Greene County, Alabama

Greene County
County
Greene County Courthouse in Eutaw
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°51′08″N87°57′03″W / 32.852222222222°N 87.950833333333°W / 32.852222222222; -87.950833333333
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 13, 1819
Named for	Nathanael Greene
Seat	Eutaw
Largest city	Eutaw
Area
• Total	660 sq mi (1,700 km2)
• Land	647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,730
• Estimate  (2023)	7,341
• Density	12/sq mi (4.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	greenecountycommission.com
County Number 35 on Alabama Licence Plates

Greene County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,730, ^[1] the least populous county in Alabama. Its county seat is Eutaw. ^[2] It was named in honor of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene of Rhode Island.^{[ citation needed ]}

As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 81% African American, making it the fourth-most heavily black county by proportion in the United States, and the most black county among all counties located outside of the state of Mississippi. It is documented as one of the unhealthiest counties in the United States, with a population with an obesity percentage of 46.3 percent, the highest of any county in the state, and second to only Claiborne County in the western portion of neighboring Mississippi.^{[ citation needed ]} The life expectancy there is 74.9 years, over 2 years lower than the national average.^{[ citation needed ]}

History

Greene County was established on December 13, 1819. Eutaw was established as the county seat in 1838, when the seat was moved from Erie. Eutaw is more centrally located.

Being designated as the seat of government stimulated growth in Eutaw.

Reconstruction era (1865–1876)

In 1867 the Reconstruction legislature organized Hale County, taking much of it from the eastern part of Greene County, plus sections of other neighboring counties. This was a period of continuing insurgency by whites, who attempted to maintain dominance over blacks. The latter comprised a majority in Greene County and others in the Black Belt.

The Greene County Courthouse in Eutaw was burned by arson in 1868, in a year with considerable election-associated violence throughout the South. On March 31, 1870, there were at least two insurgent attacks in Greene County. James Martin, a prominent black Republican, was shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen near his home in Union, Alabama. When a physician tried to remove the bullet to help him, the gunmen interrupted and took Martin away. He was "disappeared", believed dead. ^[3]

That same night, Republican County Solicitor, Alexander Boyd, a white native of South Carolina and Alabama resident, was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in his hotel in Eutaw. The prevailing theory by historians for the burning of the courthouse is that the records of some 1,800 suits by freedmen against planters were about to be prosecuted; the fire destroyed the documents. The deaths of Martin and Boyd were typical of the KKK, who attacked Republican officeholders and freedmen sympathizers, in addition to freedmen, especially politicians. ^[4]

Although Governor William Hugh Smith sent a special agent, John Minnis, to explore these deaths, he said he was unable to identify Boyd's killers. (Minnis later served as US Attorney and prosecuted Klansmen under the Enforcement Acts.) He suggested that the killers had come from Mississippi. A grand jury was called on Boyd's death, but no one was prosecuted. No grand jury was called for Martin's disappearance and presumed death. ^[3]

In the fall of 1870, two more black Republicans were killed in violence before the election. At a Republican rally on October 25, 1870, attracting 2,000 blacks in Eutaw, white Klansmen attacked the crowd in the courthouse square, leaving at least four blacks dead and 54 wounded. After this, most blacks stayed away from the polls or voted Democratic out of fear of reprisals; the Democratic gubernatorial candidate carried Greene County. ^[5]

Civil Rights Era (1964–1970)

On July 30, 1969, Greene County made history when it became "the first in the South since reconstruction with both the commission and the school board dominated by Negroes." ^[6] Barred from the ballot in the November 1968 general election, the new "National Democratic Party of Alabama" filed suit in federal court and a special election was ordered. In the new vote, African-American candidates won four of the five seats on the Greene County Commission, and two additional seats on the five-member Greene County School Board, and the Montgomery Advertiser would note the next day that "the election gave blacks control of both major governing bodies— a first in Alabama." ^[7] The date of the vote would later be described as "a watershed for black political empowerment in Alabama,", ^[8] leading to African-American candidates finally winning the right to govern counties where white residents were the minority.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 660 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (1.9%) is water. ^[9] Over 90% of Greene County's boundaries are dictated by the Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and Sipsey Rivers and much of the county is dominated by the valleys of the three rivers.

