Coosa County, Alabama

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Coosa County
Coosa County Alabama Courthouse.JPG
Coosa County Courthouse in Rockford
Logo of Coosa County, Alabama.png
Map of Alabama highlighting Coosa County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama in United States.svg
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°56′11″N86°14′47″W / 32.936388888889°N 86.246388888889°W / 32.936388888889; -86.246388888889
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Alabama.svg Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1832
Seat Rockford
Largest city Goodwater
Area
  Total
666 sq mi (1,720 km2)
  Land651 sq mi (1,690 km2)
  Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.3%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
10,387
  Estimate 
(2024)
10,291 Decrease2.svg
  Density16/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website www.coosacountyal.com
  • County Number 22 on Alabama Licence Plates

Coosa County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 10,387. [1] Its county seat is Rockford. [2] Its name derives from a town of the Creek tribe and the Coosa River, which forms one of the county borders.

Contents

Coosa County is included in the Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was established on December 18, 1832, formed from parts of Montgomery and Shelby counties. It gained a small snippet from Montgomery County in 1837 and lost a portion to the south upon the creation of Elmore County in 1866.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 666 square miles (1,720 km2), of which 651 square miles (1,690 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.3%) is water. [3] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

Major highways

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840 6,995
1850 14,543107.9%
1860 19,27332.5%
1870 11,945−38.0%
1880 15,11326.5%
1890 15,9065.2%
1900 16,1441.5%
1910 16,6343.0%
1920 14,839−10.8%
1930 12,460−16.0%
1940 13,4608.0%
1950 11,766−12.6%
1960 10,726−8.8%
1970 10,662−0.6%
1980 11,3776.7%
1990 11,063−2.8%
2000 12,20210.3%
2010 11,539−5.4%
2020 10,387−10.0%
2024 (est.)10,291 [4] −0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790–1960 [6] 1900–1990 [7]
1990–2000 [8] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Coosa 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)7,7427,6046,80763.45%65.90%65.53%
Black or African American alone (NH)4,1473,5563,00033.99%30.82%28.88%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3940250.32%0.35%0.24%
Asian alone (NH)51480.04%0.12%0.08%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)97470.07%0.06%0.45%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)102882990.84%0.76%2.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1582302011.29%1.99%1.94%
Total12,20211,53910,387100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,387 people, 4,032 households, and 2,657 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census [12] of 2010, there were 11,539 people, 4,794 households, and 3,293 families living in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 6,478 housing units at an average density of 9.7 per square mile (/km3.8). The racial makeup of the county was 66.3% White, 31.0% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,794 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,560, and the median income for a family was $47,451. Males had a median income of $40,315 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,209. About 11.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

From 2000 to 2003, Coosa County's growth rate of -5.8% made it the biggest percentage population loser among the state's 67 counties. [13] Annette Jones Watters of the University of Alabama's Alabama State Data Center cited Coosa as one of eight counties to lose greater than 6% of its population from 2000 to early 2007. [14]

2000 census

As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 12,202 people, 4,682 households, and 3,408 families living in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 6,142 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 63.94% White, 34.19% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,682 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,873, and the median income for a family was $36,082. Males had a median income of $25,390 versus $18,171 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,875. About 11.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Coosa County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a slim majority in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Coosa County, Alabama [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1904 47230.99%93361.26%1187.75%
1908 44735.93%71757.64%806.43%
1912 1099.04%76363.27%33427.69%
1916 48534.92%86762.42%372.66%
1920 74142.01%1,00757.09%160.91%
1924 50838.66%79060.12%161.22%
1928 1,07860.63%69939.31%10.06%
1932 25016.34%1,26582.68%150.98%
1936 23914.78%1,34683.24%321.98%
1940 31718.90%1,34780.32%130.78%
1944 39426.60%1,07972.86%80.54%
1948 27524.47%00.00%84975.53%
1952 78834.40%1,50165.52%20.09%
1956 1,07042.48%1,41156.01%381.51%
1960 1,07341.67%1,49357.98%90.35%
1964 1,97872.77%00.00%74027.23%
1968 3308.66%62316.35%2,85874.99%
1972 2,67277.20%77322.33%160.46%
1976 1,19631.76%2,53367.26%370.98%
1980 1,71440.72%2,38356.62%1122.66%
1984 2,58558.95%1,78140.62%190.43%
1988 2,40556.15%1,86043.43%180.42%
1992 1,97341.12%2,33048.56%49510.32%
1996 1,72141.66%2,12151.34%2897.00%
2000 2,38252.16%2,10446.07%811.77%
2004 2,90558.09%2,05541.09%410.82%
2008 3,24858.39%2,27340.86%420.75%
2012 3,04957.72%2,19141.48%420.80%
2016 3,38164.38%1,78233.93%891.69%
2020 3,63166.27%1,79632.78%520.95%
2024 3,75871.34%1,47828.06%320.61%

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  4. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. 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 – Coosa 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) – Coosa 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) – Coosa County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  13. "Population growth - Alabama counties". U.S. Census Bureau, ePodunk. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  14. "Shelby County Continues to Set the Pace for County Growth; Black Belt Counties Lose Population, According to UA's State Data Center". University of Alabama. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 16, 2016.

32°56′11″N86°14′47″W / 32.93639°N 86.24639°W / 32.93639; -86.24639