Butler County, Alabama

Not to be confused with Butler, Alabama.

Butler County
County
Butler County Courthouse in Greenville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°44′58″N86°40′56″W / 31.749444444444°N 86.682222222222°W / 31.749444444444; -86.682222222222
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 13, 1819
Named for	William Butler
Seat	Greenville
Largest city	Greenville
Area
• Total	778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
• Land	777 sq mi (2,010 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,051
• Estimate  (2023)	18,382
• Density	24/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.butlercogov.com
County Number 10 on Alabama Licence Plates

Butler County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,051. ^[1] Its county seat is Greenville. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818.

History

Butler County was formed from Conecuh County, Alabama, and Monroe County, Alabama, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The name of Fairfield was first proposed for this county, but was changed on the passage of the bill to Butler, in honor of Captain William Butler.

The precise date of the first settlement made by whites in Butler County is unclear. Some have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, where he built a log house near the current location of Pine Flat Methodist Church. He was soon followed by William Ogly and John Dickerson and their families, who settled on the Federal Road, some 3 miles (4.8 km) south of where later Fort Dale was built. In the fall of 1816, a group of people from Georgia settled in a tent camp in Pine Flat, and the year after, another group settled near Fort Dale. ^[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km²), of which 777 square miles (2,010 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) (0.1%) is water. ^[3] It is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the state.

Major highways

• Interstate 65
• U.S. Highway 31
• State Route 10
• State Route 106
• State Route 185
• State Route 245
• State Route 263

Adjacent counties

• Lowndes County (north)
• Crenshaw County (east)
• Covington County (southeast)
• Conecuh County (southwest)
• Monroe County (west)
• Wilcox County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,405		—
1830	5,650		302.1%
1840	8,685		53.7%
1850	10,836		24.8%
1860	18,122		67.2%
1870	14,981		−17.3%
1880	19,649		31.2%
1890	21,641		10.1%
1900	25,761		19.0%
1910	29,030		12.7%
1920	29,531		1.7%
1930	30,195		2.2%
1940	32,447		7.5%
1950	29,228		−9.9%
1960	24,560		−16.0%
1970	22,007		−10.4%
1980	21,680		−1.5%
1990	21,892		1.0%
2000	21,399		−2.3%
2010	20,947		−2.1%
2020	19,051		−9.1%
2023 (est.)	18,382	[4]	−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790–1960 [6] 1900–1990 [7] 1990–2000 [8] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

Butler 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 [9]	Pop 2010 [10]	Pop 2020 [11]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	12,429	11,324	9,679	58.08%	54.06%	50.81%
Black or African American alone (NH)	8,671	9,047	8,389	40.52%	43.19%	44.03%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	44	59	23	0.21%	0.28%	0.12%
Asian alone (NH)	34	174	143	0.16%	0.83%	0.75%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	7	5	0.00%	0.03%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	4	3	46	0.02%	0.01%	0.24%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	74	142	506	0.35%	0.68%	2.66%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	143	191	260	0.67%	0.91%	1.36%
Total	21,399	20,947	19,051	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,051 people, 6,506 households, and 4,331 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,947 people living in the county. 54.4% were White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 21,399 people, 8,398 households, and 5,870 families living in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 9,957 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.38% White, 40.81% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,398 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 18.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,791, and the median income for a family was $30,915. Males had a median income of $28,968 versus $18,644 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,715. About 20.40% of families and 24.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.30% of those under age 18 and 28.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Butler County contains one public school district. There are approximately 3,000 students in public PK-12 schools in Butler County. ^[13]

Districts

School districts include: ^[14]

• Butler County School District

Government

The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Butler County, Alabama ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,458	57.53%	3,965	41.79%	65	0.69%
2016	4,901	56.13%	3,726	42.67%	105	1.20%
2012	5,087	53.54%	4,374	46.03%	41	0.43%
2008	5,485	56.49%	4,188	43.14%	36	0.37%
2004	4,979	59.16%	3,413	40.55%	24	0.29%
2000	4,127	52.89%	3,606	46.21%	70	0.90%
1996	3,352	43.14%	3,828	49.27%	590	7.59%
1992	3,494	41.21%	4,021	47.43%	963	11.36%
1988	3,923	52.59%	3,465	46.45%	71	0.95%
1984	4,941	56.73%	3,641	41.81%	127	1.46%
1980	3,810	45.53%	4,156	49.67%	402	4.80%
1976	2,909	40.36%	4,271	59.25%	28	0.39%
1972	4,685	76.45%	1,401	22.86%	42	0.69%
1968	500	6.79%	1,240	16.85%	5,621	76.36%
1964	4,002	80.44%	0	0.00%	973	19.56%
1960	1,231	29.87%	2,872	69.69%	18	0.44%
1956	1,324	37.48%	1,958	55.42%	251	7.10%
1952	1,087	30.81%	2,440	69.16%	1	0.03%
1948	91	6.46%	0	0.00%	1,318	93.54%
1944	80	4.00%	1,915	95.75%	5	0.25%
1940	52	1.87%	2,732	97.99%	4	0.14%
1936	83	3.39%	2,358	96.32%	7	0.29%
1932	74	3.13%	2,280	96.45%	10	0.42%
1928	699	36.14%	1,235	63.86%	0	0.00%
1924	95	7.54%	1,050	83.33%	115	9.13%
1920	153	10.40%	1,299	88.31%	19	1.29%
1916	78	6.24%	1,162	93.03%	9	0.72%
1912	86	7.90%	903	83.00%	99	9.10%
1908	137	15.15%	727	80.42%	40	4.42%
1904	83	8.69%	805	84.29%	67	7.02%

Communities

City

• Greenville (county seat)

Towns

• Georgiana
• McKenzie

Unincorporated communities

• Bolling
• Chapman
• Forest Home
• Garland
• Industry
• Pine Flat
• Saucer
• Spring Hill
• Wald

Notable people

• William Butler, militiaman during the Creek War
• Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland
• Robert Scothrup Lee, farmer and Confederate veteran
• William Lee, politician, judge, and militia officer
• Warren A. Thompson, explorer
• Hank Williams, country singer
• Earnie Shavers, hardest hitting heavyweight boxer
• Janie Shores, Alabama Supreme Court justice

See also

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

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
2. Latte, John Buckner (1971) [1885]. Little, Jr., John G. (ed.). History of Butler County, Alabama, 1815 to 1885. Greenville, AL. pp. 22–23.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
9. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Butler County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Butler County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Butler County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. "Search for Public School Districts - Butler County, AL". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
14. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Butler County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 2, 2022. Text list.
15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 15, 2016.

External links

• The Greenville Advocate
• Butler County Clerk of Court
• The South Alabama News
• The Greenville Standard

31°44′58″N86°40′56″W / 31.74944°N 86.68222°W / 31.74944; -86.68222