Lamar County, Alabama

Last updated

Lamar County
LamarCoALCourthouse.jpg
Lamar County Courthouse in Vernon
Map of Alabama highlighting Lamar County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama in United States.svg
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°46′50″N88°05′47″W / 33.780555555556°N 88.096388888889°W / 33.780555555556; -88.096388888889
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Alabama.svg Alabama
FoundedFebruary 8, 1877
Named after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar
Seat Vernon
Largest cityVernon
Area
  Total
605 sq mi (1,570 km2)
  Land605 sq mi (1,570 km2)
  Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
13,972
  Estimate 
(2024)
13,543 Decrease2.svg
  Density23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website www.lamarcounty.us
  • County Number 40 on Alabama Licence Plates

Lamar County (formerly Jones County and Sanford County) is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,972. [1] Its county seat is Vernon and it is a dry county. [2] It is named in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, a former Confederate officer and former member of both houses of the United States Congress from Mississippi. [3]

Contents

History

Jones County, Alabama was established on February 4, 1867, with land taken from the southern part of Marion County and the western part of Fayette County. It was named for E. P. Jones of Fayette County, with its county seat in Vernon. This county was abolished on November 13, 1867. On October 8, 1868, the area was again organized into a county, but as Covington County had been renamed "Jones County" the same year (a change that lasted only a few months), [4] the new county was named Sanford, in honor of H. C. Sanford of Cherokee County. On February 8, 1877, the county was renamed Lamar in honor of Congressman and Senator L.Q.C. Lamar of Mississippi.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 605 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 605 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water. [5]

Adjacent counties

Cemeteries

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870 8,893
1880 12,14236.5%
1890 14,18716.8%
1900 16,08413.4%
1910 17,4878.7%
1920 18,1493.8%
1930 18,001−0.8%
1940 19,7089.5%
1950 16,441−16.6%
1960 14,271−13.2%
1970 14,3350.4%
1980 16,45314.8%
1990 15,715−4.5%
2000 15,9041.2%
2010 14,564−8.4%
2020 13,972−4.1%
2024 (est.)13,543 [6] −3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9]
1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

Lamar 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 [11] Pop 2010 [12] Pop 2020 [13] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)13,69512,54211,92486.11%86.12%85.34%
Black or African American alone (NH)1,8991,6351,42111.94%11.23%10.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1524280.09%0.16%0.20%
Asian alone (NH)9460.06%0.03%0.04%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0130.00%0.01%0.02%
Other race alone (NH)24220.01%0.03%0.16%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)771743600.48%1.19%2.58%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2071802081.30%1.24%1.49%
Total15,90414,56413,972100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 13,972 people, 5,856 households, and 3,895 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census [14] of 2010, there were 14,564 people, 6,103 households, and 4,207 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 7,354 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.7% White, 11.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,103 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.8.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,887, and the median income for a family was $42,492. Males had a median income of $36,833 versus $25,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,789. About 13.2% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 15,904 people, 6,468 households, and 4,715 families living in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 7,517 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.87% White, 11.98% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,468 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,059, and the median income for a family was $33,050. Males had a median income of $30,453 versus $18,947 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,435. About 13.30% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 18.60% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Newspapers

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Politics

In a 2000 referendum to repeal Alabama's constitutional prohibition of interracial marriage, Lamar County voters showed the highest rate of opposition in the state, with 65.69% opposing repeal of the provision. [16]

Since Ronald Reagan in 1984, Lamar County has been reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Jimmy Carter, who won it by a majority in 1980.

United States presidential election results for Lamar County, Alabama [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1880 17216.73%85683.27%00.00%
1884 23422.03%82877.97%00.00%
1888 24317.65%1,13382.28%10.07%
1892 311.49%1,45870.20%58828.31%
1896 50927.32%1,26367.79%914.88%
1900 50935.06%89061.29%533.65%
1904 21519.98%84878.81%131.21%
1908 16015.84%83983.07%111.09%
1912 615.83%81677.94%17016.24%
1916 30318.53%1,29979.45%332.02%
1920 57625.95%1,62873.33%160.72%
1924 26219.14%1,08779.40%201.46%
1928 80436.28%1,41263.72%00.00%
1932 25810.43%2,20789.24%80.32%
1936 1957.52%2,39392.25%60.23%
1940 2759.32%2,66590.28%120.41%
1944 31013.18%2,02586.10%170.72%
1948 18011.10%00.00%1,44288.90%
1952 60519.40%2,51280.56%10.03%
1956 86725.51%2,50173.58%310.91%
1960 96428.43%2,38670.36%411.21%
1964 2,73472.42%00.00%1,04127.58%
1968 3646.14%3025.10%5,25988.76%
1972 3,28380.56%76618.80%260.64%
1976 1,73930.38%3,86067.44%1252.18%
1980 2,77844.91%3,36654.41%420.68%
1984 3,94367.21%1,91032.55%140.24%
1988 3,21458.48%2,27441.38%80.15%
1992 3,26247.29%2,84941.30%78711.41%
1996 2,95546.10%2,84344.35%6129.55%
2000 4,47061.66%2,65336.60%1261.74%
2004 4,89471.08%1,95628.41%350.51%
2008 5,41976.59%1,61422.81%420.59%
2012 5,45776.05%1,64622.94%731.02%
2016 5,82383.59%1,03614.87%1071.54%
2020 6,17485.83%97813.60%410.57%
2024 6,03387.56%80611.70%510.74%

Communities

Cities

Towns

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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp.  180.
  4. Alabama Counties: Covington County, Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives and History, November 15, 2016, archived from the original on April 24, 2019
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lamar County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "2000 Referendum General Election Results - Alabama".
  17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 21, 2016.

33°46′50″N88°05′47″W / 33.78056°N 88.09639°W / 33.78056; -88.09639