Crenshaw County, Alabama

Crenshaw County
County
Crenshaw County courthouse in Luverne
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°43′41″N86°18′36″W / 31.728055555556°N 86.31°W / 31.728055555556; -86.31
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	November 30, 1866
Named for	Anderson Crenshaw
Seat	Luverne
Largest city	Luverne
Area
• Total	611 sq mi (1,580 km2)
• Land	609 sq mi (1,580 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,194
• Estimate  (2023)	13,101
• Density	22/sq mi (8.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	crenshawcountyalonline.com
County Number 24 on Alabama Licence Plates

Crenshaw County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located immediately south of the Montgomery metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,194. ^[1] Its county seat is Luverne. ^[2] Its name is in honor of an Alabama judge, Anderson Crenshaw.

History

Crenshaw County was established after the American Civil War on November 30, 1866, by the Reconstruction era legislature. It was formed from parts of Butler, Coffee, Covington, Pike and Lowndes counties. While part of the coastal area, this county had relatively infertile soils, limiting cotton and other agriculture. Its planters used enslaved African Americans for all needed types of labor. Many of their descendants stayed in the area, and nearly one-quarter of the county population is African American.

Crenshaw County became a center of timbering in the Piney Wood region, especially after the Montgomery and Florida Railroad Company constructed a line through the county in 1886. This provided transport to markets for timber. It connected with Sprague Junction in Montgomery County, Alabama. The timber camps were rough work areas where racial tensions sometimes flared.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 611 square miles (1,580 km²), of which 609 square miles (1,580 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[3] The county is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the state. Much of the land is also covered by forests that are used for logging.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 29
• U.S. Highway 331
• State Route 10
• State Route 97
• State Route 106
• State Route 141
• State Route 189

Adjacent counties

• Montgomery County (north)
• Pike County (east)
• Coffee County (southeast)
• Covington County (south)
• Butler County (west)
• Lowndes County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	11,156		—
1880	11,726		5.1%
1890	15,425		31.5%
1900	19,668		27.5%
1910	23,313		18.5%
1920	23,017		−1.3%
1930	23,656		2.8%
1940	23,631		−0.1%
1950	18,981		−19.7%
1960	14,909		−21.5%
1970	13,188		−11.5%
1980	14,110		7.0%
1990	13,635		−3.4%
2000	13,665		0.2%
2010	13,906		1.8%
2020	13,194		−5.1%
2023 (est.)	13,101	[4]	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790–1960 [6] 1900–1990 [7] 1990–2000 [8] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Crenshaw 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)	10,042	10,020	9,333	73.49%	72.06%	70.74%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,369	3,241	3,085	24.65%	23.31%	23.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	51	56	48	0.37%	0.40%	0.36%
Asian alone (NH)	15	189	83	0.11%	1.36%	0.63%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	1	2	0.01%	0.01%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	11	2	27	0.08%	0.01%	0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	89	193	429	0.65%	1.39%	3.25%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	87	204	187	0.64%	1.47%	1.42%
Total	13,665	13,906	13,194	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,194 people, 4,943 households, and 3,384 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 13,906 people, 5,652 households, and 3,882 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km²). There were 6,735 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.6% White, 23.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,652 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,140, and the median income for a family was $47,685. Males had a median income of $35,598 versus $22,410 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,793. About 13.7% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Crenshaw County were English (64.5%), German (12.1%), Irish (11.2%), Italian (3.9%), "American" (3.1%), Scottish (2.9%) and Portuguese (1.8%).

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 13,665 people, 5,577 households, and 3,892 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 6,644 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.82% White, 24.79% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,577 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 15.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,054, and the median income for a family was $31,724. Males had a median income of $27,286 versus $17,703 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,565. About 18.60% of families and 22.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 23.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Crenshaw 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 plurality in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Crenshaw County, Alabama ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,864	73.51%	1,700	25.69%	53	0.80%
2016	4,513	72.01%	1,664	26.55%	90	1.44%
2012	4,331	67.42%	2,050	31.91%	43	0.67%
2008	4,319	68.65%	1,938	30.81%	34	0.54%
2004	3,777	68.67%	1,698	30.87%	25	0.45%
2000	2,793	58.25%	1,934	40.33%	68	1.42%
1996	1,939	43.60%	2,172	48.84%	336	7.56%
1992	2,339	44.22%	2,404	45.44%	547	10.34%
1988	2,617	58.44%	1,836	41.00%	25	0.56%
1984	3,261	61.86%	1,904	36.12%	107	2.03%
1980	2,478	47.15%	2,704	51.45%	74	1.41%
1976	1,801	34.20%	3,372	64.03%	93	1.77%
1972	3,129	72.87%	1,085	25.27%	80	1.86%
1968	209	3.81%	726	13.25%	4,545	82.94%
1964	3,008	78.66%	0	0.00%	816	21.34%
1960	573	16.37%	2,923	83.49%	5	0.14%
1956	567	19.06%	2,252	75.70%	156	5.24%
1952	544	17.94%	2,485	81.96%	3	0.10%
1948	38	2.65%	0	0.00%	1,394	97.35%
1944	118	5.61%	1,980	94.06%	7	0.33%
1940	84	3.03%	2,680	96.65%	9	0.32%
1936	96	3.89%	2,371	95.95%	4	0.16%
1932	127	5.32%	2,200	92.13%	61	2.55%
1928	978	42.67%	1,314	57.33%	0	0.00%
1924	117	9.41%	1,107	89.06%	19	1.53%
1920	310	17.93%	1,411	81.61%	8	0.46%
1916	139	8.81%	1,427	90.43%	12	0.76%
1912	47	4.03%	986	84.49%	134	11.48%
1908	311	20.94%	1,100	74.07%	74	4.98%
1904	180	13.25%	1,077	79.25%	102	7.51%

Communities

City

• Luverne (county seat)

Towns

• Brantley
• Dozier
• Glenwood
• Petrey
• Rutledge

Unincorporated communities

• Fullers Crossroads
• Highland Home
• Honoraville
• Lapine (partly in Montgomery County)
• Moodys Crossroads
• Mulberry
• Panola
• Theba
• Weedville

See also

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

References

1. "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. "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. 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 – Crenshaw 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) – Crenshaw 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) – Crenshaw County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 20, 2015.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 16, 2016.

31°43′41″N86°18′36″W / 31.72806°N 86.31000°W / 31.72806; -86.31000