Dale County, Alabama

Dale County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Ozark.[2] Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale.[3]

Dale County
U.S. county
Daleville historical marker
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°26′00″N 85°36′00″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 22, 1824
Named forSamuel Dale
SeatOzark
Largest cityOzark
Area
 • Total563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Land561 sq mi (1,450 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total50,251
 • Estimate 
(2019)
49,172
 • Density89/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.dalecountyal.org
 
  • County Number 26 on Alabama Licence Plates

Dale County comprises the Ozark, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark, AL Combined Statistical Area.

The vast majority of Fort Rucker is located in Dale County.

History

The area now known as Dale County was originally inhabited by members of the Creek Indian nation, who occupied all of southeastern Alabama during this period. Between the years of 1764 and 1783 this region fell under the jurisdiction of the colony of British West Florida.[4] The county, together with the surrounding area, was ceded to the United States in the 1814 Treaty of Fort Jackson, ending the Creek Indian Wars. A blockhouse had been constructed during the conflict on the northwestern side of the Choctawhatchee River, and the first non-Indian residents of Dale County would be veterans who began to settle in the area around 1820.[5]

Dale County was established on December 22, 1824. It originally included the whole of what is now Coffee County and Geneva County, together with the "panhandle" portion of Houston County. The original county seat was located at Dale's Court House (now the town of Daleville), but when Coffee County split from Dale in 1841, the seat was moved to Newton. Here it remained until 1870 when, following a courthouse fire in 1869 and the formation of Geneva County (which took the southern third of Dale County), the county seat was moved to the town of Ozark, where it remains. In 1903 a small portion of the southeast part of Dale county was joined to the newly formed Houston County.

Portions of the 15th Regiment of Alabama Infantry, which served with great distinction throughout the U.S. Civil War, were recruited in Dale County, with all of Co. "E" and part of Co. "H" being composed of Dale County residents. This unit is most famous for being the regiment that confronted the 20th Maine on the Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. Despite several ferocious assaults, the 15th was ultimately unable to dislodge the Union troops, and was ultimately forced to retreat after a desperate bayonet charge led by the 20th Maine's commander, Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain.[6] This assault was vividly recreated in Ronald F. Maxwell's 1993 film Gettysburg. The 15th would continue to serve until the final capitulation of Lee's army at Appomattox Court House in 1865.

Another regiment recruited largely from Dale County was the 33rd Alabama; Companies B, G and I were recruited in the county, with Co. G coming from Daleville; Co. B from Newton, Skipperville, Clopton, Echo and Barnes Cross Roads; and Co. I from Newton, Haw Ridge, Rocky Head, Westville and Ozark.[7][8] This regiment fought with great distinction in the Army of Tennessee, mostly under famed General Patrick Cleburne, once winning the Thanks of the Confederate Congress for its action at Ringgold Gap. The regiment was largely annihilated during the battles of Perryville and Franklin, but a few men survived and returned to Dale County after the war.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 563 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 561 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[9] The county is located in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.

It is the fifth-smallest county in Alabama by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 84
  • U.S. Highway 231
  • State Route 27
  • State Route 51
  • State Route 85
  • State Route 92
  • State Route 123
  • State Route 134
  • State Route 248
  • State Route 249

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18302,031—
18407,397264.2%
18506,382−13.7%
186012,19791.1%
187011,325−7.1%
188012,67711.9%
189017,22535.9%
190021,18923.0%
191021,6082.0%
192022,7115.1%
193023,1752.0%
194022,685−2.1%
195020,828−8.2%
196031,06649.2%
197052,99570.6%
198047,821−9.8%
199049,6333.8%
200049,129−1.0%
201050,2512.3%
Est. 201949,172[10]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2018[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 49,129 people, 18,878 households, and 13,629 families living in the county. The population density was 88 people per square mile (34/km2). There were 21,779 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.4% White, 20.4% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 3.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 2.85% of the population reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.51% speak German.

Of the 18,878 households 36% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.3% of households were one person and 8.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.

The age distribution was 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95 males.

The median household income was $31,998 and the median family income was $37,806. Males had a median income of $29,844 versus $19,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,010. 15% of the population and 12.6% of families were below the poverty line. 19.4% of those under the age of 18 and 16.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 50,251 people, 20,065 households, and 13,721 families living in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile (35/km2). There were 22,677 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% White, 19.3% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 5.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[16] Of the 20,065 households 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.3% of households were one person and 9.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% 65 or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median household income was $43,353 and the median family income was $50,685. Males had a median income of $24,569 versus $34,856 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,722. 14.8% of the population and 11.4% of families were below the poverty line. 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government
Presidential elections results
Dale County vote
by party in presidential elections [17]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 73.7% 13,808 23.5% 4,413 2.8% 528
2012 70.5% 13,108 28.4% 5,286 1.1% 207
2008 71.9% 13,886 27.3% 5,270 0.9% 164
2004 74.7% 13,621 24.6% 4,484 0.7% 126
2000 67.0% 10,593 31.0% 4,906 1.9% 307
1996 57.8% 8,288 33.0% 4,732 9.2% 1,310
1992 51.5% 8,123 32.3% 5,098 16.3% 2,566
1988 71.8% 9,266 26.9% 3,476 1.3% 163
1984 75.4% 10,319 23.5% 3,215 1.2% 158
1980 57.6% 7,247 39.3% 4,936 3.1% 390
1976 43.3% 4,996 55.0% 6,346 1.6% 189
1972 83.1% 8,346 15.9% 1,594 1.0% 98
1968 6.3% 607 8.9% 862 84.9% 8,236
1964 83.8% 4,970 16.2% 963
1960 38.7% 1,634 60.8% 2,563 0.5% 21
1956 34.6% 1,284 62.5% 2,318 3.0% 110
1952 28.5% 1,073 70.9% 2,669 0.6% 21
1948 14.4% 230 85.6% 1,372
1944 13.3% 325 85.6% 2,094 1.1% 28
1940 12.8% 374 87.0% 2,543 0.2% 5
1936 7.4% 193 92.5% 2,404 0.1% 2
1932 6.3% 155 93.7% 2,300 0.0% 1
1928 44.8% 1,000 55.2% 1,233 0.0% 1
1924 20.6% 297 77.5% 1,117 1.9% 27
1920 35.3% 768 63.7% 1,386 1.0% 21
1916 31.9% 597 67.4% 1,260 0.7% 13
1912 6.2% 99 66.0% 1,059 27.8% 446
1908 26.2% 346 69.6% 921 4.2% 56
1904 24.2% 345 69.9% 997 5.9% 84

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Notable people
  • Samuel Dale (1772 – May 24, 1841), was an American frontiersman, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama", is buried here.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 98.
  4. The Economy of British West Florida, 1763-1783 by Robin F. A. Fabel (University of Alabama Press, 2002)
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20080528150204/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1767/. Retrieved on 21 July 2008.
  6. Desjardin, pp. 69-71, Pfanz, p. 232.
  7. 33rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry
  8. 33rd Alabama, Company B Archived July 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.

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