Autauga County, Alabama

Autauga County
County
Autauga County Courthouse in Prattville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°32′12″N86°38′54″W / 32.5367°N 86.6483°W / 32.5367; -86.6483
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	November 21, 1818
Seat	Prattville
Largest city	Prattville
Area [1]
• Total	604 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Land	594 sq mi (1,540 km2)
• Water	10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	58,805
• Estimate  (2023)	60,342
• Density	97/sq mi (38/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.autaugaco.org
County Number 04 on Alabama Licence Plates

Autauga County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 58,805. ^[2] Its county seat is Prattville. ^[3]

Autauga County is part of the Montgomery metropolitan area.

History

Autauga County was established on November 21, 1818, by an act of the Alabama Territorial Legislature (one year before Alabama was admitted as a State). As established, the county included present-day Autauga County, as well as Elmore County and Chilton County. At the time, Autauga (aka, Tawasa) Indians lived here. They were concentrated in a village named Atagi (meaning "pure water") situated on the banks of a creek by the same name (called "Pearl Water Creek" by settlers); it is a tributary of the Alabama River.

The Autauga were a band of the Alibamu tribe, and named after their geographic location. The Alibamu eventually became absorbed within the Creek Confederacy. During Andrew Jackson's invasion of the area during the Creek War, as part of the War of 1812, the Autaga sent many warriors to resist. This county was part of the territory ceded in 1814 by the Creek Confederacy in the Treaty of Fort Jackson.

The territorial legislature designated the first county seat was designated at Jackson's Mill, but the court met there briefly, choosing to select a permanent seat at Washington. The new county seat was built on the former site of Atagi village in the southeast corner of the county. With population growth in the west, in 1830, the county seat was moved to a more central location at Kingston. Losing business and residents to the new county seat, the town of Washington dwindled until it was completely deserted by the late 1830s.

Daniel Pratt arrived in Autauga County in 1833 and founded the new town of Prattville, north of Atagi on the fall line of Autauga Creek. His cotton gin factory quickly became the largest manufacturer of gins in the world; it was the first major industry in Alabama.

Pratt financially backed the recruitment at his factory of men for the Prattville Dragoons, a fighting unit for the Confederacy. It was organized in anticipation of the Civil War. Other units formed in Autauga County included the Autauga Rifles (Autaugaville), The John Steele Guards (western Autauga Co.) and the Varina Rifles (northern Autauga Co.). None of the fighting of the Civil War reached Autauga County. Pratt was able to secure payment of debts from Northern accounts soon after the war, lessening the disabling effects of the Reconstruction period in the county.

Immediately after emancipation in early 1863, Charles Atwood, a freedman who had formerly been enslaved by Daniel Pratt, bought a house in the center of Prattville. He became one of the founding investors in Pratt's South and North Railroad. It was exceptional for an African American to become so economically successful and prominent, and to own land in an Alabama city in this period.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1866 and 1868, the legislature established Elmore and Chilton counties from Autauga County. The county seat was newly designated as Prattville, which was the population center of the redefined jurisdiction. A new courthouse was completed there in 1870 by local builder George L. Smith. In 1906, a new and larger courthouse was erected a block north; it was designed in a modified Richardsonian Romanesque style. The building was designed by Bruce Architectural Co. of Birmingham and built by Dobson & Bynum of Montgomery.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 604 square miles (1,560 km²), of which 594 square miles (1,540 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (1.6%) is water. ^{[4] [1]} The county is mostly located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region, with a few rolling hills and forests due to its close proximity to the fall line of the eastern United States. ^[5]

Climate

The county has a prevailing humid subtropical climate dominated by its location in the Southern Plains ecological sub-region of the United States. ^[6]

Major highways

• Interstate 65
• U.S. Highway 31
• U.S. Highway 82
• State Route 14
• State Route 111
• State Route 143

Adjacent counties

• Chilton County - north
• Elmore County - east
• Montgomery County - southeast
• Lowndes County - south
• Dallas County - west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	3,853		—
1830	11,874		208.2%
1840	14,342		20.8%
1850	15,023		4.7%
1860	16,739		11.4%
1870	11,623		−30.6%
1880	13,108		12.8%
1890	13,330		1.7%
1900	17,915		34.4%
1910	20,038		11.9%
1920	18,908		−5.6%
1930	19,694		4.2%
1940	20,977		6.5%
1950	18,186		−13.3%
1960	18,739		3.0%
1970	24,460		30.5%
1980	32,259		31.9%
1990	34,222		6.1%
2000	43,671		27.6%
2010	54,571		25.0%
2020	58,805		7.8%
2023 (est.)	60,342	[7]	2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10] 1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [2]

2020 census

Autauga County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [12]	Pop 2010 [13]	Pop 2020 [14]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	34,823	42,154	41,582	79.74%	77.25%	70.71%
Black or African American alone (NH)	7,428	9,595	11,352	17.01%	17.58%	19.30%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	186	217	184	0.43%	0.40%	0.31%
Asian alone (NH)	194	467	873	0.44%	0.86%	1.48%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	12	22	22	0.03%	0.04%	0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	44	45	185	0.10%	0.08%	0.31%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	374	761	2,490	0.86%	1.39%	4.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	610	1,310	2,117	1.40%	2.40%	3.60%
Total	43,671	54,571	58,805	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 58,805 people, 21,397 households, and 15,076 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2010, there were 54,571 people, 20,221 households, and 15,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile (35 people/km²). There were 22,135 housing units at an average density of 36 units per square mile (14 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.5% White, 17.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,221 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,682, and the median income for a family was $66,349. Males had a median income of $49,743 versus $32,592 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,571. About 8.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Evangelical Protestants (with 18,893 adherents) and Mainline Protestants (with 3,657 adherents). ^[16] The largest religious bodies were The Southern Baptist Convention (with 14,727 members) and The United Methodist Church (with 3,305 members). ^[16]

Education

Autauga County contains one public school district. There are approximately 9,000 students in public K-12 schools in Autauga County. ^[17]

Districts

School districts include: ^[18]

• Autauga County School District

Government

United States presidential election results for Autauga County, Alabama ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	19,838	71.44%	7,503	27.02%	429	1.54%
2016	18,172	72.77%	5,936	23.77%	865	3.46%
2012	17,379	72.49%	6,363	26.54%	231	0.96%
2008	17,403	73.61%	6,093	25.77%	145	0.61%
2004	15,196	75.67%	4,758	23.69%	127	0.63%
2000	11,993	69.69%	4,942	28.72%	273	1.59%
1996	9,509	61.66%	5,015	32.52%	898	5.82%
1992	8,715	55.92%	4,819	30.92%	2,051	13.16%
1988	7,828	67.17%	3,667	31.47%	159	1.36%
1984	8,350	70.07%	3,366	28.25%	201	1.69%
1980	6,292	56.87%	4,295	38.82%	476	4.30%
1976	4,512	48.32%	4,640	49.69%	186	1.99%
1972	5,367	75.17%	1,593	22.31%	180	2.52%
1968	606	7.79%	1,553	19.97%	5,617	72.24%
1964	2,969	85.83%	0	0.00%	490	14.17%
1960	1,149	45.27%	1,324	52.17%	65	2.56%
1956	857	37.47%	1,161	50.77%	269	11.76%
1952	787	34.10%	1,505	65.21%	16	0.69%
1948	110	8.55%	0	0.00%	1,176	91.45%
1944	117	8.58%	1,242	91.06%	5	0.37%
1940	99	5.69%	1,630	93.62%	12	0.69%
1936	84	5.19%	1,525	94.31%	8	0.49%
1932	138	9.37%	1,322	89.75%	13	0.88%
1928	683	43.61%	883	56.39%	0	0.00%
1924	146	15.30%	781	81.87%	27	2.83%
1920	210	18.44%	918	80.60%	11	0.97%
1916	99	11.15%	773	87.05%	16	1.80%
1912	43	5.07%	622	73.35%	183	21.58%
1908	97	12.90%	655	87.10%	0	0.00%
1904	73	8.95%	733	89.83%	10	1.23%
1900	537	34.36%	980	62.70%	46	2.94%

The sheriff of Autauga County is Mark Harrell (R). The Revenue Commissioner for the county is Kathy Evans (R), the Probate Judge is Kim Kervin (R), the Circuit Clerk is Deb Hill (R), the Circuit Judge is Ben Fuller (R), the District Attorney is Randall Houston (R) and the District Judge is Joy Booth (R). ^[20]

The legislature is the county commission which consists of five members all of whom are elected from single member districts. The current Commissioners are: ^[21]

• District 1: Rusty Jacksland, Republican
• District 2: John L. Thrailkill, Republican
• District 3: Bill Tatum, Republican
• District 4: Jay Thompson, Republican - Chairman
• District 5: Larry Stoudemire, Democratic

Like much of the Southern U.S., Autauga County was historically a Democratic stronghold, voting for the party's presidential nominee in every election between 1880 and 1960. However, the county has switched in affiliation to the Republican Party over the past 50 years. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Jimmy Carter, who won it by a plurality in 1976.

Emergency Services

Fire protection in Autauga County is provided by several local fire departments.

Emergency Medical Services are provided by Haynes Ambulance, with the exception of the city of Prattville, where the Prattville Fire Department staffs Ambulances.

Law enforcement agencies are the Autauga County Sheriffs Office and the Prattville Police Department.

Education

The Autauga County School System is the county's sole public school system. ^[22]

East Memorial Christian Academy is located in an unincorporated area of the county, near Prattville. ^[23]

Places of interest

Autauga County is home to several parks, such as Wilderness Park, Cooters Pond Park, Pratt Park, Swift Creek Park, Newton Park, Spinners Park, Heritage Park, and Overlook Memorial Park.

Communities

• Millbrook (mostly in Elmore County)
• Prattville

Towns

• Autaugaville
• Billingsley
• Pine Level

Census-designated places

• Marbury

Unincorporated communities

• Booth
• Evergreen
• Jones
• Kingston
• Mulberry

Ghost town

• Washington

County subdivisions

Historical census county divisions of Autauga County

Approximate divisions used in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. The white dotted line represents the current county boundary.

Approximate divisions used in the 1930 census. Similar to those used from 1900 to 1940.

Approximate divisions used in the 1950 census.

Current divisions as of the 2020 census, in use since at least 1990.

The United States Census Bureau divides counties into county subdivisions. In Autauga County, these are currently in to form of census county divisions. The county's historical subdivisions and their populations in the decennial censuses are as follows:

1850–1880

Subdivision	1850 [24]	1860 [24]	1870 [24]	1880 [25]
Beat 1, Prattville	672	3,260	3,675	4,236 [CoSub 1]
Beat 2, Autaugaville	82	2,119	2,387	2,385
Beat 3, Mulberry	1,366	1,598	1,551	1,764
Beat 4, Milton	1,393	1,125	1,595	2,030
Beat 5, Independence	1,270	800	1,137	1,102 [CoSub 1]
Beat 6, Kingston (1850–1870) Beat 6, Pine Flat (1880)	351	1,960	1,278	1,591 [CoSub 1]
Undefined	9,889 [CoSub 2]	5,887 [CoSub 2]	—	—
County total	15,023 [CoSub 2]	16,739 [CoSub 2]	11,623	13,108

1890–1950

Subdivision	1890 [27]	1900 [28]	1910 [29]	1920 [30]	1930 [31]	1940 [32]	1950 [33]
Precinct 1, Prattville	3,143	4,679	5,745	5,102	5,838	7,272	8,550 [CoSub 3]
Precinct 2, Washington	1,037	1,611	1,552	1,457	1,284	860	— [CoSub 3]
Precinct 3, Autaugaville	2,025	2,273	2,257	2,411	2,405	1,904	1,641
Precinct 4, Mulberry	1,318	1,211	1,193	1,080	1,260	1,182	652
Precinct 5, Days Bend	448	499	391	343	308	480	— [CoSub 4]
Precinct 6, Milton	1,231	972 [CoSub 5]	781	704	695	835	401
Precinct 7, Bethel	639	1,061	1,247	1,141	991	946	808
Precinct 8, Big Springs (including Billingsley)	360	841	1,452	1,258	1,421	1,737	1,253
Precinct 9, Independence	892	1,228	1,154	1,265	1,023	1,592	1,125
Precinct 10, Liberty	1,235	1,804	2,095	1,964	2,628	1,927	1,993
Precinct 11, Mountain Creek	1,002	961	1,340	1,290	1,340	1,978	1,101
Precinct 12, Statesville	—	775 [CoSub 5]	831	893	501	264	662 [CoSub 4]
County total	13,330	17,915	20,038	18,908	19,694	20,977	18,186

