Blount County, Alabama

Last updated

Blount County
County
Blount County Courthouse.JPG
Blount County Courthouse in Oneonta
Seal of Blount County, Alabama.png
Seal
Logo of Blount County, Alabama.png
Logo
Map of Alabama highlighting Blount County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama in United States.svg
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°58′N86°35′W / 33.97°N 86.58°W / 33.97; -86.58
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Alabama.svg Alabama
FoundedFebruary 6, 1818
Named after Willie Blount
Seat Oneonta
Largest cityOneonta
Area
 • Total
651 sq mi (1,690 km2)
 • Land645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Water5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
59,134
 • Estimate 
(2024)
60,163 Increase2.svg
 • Density91/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website www.blountcountyal.gov
  • County Number 08 on Alabama Licence Plates

Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,134. [1] Its county seat is Oneonta.

Contents

Blount County is a moist county. In the November 6, 2012 elections, a countywide ballot initiative to allow alcohol sales was narrowly defeated, but Blountsville, Cleveland and Oneonta have allowed for the sale of alcohol since 2013.

Blount County has been dubbed the "Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama" since it has more historic covered bridges standing within a single county than any other in the state - with earlier covered bridges known of. This county celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival every autumn in Oneonta to commemorate its three remaining covered bridges.

History

Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial Legislature on February 6, 1818, formed from land ceded to the federal government by the Creek Nation on August 9, 1814. This county was named for Governor Willie Blount of Tennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War. This county lies in the northeastern quadrant of the state, which is sometimes known as the mineral region of Alabama. Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, Walker, and St. Clair Counties. This county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River. Blount County covers 650 square miles (1,700 km2). The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County.

Caleb Fryley and John Jones established Bear Meat Cabin, an English translation of Wassausey (a Native American village), in 1816. Its post office was opened in 1821, and the settlement was incorporated as Blountsville on December 13, 1827. In 1889, an election resulted in the county seat being transferred to Oneonta, Alabama.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 651 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.9%) is water. [2]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 2,415—
1830 4,23375.3%
1840 5,57031.6%
1850 7,36732.3%
1860 10,86547.5%
1870 9,945−8.5%
1880 15,36954.5%
1890 21,92742.7%
1900 23,1195.4%
1910 21,456−7.2%
1920 25,53819.0%
1930 28,0209.7%
1940 29,4905.2%
1950 28,975−1.7%
1960 25,449−12.2%
1970 26,8535.5%
1980 36,45935.8%
1990 39,2487.6%
2000 51,02430.0%
2010 57,32212.3%
2020 59,1343.2%
2024 (est.)60,163 [3] 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [4]
1790–1960 [5] 1900–1990 [6]
1990–2000 [7] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

Blount 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 [8] Pop 2010 [9] Pop 2020 [10] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)46,99950,95249,76492.11%88.89%84.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)5987248261.17%1.26%1.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2122851880.42%0.50%0.32%
Asian alone (NH)701151740.14%0.20%0.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)618110.01%0.03%0.02%
Other race alone (NH)14351000.03%0.06%0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)4075672,3000.80%0.99%3.89%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,7184,6265,7715.33%8.07%9.76%
Total51,02457,32259,134100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 59,134 people, 20,847 households, and 14,874 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census [11] of 2010, there were 57,322 people, 16,175 households, and 16,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 88.79 people per square mile. There were 23,887 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,175 family households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25% were non-families. Alternative households included: 22.2% of households were made up of those living alone and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.72. [12]

Blount County's population spread was as follows: 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,241, and the median income for a family was $41,573. Males had a median income of $31,455 versus $22,459 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,325. About 8.60% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Blount County contains two public school districts. There are approximately 9,200 students in public PK-12 schools in Blount County. [13]

Districts

School districts include: [14]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Government

Blount County is a stronghold for Republicans. Since 2004, it has voted for the Republican presidential nominee with at least eighty percent of the vote every time. It was Hubert Humphrey's weakest county in the nation in 1968 with only 3.64 percent of the vote. [15]

United States presidential election results for Blount County, Alabama [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1824 31.73%16796.53%31.73%
1832 00.00%443100.00%00.00%
1836 5510.28%48089.72%00.00%
1840 10512.73%72087.27%00.00%
1844 849.79%77490.21%00.00%
1848 13420.30%52679.70%00.00%
1852 5511.53%42288.47%00.00%
1856 00.00%77095.42%374.58%
1860 00.00%48839.01%76360.99%
1868 27537.36%46162.64%00.00%
1872 27633.45%54966.55%00.00%
1876 34719.84%1,40280.16%00.00%
1880 26016.48%1,31883.52%00.00%
1884 46323.71%1,49076.29%00.00%
1888 37516.63%1,87383.06%70.31%
1892 581.75%1,94458.80%1,30439.44%
1896 2,61951.24%2,42247.39%701.37%
1900 1,13440.44%1,48452.92%1866.63%
1904 91037.51%1,38357.01%1335.48%
1908 97345.34%1,13352.80%401.86%
1912 56724.65%1,12148.74%61226.61%
1916 1,22944.71%1,48854.13%321.16%
1920 3,46549.15%3,53550.14%500.71%
1924 1,51840.92%2,08356.15%1092.94%
1928 1,74552.06%1,60747.94%00.00%
1932 58220.34%2,23277.99%481.68%
1936 74420.88%2,78878.23%320.90%
1940 85523.25%2,78475.71%381.03%
1944 99831.73%2,13467.85%130.41%
1948 77130.08%00.00%1,79269.92%
1952 1,72035.19%3,16164.67%70.14%
1956 2,62844.38%3,20854.17%861.45%
1960 2,55742.80%3,40456.98%130.22%
1964 4,44264.67%00.00%2,42735.33%
1968 2,01322.15%3313.64%6,74274.20%
1972 6,48679.36%1,58219.36%1051.28%
1976 4,23338.56%6,64560.53%1000.91%
1980 6,81953.59%5,65644.45%2491.96%
1984 8,50868.16%3,73829.95%2361.89%
1988 8,75464.61%4,48533.10%3092.28%
1992 8,88253.81%5,43332.92%2,19013.27%
1996 9,05659.09%5,06133.02%1,2107.89%
2000 12,66770.48%4,97727.69%3291.83%
2004 17,38680.85%3,93818.31%1800.84%
2008 20,38984.02%3,52214.51%3561.47%
2012 20,75786.27%2,97012.34%3331.38%
2016 22,85989.33%2,1568.43%5732.24%
2020 24,71189.57%2,6409.57%2370.86%
2024 25,35490.03%2,5769.15%2330.83%

Places of interest

Blount County is home to an abundance of outdoor activities, such as Rickwood Caverns State Park and the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River that are used by canoeists and kayakers. The county is also home to the picturesque covered bridges mentioned below: the Swann Covered Bridge, the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, and the Easley Covered Bridge. As of summer 2009, all three bridges were closed due to safety concerns at the recommendation of the Alabama Department of Transportation. Restorations were completed from 2011 through 2013 and they are once again open. [17] [18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Blount County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  9. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Blount County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  10. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Blount County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  11. ↑ "Community Facts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American Fact Finder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Search for Public School Districts - Blount County, AL". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Blount County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 4, 2022. Text list.
  15. ↑ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1968 Presidential Election Statistics
  16. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ http://www.blountcountian.com/news/2010-02-17/News/Citizen_concerns_prompt_covered_bridge_update.html Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 20, 2010
  18. ↑ news.alabamapower.com http://news.alabamapower.com/2013/05/21/covered-bridges-back-in-business/ . Retrieved August 15, 2013.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ title missing ]

33°58′N86°35′W / 33.967°N 86.583°W / 33.967; -86.583

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