Walker County, Alabama

Walker County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,342.[2] Its county seat is Jasper.[3] Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, the first U.S. senator elected from Alabama.[1]

Walker County
County
Walker County Courthouse in Jasper
Walker County Courthouse in Jasper
Map of Alabama highlighting Walker County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°48′13″N 87°17′52″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 26, 1823[1]
Named forJohn Williams Walker
SeatJasper
Largest cityJasper
Area
 • Total805 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land791 sq mi (2,050 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total65,342
 • Estimate 
(2022)
64,339 Decrease
 • Density81/sq mi (31/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.walkercounty.com
  • County Number 64 on Alabama Licence Plates

Walker County comprises the entirety of the Jasper, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Walker County was established on December 26, 1823, and formed from sections of Marion and Tuscaloosa counties.[1] It was named after Senator John Walker, who represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1819 to 1822.[1] The county was greatly reduced in size on February 12, 1850, when its northern half became the county of Winston. Jasper is the county seat, and was named after William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina.[1]

National Register of Historic Places

Walker County has sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Bankhead House, Boshell's Mill, the First United Methodist Church of Jasper, the Gilchrist House, the Jasper Downtown Historic District, the Stephenson House, and Walker County Hospital.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.7%) is water.[5] The county is located in the Cumberland Plateau region, with many plateaus and valleys, along with many forested areas, covering the county.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18302,202—
18404,03283.1%
18505,12427.1%
18607,98055.7%
18706,543−18.0%
18809,47944.9%
189016,07869.6%
190025,16256.5%
191037,01347.1%
192050,59336.7%
193059,44517.5%
194064,2018.0%
195063,769−0.7%
196054,211−15.0%
197056,2463.8%
198068,66022.1%
199067,670−1.4%
200070,7134.5%
201067,023−5.2%
202065,342−2.5%
2022 (est.)64,339[7]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census
Walker 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[12] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 64,855 60,587 56,394 91.72% 90.40% 86.31%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4,323 3,885 3,889 6.11% 5.80% 5.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 197 233 187 0.28% 0.35% 0.29%
Asian alone (NH) 140 190 283 0.20% 0.28% 0.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 13 26 2 0.02% 0.04% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 18 36 136 0.03% 0.05% 0.21%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 560 759 2,299 0.79% 1.13% 3.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 607 1,307 2,152 0.86% 1.95% 3.29%
Total 70,713 67,023 65,342 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 65,342 people, 25,153 households, and 17,410 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 67,023 people, 26,571 households, and 18,741 families living in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile (33 people/km2). There were 30,816 housing units at an average density of 38 units per square mile (15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Nearly 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15] There were 26,571 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median household income was $37,191 and the median family income was $45,788. Males had a median income of $43,671 versus $27,662 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,516. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 70,713 people, 28,364 households, and 20,478 families living in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km2). There were 32,417 housing units at an average density of 41 units per square mile (16 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.15% White, 6.17% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Nearly 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[16] In 2000 the largest reported ancestry groups in Walker County, AL were:

There were 28,364 households, 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.30% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.30% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median household income was $29,076 and the median family income was $35,221. Males had a median income of $31,242 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,546. About 13.20% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Local officials have described coal mining as "literally at the core" of the county's economy.[17]

Government
United States presidential election results for Walker County, Alabama[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 26,002 83.42% 4,834 15.51% 334 1.07%
2016 24,266 82.34% 4,497 15.26% 709 2.41%
2012 21,651 75.74% 6,557 22.94% 377 1.32%
2008 20,722 72.32% 7,420 25.90% 510 1.78%
2004 19,167 67.57% 9,016 31.78% 184 0.65%
2000 13,486 52.60% 11,621 45.32% 534 2.08%
1996 9,837 39.44% 12,929 51.84% 2,173 8.71%
1992 11,301 38.26% 14,831 50.22% 3,402 11.52%
1988 11,011 48.51% 11,338 49.95% 351 1.55%
1984 12,852 54.11% 10,591 44.59% 310 1.31%
1980 8,795 38.53% 13,616 59.65% 417 1.83%
1976 7,389 31.16% 16,232 68.46% 89 0.38%
1972 14,581 78.79% 3,724 20.12% 202 1.09%
1968 2,628 13.56% 1,971 10.17% 14,786 76.28%
1964 8,582 58.41% 0 0.00% 6,110 41.59%
1960 5,463 40.25% 8,109 59.75% 0 0.00%
1956 5,179 40.09% 7,661 59.30% 79 0.61%
1952 3,490 33.45% 6,862 65.78% 80 0.77%
1948 1,852 30.72% 0 0.00% 4,176 69.28%
1944 2,241 32.45% 4,619 66.87% 47 0.68%
1940 2,007 25.18% 5,940 74.52% 24 0.30%
1936 1,699 22.70% 5,697 76.12% 88 1.18%
1932 1,583 24.85% 4,734 74.31% 54 0.85%
1928 3,635 46.23% 4,228 53.77% 0 0.00%
1924 2,446 39.85% 3,351 54.59% 341 5.56%
1920 4,488 47.75% 4,703 50.04% 208 2.21%
1916 1,860 43.25% 2,314 53.80% 127 2.95%
1912 881 24.64% 2,063 57.71% 631 17.65%
1908 1,367 44.66% 1,632 53.32% 62 2.03%
1904 1,024 37.90% 1,639 60.66% 39 1.44%

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest

Walker County is home to the William B. Bankhead National Forest and Lewis Smith Lake, in addition to the Alabama Mining Museum.

See also

References
  1. "ACES Walker County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Walker.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "Walker County".
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  12. "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Walker County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Walker County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Walker County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. Ross, Sean (April 2, 2021). "Reed, South spearhead bill into law providing critical support for Alabama's coal counties". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

33°48′13″N 87°17′52″W

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