Major highways

• Interstate 20/Interstate 59
• U.S. Route 11
• U.S. Route 43
• State Route 14
• State Route 39

Adjacent counties

• Pickens County (north)
• Tuscaloosa County (northeast)
• Hale County (east)
• Marengo County (south)
• Sumter County (southwest)

Demographics

In 1867, a chunk of the county and associated population was taken to form Hale County. This resulted in an apparent 40% loss in population between 1860 and 1870. In the 20th century, there were population losses after agricultural decline and the migration of rural workers to cities in other areas.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	4,554		—
1830	15,026		230.0%
1840	24,024		59.9%
1850	31,441		30.9%
1860	30,859		−1.9%
1870	18,399		−40.4%
1880	21,931		19.2%
1890	22,007		0.3%
1900	24,182		9.9%
1910	22,717		−6.1%
1920	18,133		−20.2%
1930	19,745		8.9%
1940	19,185		−2.8%
1950	16,482		−14.1%
1960	13,600		−17.5%
1970	10,650		−21.7%
1980	11,021		3.5%
1990	10,153		−7.9%
2000	9,974		−1.8%
2010	9,045		−9.3%
2020	7,730		−14.5%
2023 (est.)	7,341	[10]	−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13] 1990–2000 [14] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Greene 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)	1,898	1,562	1,285	19.03%	17.27%	16.62%
Black or African American alone (NH)	7,964	7,349	6,227	79.85%	81.25%	80.56%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	12	11	5	0.12%	0.12%	0.06%
Asian alone (NH)	8	15	7	0.08%	0.17%	0.09%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	7	0	11	0.07%	0.00%	0.14%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	27	39	134	0.27%	0.43%	1.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	58	69	61	0.58%	0.76%	0.79%
Total	9,974	9,045	7,730	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,730 people, 2,951 households, and 1,542 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,045 people living in the county. 81.5% were Black or African American, 17.4% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% of some other race and 0.5% of two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 9,974 people, 3,931 households, and 2,649 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km²). There were 5,117 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 19.09% White, 80.34% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,931 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.40% were married couples living together, 27.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% 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 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,819, and the median income for a family was $24,604. Males had a median income of $25,707 versus $19,051 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,686. About 29.90% of families and 34.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.10% of those under age 18 and 31.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Greene County is strongly Democratic, but the nature of the membership has changed since the late 20th century. After the Civil War, conservative whites of the South continued in the Democratic Party. After being emancipated and gaining the franchise, African Americans generally joined the Republican Party of President Abraham Lincoln. After African Americans were disfranchised in Alabama in 1901 and other former Confederate states, the Democratic Party was even more exclusively white in Greene County and throughout the South. In the late 20th century, after civil rights legislation enabled African Americans to vote again, they joined the national Democratic Party.

The last Republican to win the county in a presidential election was Barry Goldwater in the 1964. It was only one of nine counties to back Goldwater and McGovern, all of which are located in the Deep South. ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

