Geneva County, Alabama

Geneva County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,659.[1] Its county seat is Geneva.[2] The county was named after its county seat, which in turn was named after Geneva, New York which was named after Geneva, Switzerland, by Walter H. Yonge, an early town resident and Swiss native.[3] Geneva County is a dry county in certain areas. Beer and wine are sold in Geneva, Samson, and Slocomb, but it isn't sold in any capacity in Hartford.

For other uses, see Geneva (disambiguation).

Geneva County
County
The Geneva County Courthouse in Geneva
The Geneva County Courthouse in Geneva
Map of Alabama highlighting Geneva County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°05′32″N 85°50′18″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 26, 1868
Named forGeneva, New York
SeatGeneva
Largest cityGeneva
Area
 • Total579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,659
 • Estimate 
(2022)
26,783 Increase
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitegenevacountyal.gov
  • County Number 34 on Alabama Licence Plates

Geneva County is part of the Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Geneva County was established on December 26, 1868.

The county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic.

On March 10, 2009, a gunman, identified as Michael McLendon, went on a shooting spree at nine locations in Geneva County from the town of Samson to the city of Geneva, killing ten people and wounding six others. McLendon entered his former place of employment, Reliable Metal Products on the northeastern side of Geneva, where he killed himself.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4] The county is located in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.

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

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,959—
18804,34246.7%
189010,690146.2%
190019,09678.6%
191026,23037.4%
192029,31511.8%
193030,1042.7%
194029,172−3.1%
195025,899−11.2%
196022,310−13.9%
197021,924−1.7%
198024,25310.6%
199023,647−2.5%
200025,7649.0%
201026,7904.0%
202026,659−0.5%
2022 (est.)26,783[5]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[1]

2020
Geneva County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 22,181 22,692 21,654 86.09% 84.70% 81.23%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,725 2,523 2,231 10.58% 9.42% 8.37%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 187 197 166 0.73% 0.74% 0.62%
Asian alone (NH) 32 64 86 0.12% 0.24% 0.32%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 6 8 7 0.02% 0.03% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 11 15 72 0.04% 0.06% 0.27%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 169 371 1,147 0.66% 1.38% 4.30%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 453 920 1,296 1.76% 3.43% 4.86%
Total 25,764 26,790 26,659 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,659 people, 10,383 households, and 6,902 families residing in the county.

2010

The 2010 United States census has the breakdown as:

2000

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 25,764 people, 10,477 households, and 7,459 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 12,115 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.11% White, 10.65% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,477 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 90.00 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,448, and the median income for a family was $32,563. Males had a median income of $26,018 versus $19,341 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,620. About 15.90% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Government and politics

Much like the state and the rest of the Deep South, Geneva County was locked for the Democrats before 1964, except when powerful anti-Catholic and Prohibitionist feelings directed against "wet" Democratic nominee Al Smith allowed Herbert Hoover to win in 1928 by 48 votes.[14] However, ever since 1980, Geneva County has been a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Deep South native Jimmy Carter in 1976. Geneva is also noteworthy for being the best county in the country for segregationist and Alabama native George Wallace in the 1968 election,[15] where his main support was from the Deep South and was strongest in the Wiregrass and Piney Woods regions.

United States presidential election results for Geneva County, Alabama[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,848 86.47% 1,595 12.71% 102 0.81%
2016 9,994 85.00% 1,525 12.97% 239 2.03%
2012 9,175 80.97% 2,039 17.99% 117 1.03%
2008 9,417 80.78% 2,134 18.31% 106 0.91%
2004 8,342 79.30% 2,113 20.09% 65 0.62%
2000 6,588 68.92% 2,769 28.97% 202 2.11%
1996 4,725 52.60% 3,174 35.33% 1,084 12.07%
1992 4,843 49.08% 3,622 36.71% 1,402 14.21%
1988 5,703 67.32% 2,685 31.69% 84 0.99%
1984 6,308 70.00% 2,330 25.86% 373 4.14%
1980 4,747 49.30% 4,703 48.85% 178 1.85%
1976 2,663 30.47% 5,983 68.46% 93 1.06%
1972 5,851 84.33% 1,049 15.12% 38 0.55%
1968 284 3.31% 380 4.43% 7,917 92.26%
1964 4,502 80.74% 0 0.00% 1,074 19.26%
1960 1,502 32.95% 3,050 66.90% 7 0.15%
1956 1,179 28.63% 2,841 68.99% 98 2.38%
1952 950 25.98% 2,703 73.93% 3 0.08%
1948 286 13.47% 0 0.00% 1,837 86.53%
1944 385 16.01% 2,004 83.36% 15 0.62%
1940 364 12.37% 2,565 87.19% 13 0.44%
1936 295 10.00% 2,652 89.93% 2 0.07%
1932 270 9.53% 2,559 90.33% 4 0.14%
1928 1,533 50.80% 1,485 49.20% 0 0.00%
1924 477 27.85% 1,191 69.53% 45 2.63%
1920 1,088 41.65% 1,488 56.97% 36 1.38%
1916 713 35.42% 1,265 62.84% 35 1.74%
1912 99 6.44% 891 57.93% 548 35.63%
1908 500 32.87% 854 56.15% 167 10.98%
1904 473 31.12% 743 48.88% 304 20.00%
1900 657 44.97% 679 46.48% 125 8.56%
1896 46 3.40% 1,246 92.16% 60 4.44%
1892 0 0.00% 797 52.61% 718 47.39%
1888 5 0.63% 794 99.37% 0 0.00%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Geneva County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. June 4, 2009. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Geneva County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Geneva County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Geneva County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 212 ISBN 9780691163246
  15. "1968 Presidential Election Statistics". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.
  16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.

31°05′32″N 85°50′18″W

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