Escambia County, Alabama
Escambia County | |
|---|---|
 Escambia County Alabama Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Alabama | |
 Alabama's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°07′36″N 87°09′44″W / 31.126666666667°N 87.162222222222°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 10, 1868 |
| Seat | Brewton |
| Largest city | Atmore |
| Area | |
• Total | 952.95 sq mi (2,468.1 km2) |
| • Land | 947.38 sq mi (2,453.7 km2) |
| • Water | 5.57 sq mi (14.4 km2) (0.58%)% |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 38,319 |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (15.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website | www |
- There is also an Escambia County, Florida.
Escambia County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,319.[1] Its county seat is Brewton.
History
Historic American Indian tribes in the area included the Creek, Choctaw, and Alabama, who had inhabited the lands for centuries for hunting and 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 in an attempt to survive alongside the encroachment of settlers moving west. Most of these peoples were removed by United States forces in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.
Escambia County was 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, and had been developed by nineteenth-century settlers as plantations.
The name "Escambia" may have been derived from the Creek name Shambia, meaning "clearwater",[2] or the Choctaw word for "cane-brake" or "reed-brake". There is also an Escambia County in Florida.[3]
In September 1979, the county was declared a disaster area due to damage from Hurricane Frederic, and again in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 952.95 square miles (2,468.1 km2), of which 947.38 square miles (2,453.7 km2) (or 99.42%) is land and 5.57 square miles (14.4 km2) (or 0.58%) is water.[4]
Major highways
Interstate 65
U.S. Highway 29
U.S. Highway 31
Alabama State Route 21
Alabama State Route 41
Alabama State Route 113
.svg){kind=small}
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 twenty-two counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. The others are Union Parish, Louisiana and Union County, Arkansas, Big Horn County, Montana and Big Horn County, Wyoming, Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island, Kent County, Delaware and Kent County, Maryland, Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri, Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming, Park County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming, San Juan County, New Mexico and San Juan County, Utah, and Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana. respectively. (Note, despite the different spellings, the source of the name is the same for Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana--the Vermillion River which flows through both counties.)
National protected area
- Conecuh National Forest (part)
Demographics
| 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% | |
| 2011 (est.) | 38,095 | −0.6% | |
2011 estimate through 1960 | |||
2010
Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:
- 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)
2000
As of the censusTemplate:GR 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/km2). There were 16,544 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/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 unincorporated southwestern Escambia County, 9 miles (14 km) north of Atmore.[5][6] Holman has a male death row and the State of Alabama execution chamber.[6] In addition the ADOC Fountain Correctional Facility is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Atmore.[7]
Cities and towns
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
References
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Escambia County Alabama History - accessed August 18, 2009
- ^ Alabama Department of Archives and History - accessed August 18, 2009
- ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ "Holman Correctional Facility." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
- ^ a b "Annual Report Fiscal Year 2003." Alabama Department of Corrections. 33/84. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
- ^ "Fountain / JO Davis Correctional Facility." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
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
Municipalities and communities of Escambia County, Alabama, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Former Town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |