Winston County, Alabama

Winston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,484.[2] Its county seat is Double Springs.[3] Known as Hancock County before 1858,[1] the county is named in honor of John A. Winston, the fifteenth Governor of Alabama.

Winston County
U.S. county
Winston County courthouse in Double Springs
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°08′57″N 87°22′29″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 12, 1850[1]
Named forJohn A. Winston
SeatDouble Springs
Largest cityHaleyville
Area
 • Total632 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Land613 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  3.0%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total24,484
 • Estimate 
(2019)
23,629
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.winstoncountyalabama.org
 
  • County number 67 on Alabama license plates
  • Highest county number in Alabama
  • Widely known as "The Free State of Winston."

History

Winston County was established under the name Hancock County on February 12, 1850, from territory that was formerly part of Walker County (a county directly to the south of Winston County).[1] It was originally named for John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts and famous signer of the American Declaration of Independence, with its county seat at Houston. On January 22, 1858, the county was renamed Winston County to honor Alabama Gov. John A. Winston.

During the American Civil War, Winston County gained attention for its opposition to secession, a sentiment so strong that the county is sometimes referred to as the Free State of Winston.[4] The county today plays on its reputation as the "Free State of Winston" to attract tourists. The county's opposition to the Confederacy is briefly mentioned in the novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Addie Pray.

In 1883, the county seat was moved from Houston to Double Springs to be near the center of the county, since Cullman County was created from the eastern part of Winston County.[5]

The civil-rights judge Frank Minis Johnson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit was born in Delmar, in Winston County.

National Register of Historic Places

Winston County has four sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Archeological Site No. 1WI50, Feldman's Department Store, the Houston Jail, and the Winston County Courthouse.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 631 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 613 square miles (1,590 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (3.0%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,542—
18603,576131.9%
18704,15516.2%
18804,2532.4%
18906,55254.1%
19009,55445.8%
191012,85534.6%
192014,37811.8%
193015,5968.5%
194018,74620.2%
195018,250−2.6%
196014,858−18.6%
197016,65412.1%
198021,95331.8%
199022,0530.5%
200024,84312.7%
201024,484−1.4%
Est. 201923,629[8]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2018[2]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 24,484 people, 10,163 households, and 7,074 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 13,469 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Nearly 2.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[13] There were 10,163 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. Nearly 27.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median household income was $33,685 and the median family income was $39,784. Males had a median income of $38,074 versus $23,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,055. 15.4% of the population and 20.6% of families were below the poverty line. 31.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2000 Census

At the 2000 census there were 24,843 people, 10,107 households, and 7,287 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 12,502 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 0.038% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Nearly 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] There were 10,107 households, 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. Nearly 25.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median household income was $28,435 and the median family income was $32,628. Males had a median income of $26,206 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,738. 17.1% of the population and 12.9% of families were below the poverty line. 21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 23% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Religion

At the 2010 census:[15]

Government and politics

Unlike nearly every other county in the Deep South, and in keeping with its history during the American Civil War, Winston County has always been a bastion of support for the Republican Party, even as the Democratic Party utterly dominated Alabama state politics from the end of Reconstruction until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For example, in four consecutive elections from 1936 to 1948, Winston County stood alone in Alabama voting for the Republican Presidential ticket,[16] and in 1912 Winston County joined three other Alabama counties in voting for the Bull Moose Party candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt.[17] The county also voted for the Populist candidate of James B. Weaver in 1892.[18]

The only Democrat to win the county since 1936 (or to get a majority in it since 1880) has been Jimmy Carter in 1976, and in recent times Winston County has become comparably Republican to the Texas Panhandle.[18]

Presidential election results
Winston County vote
by party in presidential elections [19]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 89.5% 9,228 8.5% 872 2.1% 213
2012 85.4% 8,312 13.2% 1,286 1.3% 130
2008 80.8% 8,103 17.5% 1,757 1.7% 171
2004 78.0% 8,130 21.5% 2,236 0.6% 57
2000 68.8% 6,413 28.9% 2,692 2.3% 213
1996 54.8% 4,728 36.2% 3,120 9.0% 779
1992 55.0% 5,550 33.9% 3,415 11.1% 1,124
1988 67.6% 6,235 32.0% 2,954 0.4% 36
1984 72.2% 6,845 27.7% 2,624 0.1% 9
1980 59.0% 4,981 39.9% 3,368 1.0% 87
1976 47.2% 3,710 52.5% 4,134 0.3% 24
1972 86.1% 4,971 13.5% 779 0.4% 21
1968 39.3% 2,174 4.7% 258 56.0% 3,095
1964 71.2% 3,438 28.8% 1,391
1960 67.0% 3,421 32.9% 1,681 0.1% 3
1956 65.6% 2,998 34.4% 1,570 0.0% 2
1952 59.1% 2,017 40.7% 1,390 0.3% 9
1948 64.3% 1,588 35.7% 880
1944 62.5% 1,538 37.1% 912 0.4% 10
1940 54.6% 1,686 45.1% 1,394 0.4% 11
1936 52.8% 1,428 46.9% 1,270 0.3% 8
1932 49.8% 1,005 49.8% 1,006 0.4% 8
1928 76.0% 2,085 24.0% 659 0.0% 1
1924 61.0% 1,096 36.2% 650 2.8% 50
1920 69.0% 2,307 31.0% 1,037 0.0% 0
1916 59.9% 1,107 39.4% 727 0.7% 13
1912 17.2% 292 29.9% 508 52.9% 900
1908 67.6% 949 31.6% 443 0.9% 12
1904 55.2% 789 42.1% 602 2.7% 38

Transportation

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 278
  • State Route 5
  • State Route 13
  • State Route 33
  • State Route 129
  • State Route 195
  • State Route 243

Rail

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

References
  1. "ACES Winston County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Winston.
  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. Andrews, Evan; ‘6 Unionist Strongholds in the South during the Civil War’
  5. Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921
  6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. "Winston County, Alabama". The Association of Religion. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  16. See 1936 election map by county.
  17. 1912 election map by county.
  18. The Political Graveyard; Winston County, Alabama
  19. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

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