Marion County, Alabama
Marion County | |
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UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | marioncountyalabama |
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Marion County is a
Marion County is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses 743 square miles (1,920 km2). The county is a prohibition or dry county, however, the sale of alcohol is permitted within the cities of Guin, Hamilton, and Winfield.
History
The county was created by the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818, preceding Alabama's statehood by almost two years. It was created from land acquired from the Chickasaw Indians by the Treaty of 1816. Marion County included all of its current territory and parts of what are now Winston, Walker, Fayette, and Lamar counties in Alabama as well as portions of present-day Lowndes, Monroe, and Itawamba counties in Mississippi. The county was named in honor of General Francis Marion (1732–1795), an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina who was known as "The Swamp Fox." Many early settlers of Marion County came from Kentucky and Tennessee after General Andrew Jackson established the Military Road. The first towns in the area were Pikeville, Hamilton (formerly named Toll Gate), Winfield, and Guin.
The county's first seat was settled in 1818 at
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 744 square miles (1,930 km2), of which 742 square miles (1,920 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
- Franklin County (north)
- Winston County (east)
- Walker County (southeast)
- Fayette County (south)
- Lamar County (southwest)
- Monroe County, Mississippi (southwest)
- Itawamba County, Mississippi (west)
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1830 | 4,058 | — | |
1840 | 5,847 | 44.1% | |
1850 | 7,833 | 34.0% | |
1860 | 11,182 | 42.8% | |
1870 | 6,059 | −45.8% | |
1880 | 9,364 | 54.5% | |
1890 | 11,347 | 21.2% | |
1900 | 14,494 | 27.7% | |
1910 | 17,495 | 20.7% | |
1920 | 22,008 | 25.8% | |
1930 | 25,967 | 18.0% | |
1940 | 28,776 | 10.8% | |
1950 | 27,264 | −5.3% | |
1960 | 21,837 | −19.9% | |
1970 | 23,788 | 8.9% | |
1980 | 30,041 | 26.3% | |
1990 | 29,830 | −0.7% | |
2000 | 31,214 | 4.6% | |
2010 | 30,776 | −1.4% | |
2020 | 29,341 | −4.7% | |
2023 (est.) | 29,244 | [6] | −0.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1] |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000[11] | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
29,387 | 28,509 | 26,093 | 94.15% | 92.63% | 88.93% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
1,131 | 1,178 | 1,094 | 3.62% | 3.83% | 3.73% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
90 | 94 | 82 | 0.29% | 0.31% | 0.28% |
Asian alone (NH) | 45 | 53 | 75 | 0.14% | 0.17% | 0.26% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 7 | 14 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 7 | 24 | 43 | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.15% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 190 | 279 | 1,077 | 0.61% | 0.91% | 3.67% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 360 | 632 | 863 | 1.15% | 2.05% | 2.94% |
Total | 31,214 | 30,776 | 29,341 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,341 people, 11,997 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the
The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median household income was $32,769 and the median family income was $44,223. Males had a median income of $34,089 versus $24,481 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,030. About 13.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the
2000 census
As of the
Of the 12,697 households 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.50% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87.
The age distribution was 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.
The median household income was $27,475 and the median family income was $34,359. Males had a median income of $26,913 versus $19,022 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,321. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the
Education
Two public school systems, Marion County Schools and Winfield City Schools, operate in the county. Hamilton is home to a campus of Bevill State Community College. Marion County School System
- Philips Elementary and High School (Bear Creek)
- Brilliant Elementary School
- Brilliant High School
- Guin Elementary School
- Marion County High School (Guin)
- Hackleburg Elementary and High School
- Hamilton Elementary School
- Hamilton Middle School
- Hamilton High School,
Winfield City School System
- Winfield Elementary School
- Winfield Middle School
- Winfield High School
Events
- Jerry Brown Arts Festival - Hamilton (March)
- Neighbor Day - Hackleburg (Last Saturday in April)
- MayFest - Guin (Second Saturday in May)
- CoalFest - Brilliant (Memorial Day)
- Mule Day - Winfield (September)
- Buttahatchee River Fall Fest - Hamilton (October)
Media
Newspapers
The Court House at Hamilton burned in March 1887.[16] All newspapers before that date were lost in the flames as the Court House was the repository for them. The newspapers that we have record of after the fire are:
- The Marion County Herald - (1885–1890) The first newspaper available for The Marion Herald is April 5, 1887 due to the Court House Fire. The original date of beginning and editors have been lost with the Court House fire, but seems to have been started around April 1885. The Lamar News states that A. A. Wall had been with the Marion Herald before he started The Vernon Courier which was in 1886.[17] No earlier publishers of the paper have been found. The newspaper passed through several hands before closing its doors. Some of the notable editors include W. F. Green, James S. Clements, W. T. Gast, L. J. Clark, and others. The first editors were listed under the name The Herald Publishing Company.
