census.

Highlights

Formed in 1893, the district was first represented by Louis Washington Turpin, a self-educated tax assessor from Hale County. The district was represented by Democrats during the whole of its existence except from 1896-1897 when Truman Heminway Aldrich, a Republican, unseated Oscar W. Underwood in a post-election contest.

The 1960 United States Census and the subsequent reapportionment decreased Alabama's representation in the United States Congress.

History

By the 1890s the growth of Birmingham, Alabama, coupled with overall growth of Alabama's population, increased the number of representatives in the United States House from Alabama to nine.

It was decided to draw the new ninth district primarily from Jefferson County but also to include a few more rural counties to the south. In the first election in the district over 29,000 votes were cast. This was the most votes in any Alabama Congressional district.

It lost some area to the 6th district in 1902.

In 1916, redistricting again occurred, which reduced the ninth district to only include Jefferson County. These boundaries remained essentially the same until the district was dissolved in 1962.

Population disparity

By the early 1940s the 9th district had a population of 459,930. This was 103,000 more people than the next largest district, and 209,000 more people than lived in the neighboring 6th district. By the 1950s there were 558,928 people in the ninth district and 250,726 in the 6th district. From 1932 through 1962 the state of Alabama did not reapportion its congressional districts.

List of representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Notes
District created March 4, 1893
Louis W. Turpin	Democratic	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895		Redistricted from the 4th district
Oscar W. Underwood	Democratic	March 4, 1895 – June 9, 1896	Birmingham	Election successfully contested by Truman Heminway Aldrich
Truman Heminway Aldrich	Republican	June 9, 1896 – March 3, 1897	Birmingham	Retired
Oscar W. Underwood	Democratic	March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1915	Birmingham	Retired to run for U.S. Senate
George Huddleston	Democratic	March 4, 1915 – January 3, 1937
Luther Patrick	Democratic	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1943
John P. Newsome	Democratic	January 3, 1943 -January 3, 1945
Luther Patrick	Democratic	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947
Laurie C. Battle	Democratic	January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1955
George Huddleston, Jr.	Democratic	January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1963		Redistricted to the At-large district
District inactive January 3, 1963 – Present

Historical Boundaries

Census Year	Population	Counties
1890	181,085	Bibb, Blount, Hale, Jefferson, Perry
1900	213,820	Bibb, Blount, Jefferson, Perry
1910	226,476	Jefferson
1920	310,054
1930	431,493
1940	459,930
1950	558,928

References

• Population data from U.S. Census Bureau: Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990
• Additional population data and counties from the Official Congressional Directories of the 53rd Congress (1893); 58th Congress (1903); 81st Congress (1950); and 83rd Congress (1953).
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present