Etowah County, Alabama

Etowah County
County
Etowah County courthouse in Gadsden
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°03′00″N86°02′00″W / 34.05°N 86.033333333333°W / 34.05; -86.033333333333
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 1, 1868
Seat	Gadsden
Largest city	Gadsden
Area
• Total	549 sq mi (1,420 km2)
• Land	535 sq mi (1,390 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	103,436
• Estimate  (2023)	103,241
• Density	190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.etowahcounty.org
County Number 31 on Alabama License Plates

Etowah County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 103,436. ^[1] Its county seat is Gadsden. ^[2] Its name is from a Cherokee word meaning "edible tree". In total area, it is the smallest county in Alabama, albeit one of the most densely populated. Etowah County comprises the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The area was split first among neighboring counties, with most of it belonging to DeKalb and Cherokee counties. ^[3] On December 7, 1866, the first postwar legislature separated and established Baine County, named for David W. Baine, a politician and Confederate military officer who died in battle in 1862. ^[4] Gadsden was designated as the county seat.

Because of postwar tensions and actions of insurgents against freedmen, at the state constitutional convention in 1868, the new county was abolished, replaced on December 1, 1868, by one aligned to the same boundaries and named Etowah County, from a Cherokee-language word. ^[5] The Cherokee people in northeast Alabama had been forcibly removed in the 1830s to Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma) west of the Mississippi River.

20th century to present

Etowah County had issues of racial discrimination and injustice, and Jim Crow. It had one documented lynching between 1877 and 1950, ^[6] which occurred in 1906. ^[7] Bunk Richardson, an innocent African-American, only because he was associated with a case in which a white woman was raped and killed. The whites were angry that the governor had commuted the death sentence of one defendant in the case (who was likely also innocent of charges), after two men had already been executed for the crime. ^[8]

An F4 tornado struck here on Palm Sunday March 27, 1994. It destroyed Piedmont's Goshen United Methodist Church twelve minutes after the National Weather Service of Birmingham issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 549 square miles (1,420 km²), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²), or 2.5%, is water. ^[9] It is the smallest county by area in Alabama.

Adjacent counties

• DeKalb County – north
• Cherokee County – east
• Calhoun County – southeast
• St. Clair County – southwest
• Blount County – west
• Marshall County – northwest

Transportation

Transit

• Gadsden Trolley System
• Greyhound Lines

Major highways

• Interstate 59
• Interstate 759
• U.S. Route 11
• U.S. Route 278
• U.S. Route 411
• U.S. Route 431
• State Route 77
• State Route 132
• State Route 179
• State Route 205
• State Route 211
• State Route 291
• State Route 759

