Colbert County, Alabama

Colbert County (/ˈkɒlbərt/)[1] is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the county's population was 54,428.[2] The county seat is Tuscumbia.[3] Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs.[4]

Colbert County
U.S. county
Colbert County Courthouse in Tuscumbia
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°40′36″N 87°49′02″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 6, 1867
Named forGeorge and Levi Colbert
SeatTuscumbia
Largest cityMuscle Shoals
Area
 • Total622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Land593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Water30 sq mi (80 km2)  4.7%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total54,428
 • Estimate 
(2019)
55,241
 • Density88/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.colbertcounty.org
 
  • County Number 20 on Alabama Licence Plates
Colbert County Courthouse Square District Historic Marker, September 2007

Colbert County is part of the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as "The Shoals".

History

Colbert County was originally established on February 6, 1867 after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War. It was abolished eight months later on November 29, 1867[5] by an Alabama constitutional convention and then reestablished on February 24, 1870.[4] It is also the location of Ivy Green, the birthplace of noted fiction author Helen Keller.[4] Colbert County is also home of the towns Sheffield and Muscle Shoals where many popular musicians such as Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones recorded music. Colbert County is the home of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard established in 1937.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622 square miles (1,610 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 30 square miles (78 km2) (4.7%) is water.[7]

National protected area

River

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 43
  • U.S. Highway 72
  • State Route 13
  • State Route 17
  • State Route 20
  • State Route 133
  • State Route 157
  • State Route 184
  • State Route 247
  • Natchez Trace Parkway

Rail

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
187012,537—
188016,15328.8%
189020,18925.0%
190022,34110.7%
191024,80211.0%
192031,99729.0%
193029,860−6.7%
194034,09314.2%
195039,56116.0%
196046,50617.6%
197049,6326.7%
198054,5199.8%
199051,666−5.2%
200054,9846.4%
201054,428−1.0%
Est. 201955,241[9]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[2]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 54,984 people, 22,461 households, and 16,037 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36/km2). There were 24,980 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.52% White or European American (non-Hispanic), 16.62% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010

According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau:

  • 80.4% White (non-Hispanic)
  • 14.0% Black
  • 0.4% Native American
  • 0.7% Asian
  • 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
  • 0.91% Two or more races
  • 2.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

There were 22,461 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,954, and the median income for a family was $39,294. Males had a median income of $32,112 versus $20,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,533. About 11.10% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Presidential elections results
Colbert County vote
by party in presidential elections [15]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 67.2% 16,746 29.4% 7,312 3.4% 857
2012 59.4% 13,936 39.1% 9,166 1.5% 342
2008 59.3% 14,739 39.1% 9,703 1.6% 401
2004 55.1% 13,188 44.3% 10,598 0.6% 149
2000 48.9% 10,518 49.0% 10,543 2.2% 471
1996 40.9% 8,305 50.3% 10,226 8.8% 1,787
1992 36.0% 8,073 54.4% 12,206 9.6% 2,160
1988 42.3% 7,775 56.5% 10,397 1.3% 232
1984 45.3% 9,530 52.3% 11,008 2.4% 494
1980 33.1% 6,619 62.7% 12,550 4.2% 844
1976 26.6% 4,471 71.2% 11,996 2.2% 375
1972 67.7% 11,215 29.0% 4,811 3.3% 538
1968 11.1% 1,727 14.7% 2,291 74.3% 11,603
1964 48.6% 5,267 51.4% 5,573
1960 26.8% 2,815 71.9% 7,550 1.4% 143
1956 20.4% 1,819 78.4% 7,007 1.2% 111
1952 18.9% 1,381 81.0% 5,920 0.1% 7
1948 15.6% 488 84.4% 2,637
1944 12.8% 496 87.1% 3,386 0.2% 7
1940 8.4% 365 91.5% 3,998 0.2% 8
1936 6.9% 251 92.8% 3,365 0.3% 12
1932 9.6% 312 89.6% 2,908 0.7% 24
1928 31.6% 1,249 65.8% 2,596 2.6% 103
1924 25.3% 576 66.0% 1,503 8.7% 199
1920 25.2% 650 72.4% 1,869 2.4% 62
1916 23.0% 352 74.0% 1,132 2.9% 45
1912 15.3% 228 63.3% 946 21.5% 321
1908 27.9% 353 67.1% 849 5.1% 64
1904 17.5% 203 80.6% 936 2.0% 23

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities
  • Colbert County was featured in a three-part comedy feature on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report from November 28–30, 2006.
  • Colbert County is the setting for the Drive-by Truckers song, "Putting People on the Moon"

See also

References
  1. Place Names in Alabama - Virginia O. Foscue - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Colbert County Website". Retrieved May 16, 2007.
  5. "Alabama Counties: Colbert County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Montgomery, AL: Alabama Department of Archives and History. November 20, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  6. Kazek, Kelly (August 19, 2014). "Legendary Coon Dog Cemetery to once again host Labor Day celebration with live music, crafts, barbecue". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, AL. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. Alabama Railway Map Archived March 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.

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