United States presidential election results for Greene County, Alabama ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	875	18.32%	3,884	81.34%	16	0.34%
2016	838	17.17%	4,013	82.23%	29	0.59%
2012	804	15.05%	4,521	84.62%	18	0.34%
2008	876	16.51%	4,408	83.09%	21	0.40%
2004	958	20.18%	3,764	79.28%	26	0.55%
2000	850	19.34%	3,504	79.71%	42	0.96%
1996	796	17.99%	3,526	79.70%	102	2.31%
1992	805	16.49%	3,865	79.18%	211	4.32%
1988	1,048	23.94%	3,295	75.28%	34	0.78%
1984	1,361	26.13%	3,675	70.55%	173	3.32%
1980	1,034	22.79%	3,474	76.55%	30	0.66%
1976	903	23.65%	2,900	75.96%	15	0.39%
1972	1,404	29.65%	3,235	68.32%	96	2.03%
1968	180	4.54%	2,229	56.16%	1,560	39.30%
1964	1,124	65.69%	0	0.00%	587	34.31%
1960	381	33.93%	723	64.38%	19	1.69%
1956	309	29.60%	691	66.19%	44	4.21%
1952	430	38.91%	674	61.00%	1	0.09%
1948	31	4.73%	0	0.00%	625	95.27%
1944	45	6.23%	676	93.63%	1	0.14%
1940	77	7.93%	894	92.07%	0	0.00%
1936	20	2.26%	861	97.40%	3	0.34%
1932	9	1.30%	665	95.82%	20	2.88%
1928	39	6.09%	601	93.91%	0	0.00%
1924	5	1.20%	408	98.31%	2	0.48%
1920	10	1.88%	520	97.93%	1	0.19%
1916	9	2.30%	383	97.70%	0	0.00%
1912	94	18.22%	418	81.01%	4	0.78%
1908	12	2.73%	423	96.36%	4	0.91%
1904	17	3.42%	477	95.98%	3	0.60%
1900	107	9.82%	964	88.44%	19	1.74%
1896	503	20.91%	1,864	77.47%	39	1.62%
1892	355	11.85%	2,129	71.09%	511	17.06%
1888	778	35.67%	1,401	64.24%	2	0.09%
1884	1,304	67.60%	625	32.40%	0	0.00%
1880	1,463	60.81%	943	39.19%	0	0.00%
1876	2,686	71.80%	1,055	28.20%	0	0.00%
1872	2,516	67.80%	1,195	32.20%	0	0.00%
1868	2,927	77.11%	869	22.89%	0	0.00%
1860	0	0.00%	157	10.34%	1,361	89.66%
1856	0	0.00%	694	46.96%	784	53.04%
1852	694	55.12%	555	44.08%	10	0.79%
1848	1,088	60.44%	712	39.56%	0	0.00%
1844	1,090	57.10%	819	42.90%	0	0.00%
1840	1,366	63.36%	790	36.64%	0	0.00%
1836	1,116	62.42%	672	37.58%	0	0.00%
1832	0	0.00%	1,082	100.00%	0	0.00%

Communities

City

• Eutaw (county seat)

Towns

• Boligee
• Forkland
• Union

Unincorporated communities

• Clinton
• Jena
• Knoxville
• Mantua
• Mount Hebron
• Pleasant Ridge
• Tishabee
• West Greene

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Greene County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Greene 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. Newton, Michael (January 1, 2004). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. Infobase Publishing. ISBN   9780816069880.
4. Rogers, William Warren (January 2, 2013). "The Boyd Incident: Black Belt Violence During Reconstruction". Civil War History. 21 (4): 309–329. doi:10.1353/cwh.1975.0009. ISSN   1533-6271.
5. Hennessey, Melinda M. (1980). "Political Terrorism in the Black Belt: The Eutaw Riot". Alabama Review. 33: 35–48.
6. "Negroes Control Southern County— Win In Alabama Called 'Greatest'", Pittsburgh Press, July 30, 1969, p2
7. "Greene Elects Six Negroes— Vote Gives Minority Control", Montgomery (AL) Advertiser, July 30, 1969, p1
8. "1969: The Year of Empowerment in Alabama" Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , by David C. Ruffin, FOCUS: The monthly magazine of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (July 1999)
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 – Greene 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) – Greene 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) – Greene County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 15, 2016.

Notes

1. The other counties to vote for both Goldwater and McGovern were the nearby "Black Belt" counties of Bullock, Lowndes, Sumter, and Wilcox in Alabama, the majority-black Mississippi counties of Claiborne, Holmes, and Jefferson, and West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

32°51′08″N87°57′03″W / 32.85222°N 87.95083°W / 32.85222; -87.95083