Rail

• Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (Defunct)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	10,109		—
1880	15,398		52.3%
1890	21,926		42.4%
1900	27,361		24.8%
1910	39,109		42.9%
1920	47,275		20.9%
1930	63,399		34.1%
1940	72,580		14.5%
1950	93,892		29.4%
1960	96,980		3.3%
1970	94,144		−2.9%
1980	103,057		9.5%
1990	99,840		−3.1%
2000	103,459		3.6%
2010	104,430		0.9%
2020	103,436		−1.0%
2023 (est.)	103,241	[10]	−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13] 1990–2000 [14] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Etowah 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 [15]	Pop 2010 [16]	Pop 2020 [17]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	84,919	82,789	77,731	82.08%	79.28%	75.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)	15,120	15,716	14,999	14.61%	15.05%	14.50%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	329	372	332	0.32%	0.36%	0.32%
Asian alone (NH)	428	657	921	0.41%	0.63%	0.89%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	27	30	39	0.03%	0.03%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	47	87	260	0.05%	0.08%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	826	1,332	4,259	0.80%	1.28%	4.12%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,763	3,447	4,895	1.70%	3.30%	4.73%
Total	103,459	104,430	103,436	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 103,436 people, 40,053 households, and 25,177 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 104,430 people, 42,036 households, and 28,708 families living in the county. The population density was 195 people per square mile (75 people/km²). There were 47,454 housing units at an average density of 86 units per square mile (33 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.3% White, 15.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 3.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[18] Of the 42,036 households 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.1% of households were one person and 11.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% 65 or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median household income was $36,422 and the median family income was $44,706. Males had a median income of $39,814 versus $30,220 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,439. About 13.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 103,459 people, 41,615 households, and 29,463 families living in the county. The population density was 193 people per square mile (75 people/km²). There were 45,959 housing units at an average density of 86 units per square mile (33 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[19] Of the 41,615 households 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 26.3% of households were one person and 12.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median household income was $31,170 and the median family income was $38,697. Males had a median income of $31,610 versus $21,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,783. About 12.3% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Etowah 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 Etowah County, Alabama ^{[20] [21]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	35,528	74.44%	11,567	24.24%	633	1.33%
2016	32,353	73.26%	10,442	23.64%	1,369	3.10%
2012	29,130	68.34%	12,803	30.04%	691	1.62%
2008	30,595	68.39%	13,497	30.17%	645	1.44%
2004	26,999	63.26%	15,328	35.91%	353	0.83%
2000	21,087	53.59%	17,433	44.30%	828	2.10%
1996	16,835	44.82%	17,976	47.86%	2,750	7.32%
1992	17,467	41.15%	20,558	48.43%	4,426	10.43%
1988	17,828	49.67%	17,762	49.49%	301	0.84%
1984	19,243	49.62%	19,074	49.18%	464	1.20%
1980	16,177	42.79%	20,790	54.99%	839	2.22%
1976	10,333	28.90%	25,020	69.99%	397	1.11%
1972	20,851	72.95%	7,372	25.79%	358	1.25%
1968	4,351	13.95%	4,613	14.79%	22,222	71.26%
1964	12,894	59.06%	0	0.00%	8,939	40.94%
1960	7,128	32.87%	14,372	66.28%	185	0.85%
1956	7,198	36.20%	12,374	62.22%	314	1.58%
1952	4,634	29.52%	10,997	70.06%	66	0.42%
1948	1,615	21.08%	0	0.00%	6,046	78.92%
1944	1,525	20.28%	5,895	78.38%	101	1.34%
1940	1,270	15.27%	7,012	84.33%	33	0.40%
1936	1,207	17.30%	5,739	82.24%	32	0.46%
1932	1,093	17.29%	5,167	81.73%	62	0.98%
1928	3,612	58.88%	2,484	40.50%	38	0.62%
1924	1,664	33.17%	3,081	61.41%	272	5.42%
1920	3,218	34.83%	5,917	64.05%	103	1.11%
1916	862	30.51%	1,883	66.65%	80	2.83%
1912	354	12.22%	1,511	52.18%	1,031	35.60%
1908	996	41.31%	1,309	54.29%	106	4.40%
1904	823	32.71%	1,431	56.88%	262	10.41%
1900	1,629	45.71%	1,734	48.65%	201	5.64%
1896	873	31.18%	1,782	63.64%	145	5.18%
1892	269	7.11%	2,225	58.85%	1,287	34.04%
1888	841	29.95%	1,912	68.09%	55	1.96%

Communities

Cities

• Attalla
• Boaz (partly in Marshall County)
• Gadsden (county seat)
• Glencoe (partly in Calhoun County)
• Hokes Bluff
• Rainbow City
• Southside (partly in Calhoun County)

Towns

• Altoona (partly in Blount County)
• Reece City
• Ridgeville
• Sardis City (partly in Marshall County)
• Walnut Grove

Census-designated places

• Ballplay
• Bristow Cove
• Carlisle-Rockledge
• Coats Bend
• Egypt
• Gallant
• Ivalee
• Lookout Mountain
• New Union
• Tidmore Bend
• Whitesboro

Unincorporated communities

• Anderson
• Keener
• Liberty Hill
• Mountainboro
• Pilgrims Rest

Former city

• Alabama City

See also

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

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Alabama Census Year with Modern Map Overlayed," Maps of Alabama, Map of US.org, (https://www.mapofus.org/alabama/ Archived March 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine : accessed February 15, 2017), Wordpress.com, 2017.>Interactive> 1860 & 1870
4. Watson, Elbert L. (Summer 1968). "Lt. Colonel David W. Baine: A Confederate Hero from the North". Alabama Historical Quarterly. 30: 27–38. Retrieved May 22, 2017– via Internet Archive.
5. "Alabama Counties: Etowah County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Montgomery, AL. October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
6. "Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror – Supplement: Lynchings by County" (PDF) (second ed.). Equal Justice Initiative. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 10, 2016.
7. "Why the story of a 1906 Alabama lynching won't be forgotten". Anniston/Gadsden Real-Time News. December 11, 2016.
8. William Thornton, "Why the story of a 1906 Alabama lynching won't be forgotten", AL.com, December 11, 2016; accessed April 13, 2018
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
15. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Etowah County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Etowah County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Etowah County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 23, 2015.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 16, 2016.
21. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President" . Retrieved January 22, 2021.

External links

• Official website

34°3′N86°2′W / 34.050°N 86.033°W / 34.050; -86.033