- The Guin Dispatch (1888–1889) The Guin Dispatch was started around November 1888 by James S. Clements. It did not last long - only 13 issues. It closed its doors with the last issue of Feb 23, 1889.
- The Hamilton Times (1890–1893)
- The Hamilton Free Press (1893–1894)
- The Hamilton News Press (1895)
- The Hamilton Appeal (1896)
- The Guin Gazette (1897)
- The Gazette Appeal (1897)
- The Winfield Enterprise (1899–1900)
- The Marion County Democrat (1900–1904)
- The Marion County Republican (1908–1909)
- The Marion County News (1894, 1896 - 1959?)
- New Hope Record (1920)
- The Winfield Journal (1930–1959)
- The Hackleburg Sentinel (1937–1955)
- The Marion County Journal (1975)
- The Guin Gazette (1987)
- The Gazette Appeal (1987)
- The Journal Record (1976–present)
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 22
- U.S. Highway 43
- U.S. Highway 78
- U.S. Highway 278
- State Route 13
- State Route 17
- State Route 19
- State Route 44
- State Route 74
- State Route 129
Rail
Air
- Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 12,205 | 88.40% | 1,463 | 10.60% | 139 | 1.01% |
2016 | 11,274 | 86.83% | 1,432 | 11.03% | 278 | 2.14% |
2012 | 9,697 | 79.95% | 2,249 | 18.54% | 183 | 1.51% |
2008 | 9,536 | 77.18% | 2,600 | 21.04% | 219 | 1.77% |
2004 | 8,983 | 69.77% | 3,808 | 29.58% | 84 | 0.65% |
2000 | 6,910 | 58.78% | 4,600 | 39.13% | 246 | 2.09% |
1996 | 4,742 | 43.79% | 5,049 | 46.62% | 1,039 | 9.59% |
1992 | 5,692 | 42.89% | 6,167 | 46.47% | 1,411 | 10.63% |
1988 | 5,955 | 56.73% | 4,505 | 42.92% | 37 | 0.35% |
1984 | 6,771 | 63.20% | 3,918 | 36.57% | 24 | 0.22% |
1980 | 5,182 | 48.26% | 5,450 | 50.75% | 106 | 0.99% |
1976 | 3,036 | 32.63% | 6,244 | 67.12% | 23 | 0.25% |
1972 | 5,927 | 85.38% | 986 | 14.20% | 29 | 0.42% |
1968 | 1,492 | 17.76% | 365 | 4.34% | 6,546 | 77.90% |
1964 | 3,966 | 69.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,747 | 30.58% |
1960 | 2,938 | 48.53% | 3,099 | 51.19% | 17 | 0.28% |
1956 | 2,536 | 46.88% | 2,849 | 52.67% | 24 | 0.44% |
1952 | 1,489 | 34.25% | 2,850 | 65.55% | 9 | 0.21% |
1948 | 813 | 32.84% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,663 | 67.16% |
1944 | 1,260 | 40.17% | 1,866 | 59.48% | 11 | 0.35% |
1940 | 1,081 | 28.37% | 2,654 | 69.64% | 76 | 1.99% |
1936 | 911 | 25.24% | 2,655 | 73.57% | 43 | 1.19% |
1932 | 545 | 18.71% | 2,325 | 79.81% | 43 | 1.48% |
1928 | 1,488 | 49.13% | 1,541 | 50.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,359 | 99.05% | 13 | 0.95% |
1920 | 1,865 | 43.08% | 2,461 | 56.85% | 3 | 0.07% |
1916 | 807 | 37.69% | 1,325 | 61.89% | 9 | 0.42% |
1912 | 378 | 22.39% | 1,098 | 65.05% | 212 | 12.56% |
1908 | 589 | 34.65% | 1,100 | 64.71% | 11 | 0.65% |
1904 | 635 | 34.07% | 1,224 | 65.67% | 5 | 0.27% |
Communities
Cities
- Guin
- Haleyville (mostly in Winston County)
- Hamilton (county seat)
- Winfield (partly in Fayette County)
Towns
- Bear Creek
- Brilliant
- Glen Allen (partly in Fayette County)
- Gu-Win (partly in Fayette County)
- Hackleburg
- Twin
Unincorporated communities
- Barnesville
- Bexar
- Byrd
- Pigeye
- Pull Tight
- Shottsville
- South Haleyville
- Texas
Ghost town
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Marion County, Alabama
References
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ISBN 1-891647-28-8.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Marion County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Marion Herald April 5, 1887 pg 8
- ^ The Lamar News of May 20, 1886
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.