Randolph County, Alabama

Randolph County is a county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Alabama.[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,913.[2] Its county seat is Wedowee.[1][3] Its name is in honor of John Randolph, a member of the United States Senate from Virginia.[1] Randolph County was a prohibition or dry county until 2012, when the citizens of Randolph County voted to repeal prohibition.

Randolph County
U.S. county
County courthouse in Wedowee
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°17′21″N 85°27′37″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1832[1]
Named forJohn Randolph of Roanoke
SeatWedowee
Largest cityRoanoke
Area
 • Total584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  0.56%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total22,913
 • Estimate 
(2019)
22,722
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiterandolphcountyalabama.gov
 
  • County Number 56 on Alabama License Plates

History

Randolph County was established by the Alabama Legislature on December 18, 1832,[1] following Indian Removal of the Creek people. It was named in honor of John Randolph, a well-known Virginia congressman. Randolph County was one of several counties created out of the last Creek cession formulated by the Treaty of Cusseta, on March 24, 1832. It lies within the Piedmont region, which extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania.[1]

The first white settlers said the county had an abundance of the "purest and coldest freestone water in the world." The area was also noted for its gentle rolling hills.[4] The first county seat for Randolph County was established in 1833 at Hedgeman Triplett's Ferry on the west bank of the Big Tallapoosa River, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Wedowee, Alabama.[1]

In 1835 (2 years later), the county seat was moved by the commissioners to nearby Wedowee. This city lies in the center of Randolph County, on a fork of the Little Tallapoosa River. Wedowee was named after a Creek tribal chief "Wah-wah-nee" (or "Wah-dow-wee") of a village here. The European-American town was developed near that site after the Creek were forced out.[1]

The county was developed for agriculture, specifically cotton plantations, which were worked by African-American slaves brought by migrants to the region or transported from the Upper South during the domestic slave trade. It was adjacent to what became known as the Black Belt of Alabama, an area of plantation development in the uplands, where short-staple cotton was cultivated. Many African Americans stayed in the area as sharecroppers and tenant farmers after the Civil War, but left for other opportunities during the first half of the 20th century. The table below shows population declines from 1920 to 1970, reflecting this demographic change. In 2010 some 20 percent of the population was African American, reflecting this history of cotton agriculture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18404,973—
185011,581132.9%
186020,05973.2%
187012,006−40.1%
188016,57538.1%
189017,2193.9%
190021,64725.7%
191024,65913.9%
192027,0649.8%
193026,861−0.8%
194025,516−5.0%
195022,513−11.8%
196019,477−13.5%
197018,331−5.9%
198020,0759.5%
199019,881−1.0%
200022,38012.6%
201022,9132.4%
Est. 201922,722[6]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2018[2]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 22,380 people, 8,642 households, and 6,222 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 10,285 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.38% White (non-Hispanic), 22.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 3.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,642 households, 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.20% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. Nearly 25.60% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median household income was $28,675 and the median family income was $34,684. Males had a median income of $27,069 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,147. About 12.60% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 22,913 people, 9,164 households, and 6,357 families living in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 11,982 housing units at an average density of 20.6 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% White (non-Hispanic), 20.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[12] There were 9,164 households, 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. Nearly 27.9% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% 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 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median household income was $34,593 and the median family income was $43,528. Males had a median income of $31,305 versus $27,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 14.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Presidential elections results
Randolph County vote
by party in presidential elections [13]
Year GOP Dem Others
2016 75.6% 7,705 22.5% 2,291 1.9% 191
2012 69.3% 7,224 29.5% 3,078 1.1% 119
2008 69.1% 7,175 29.5% 3,064 1.4% 145
2004 68.1% 6,127 31.3% 2,817 0.6% 57
2000 58.9% 4,666 39.1% 3,094 2.0% 159
1996 47.4% 3,304 43.4% 3,023 9.2% 642
1992 46.8% 3,813 40.7% 3,318 12.5% 1,021
1988 64.0% 4,625 34.1% 2,462 1.9% 137
1984 65.7% 4,940 32.5% 2,439 1.8% 136
1980 46.2% 3,279 47.6% 3,378 6.2% 437
1976 37.8% 2,286 58.6% 3,539 3.6% 219
1972 75.1% 4,427 22.6% 1,330 2.3% 135
1968 12.3% 839 9.8% 666 77.9% 5,299
1964 62.7% 3,127 37.4% 1,864
1960 34.6% 1,697 64.7% 3,175 0.7% 33
1956 33.3% 1,584 66.2% 3,151 0.6% 26
1952 26.1% 1,047 73.8% 2,964 0.2% 7
1948 27.1% 469 72.9% 1,261
1944 28.0% 702 71.1% 1,785 1.0% 25
1940 21.7% 670 77.9% 2,407 0.4% 12
1936 22.2% 793 77.4% 2,766 0.4% 15
1932 25.5% 767 74.1% 2,226 0.4% 12
1928 59.0% 1,815 40.9% 1,257 0.1% 2
1924 33.4% 669 65.3% 1,307 1.3% 25
1920 44.9% 1,113 54.7% 1,357 0.4% 9
1916 32.9% 652 66.7% 1,324 0.5% 9
1912 14.8% 268 65.0% 1,177 20.2% 366
1908 32.7% 395 66.2% 799 1.1% 13
1904 30.5% 695 66.6% 1,518 2.9% 67

Transportation

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 431
  • State Route 22
  • State Route 48
  • State Route 77

Rail

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest

Randolph County is home to Lake Wedowee, a section of the Tallapoosa River.

See also

Notes
  1. "ACES Randolph County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Randolph.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Lois Walls George, Paula Burson Lambert, Wyner S. Phillips, Randolph County, page 113
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

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