1960–present

Subdivision	1960 [34]	1970 [35]	1980 [36]	1990 [37]	2000 [38]	2010 [39]	2020 [40]
Autaugaville CCD	3,354	2,876	3,163	2,983	2,982	3,320	3,185
Billingsley CCD	2,131	1,952	2,172	2,282	2,677	2,894	2,645
Marbury CCD	2,476	2,198	2,835	3,590	4,629	5,675	6,359
Prattville CCD	10,778	17,434	24,089	25,367	33,383	42,682	46,616
County total	18,739	24,460	32,259	34,222	43,671	54,571	58,805

County subdivision notes

1. In 1871, Beats 1 and 5 added parts of Beat 6, which was renamed. ^[25]
2. Includes population from areas lost to Elmore County in 1866 and Baker (Chilton) County in 1868–1869. ^[26]
3. Precinct 2 was annexed to Precinct 1 prior to the 1940 census, but were returned separately until the 1950 census. ^[33]
4. Precinct 5 was annexed to Precinct 12 prior to the 1940 census, but were returned separately until the 1950 census. ^[33]
5. Precinct 12 was split from Precinct 6 prior to the 1900 census. ^[28]

Notable people

• Samuel Smith Harris, (1841-1888), born in Autauga County, Presbyterian clergyman, founder and editor of Living Word magazine, and bishop of the Diocese of Michigan. ^[41]
• William Henry Lanier, (1855-1929), born in Autauga County, was a prominent educator who served as president of Alcorn A. and M. from 1899 to 1905. He also served as superintendent of Yazoo City and Jackson, Mississippi black schools. ^[42]
• Wilson Pickett, (1941-2006), born in Prattville, Alabama, American recording artist best known for singing In the Midnight Hour and Mustang Sally.

In popular culture

• Autauga County is the main setting of Rita Williams-Garcia's novel Gone Crazy in Alabama.

See also

• United States portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Autauga County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Autauga County, Alabama
• List of counties in Alabama

References

1. "2019 Gazetteer Files for Counties: Alabama" (text). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 9, 2020.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
5. "Autauga County". Encyclopedia of Alabama.
6. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Ecoregions and Subregions of the United States, compiled and edited by W. Henry McNab and Robert G. Bailey, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1994.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
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 – Autauga 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) – Autauga 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) – Autauga County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
17. "Search for Public School Districts - Autauga County, AL". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved August 28, 2022.
18. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Autauga County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 28, 2022. Text list.
19. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 15, 2016.
20. "Autauga County: Elected Officials". www.autaugaco.org. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
21. "Autauga County: Commissioners". www.autaugaco.org. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Autauga County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
23. "Home Archived August 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ." East Memorial Christian Academy. Retrieved on August 3, 2013. "1320 Old Ridge Road Prattville, Alabama 36066"
24. Ninth Census: The Statistics of the Population of the United States. Vol. 1. 1872.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
25. Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census. 1883.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
26. "Alabama: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. 2007.
27. Report on the Population of the United States at the Eleventh Census. Vol. 1. 1895.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
28. Twelfth Census of the United States: Population, part 1. Vol. 1. 1901.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
29. Thirteenth Census of the United States: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. 1912.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
30. Fourteenth Census of the United States: Population. Vol. 1. 1921.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
31. Fifteenth Census of the United States: Population. Vol. 1. 1931.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
32. Sixteenth Census of the United States: Population. Vol. 1. 1942.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
33. A Report of the Seventeenth Decennial Census of the United States: Census of Population. Vol. 1. 1952.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
34. 1960 Census of Population: Advance Reports: Final Populaiton Counts. Vol. 1. 1960.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
35. 1970 Census of Population: Characteristics of the Population: Number of Inhabitants. Vol. 1. 1972.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
36. 1980 Census of Population and Housing: Final Population and Housing Unit Counts. 1981.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
37. 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Summary Population and Housing Characteristics: Alabama. 1991.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
38. "DP1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000". United States Census Bureau.
39. "P1: Total Population: 2010". United States Census Bureau.
40. "P1: Race: 2020". United States Census Bureau.
41. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
42. "School History". Lanier High School. Jackson (MS) Public Schools. Retrieved October 20, 2017. Lanier was first organized as a junior-senior high school in 1925 providing instruction for pupils from the seventh through the twelfth grades.

External links

• Autauga County's Official Website
• Alabama Historical Association Markers in Autauga County ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
• Autauga County Genealogical Information at Rootsweb.com
• Autauga County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).
• River Region Tourism Site

32°32′12″N86°38′54″W / 32.53667°N 86.64833°W / 32.53667; -86.64833